Epilog techniques
Our Epilog laser engraver is capable of obtaining great results on a number of materials. Go ahead and add any strategies you've found to work well.
Delrin dies
It is possible to make deeply engraved Delrin dies in rubber stamp mode by slowly manually adjusting the focus up stop by stop, making two or three passes at each point. Depending on your design, care must be taken to ensure that the edges of your positive image don't sag from being repeatedly heated as the laser engraves around them. Enlarging the shoulder in rubber stamp mode will usually fix this problem for larger shapes. Special care must be taken with finely set type and intricate designs. Experiment to find the minimum point size for lines that works well.
Coated papers
Some art papers are coated with clay to make a smooth surface. These etch extremely well in regular mode to produce a "debossed" look. Use rubber stamp mode to reverse positive space to negative space (the entire field is etched except where objects are filled black). Experiment to find the lowest power and highest speed necessary to engrave to the depth you wish without discoloring the material.
Some inexpensive cover and card stock is coated or died in such a manner that it is a different color immediately below the surface. Give it a shot with some of the black cover stock Andy left in the bottom drawer of the cabinet next to the engraver.