The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Laser-Engraved Food

    Having been nerd-sniped again, I had to try this:

    Laser-toasted bread - engraving
    Laser-toasted bread – engraving

    It turned out reasonably well:

    Laser-toasted bread
    Laser-toasted bread

    That’s at 100 mm/s and 40% of a 60 W CO₂ laser. Although the exhaust fumes smelled pretty good, the bread tasted burned rather than toasted.

    Undaunted, I tried another sandwich layer:

    Laser-engraved food - provolone - direct light
    Laser-engraved food – provolone – direct light

    The patterns become more obvious in oblique light:

    Laser-engraved food - provolone - angled light
    Laser-engraved food – provolone – angled light

    Settings, all with 0.3 mm line interval:

    • Top: 100 mm/s @ 40%
    • Middle left: 100 mm/s @ 20%
    • Middle right: 200 mm/s @ 20%
    • Bottom: 200 mm/s @ 12.5%

    It’s good stinky provolone, so its taste remained undamaged by the experience.

    Laser engraving apparently works really well on hot dogs and their buns, but I am not going there …