I'm new, how do I cut, engrave, score on 0.2 mm thin metal?

Beyond the Manual
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As explained early in this thread, your Glowforge cannot cut metal - not even aluminum foil. You can engrave away aluminum coating and reveal the raw aluminum.

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The search function of this forum is very helpful, and the forum is full of knowledge dating back to 2016 when people began getting their Glowforge.

Here is one thread that might help you: Metal Business cards

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Beyond the PG settings (of which there is one for anodized aluminum - it’s under iPhone or Mac or something like that) there is no way to guarantee a setting. Every machine is slightly different - and what you want to do is slightly different.

Even the most basic thing - a score. The PG settings for a score cut about 1/2 way through the material, which I feel weakens it. So my settings for a score cut maybe 1/8th of the way through. That’s the thing with manual mode!

The reason we all tried to show you how to work your machine is when you can’t figure out even how to place your art - should we really be guiding you on how to go “beyond the manual” on a class 1 laser? Teaching you how to understand your machine is definitely the better path.

I hope you learn how to use this fabulous thing. You can do so much…just not cut, score, or engrave metal unless it’s coated in some way.

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You simply can not mark metal. (edit - apparently you can mark titanium). You can engrave coating on metal. For example, anodization is a process by which a dye is applied to the surface of aluminum, which prevents oxidation. The laser can vaporize that dye, leaving behind exposed metal.

Any other examples of metal engraving have a similar product of some type applied, often which has been “baked” by the laser to bond it to the surface.

The laser is simply far too weak to affect metal itself - as stated, even aluminum foil.

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thank you!

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I haven’t tried it but it looks like titanium will mark.

For more context, check out:

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Yes about titanium; https://community.glowforge.com/t/best-metal-for-outdoors/63554/78?u=xabbess

And surprisingly…Stainless steel bottle openers - #8 by Xabbess

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your first link would not open, it says that the page is private.

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I’ve moved it. You should now be able to open it. Best metal for outdoors - #78 by Xabbess

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Edited to note titanium. No idea where I’d get some to try.

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