Making Rubber Stamps on the Ray5 20W
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Diode lasers can engrave rubber stamp material to create custom stamps — great for crafts, business branding, or art projects.
Compatible Materials
| Material | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pink vinyl eraser | Good | Cheap, widely available |
| Carving rubber (Speedball) | Excellent | Purpose-made, consistent |
| Soft linoleum block | Good | Firmer than rubber |
| DIY stamp sheets | Variable | Test before committing |
Not suitable: Silicone rubber (melts/clogs), hard eraser (doesn't engrave cleanly)
Design Principles
- Mirror your artwork — stamps print reversed
- Use bold, clear designs — fine detail fills in with ink
- Minimum line width: 0.5mm for good ink transfer
- Negative designs (dark background, light text) look great as stamps
Settings in LightBurn
Engraving the background (remove material around design):
- Speed: 3000 mm/min
- Power: 50–60%
- Line interval: 0.1mm
- Mode: Fill
Outlining edges for sharpness:
- Speed: 1000 mm/min
- Power: 60%
- Mode: Line
Engraving Depth
The raised stamp surface (what picks up ink) should stand proud by 1.5–2mm minimum. Adjust power/passes to reach that depth.
Post-Processing
- Brush loose debris off engraved surface
- Test stamp on paper — adjust depth if background picks up ink
- Cut stamp to shape (scissors or blade)
- Mount to wood block with contact cement
Inking and Printing
- Use a commercial stamp pad
- Press rubber side into ink pad (don't rub)
- Press firmly onto paper, lift straight up
- Re-ink every 3–5 stamps for consistent results