Engraving Slate on the Ray5 20W

Engraving Slate on the Ray5 20W Slate engraves beautifully — the laser ablates the surface leaving a bright white/grey mark on the dark stone. Great for coasters, plaques, signs, memorial pieces. Why Slate Works Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock. The laser creates microfractures and removes the dark surface layer, exposing lighter subsurface material. No chemical change — purely physical ablation. Settings Starting point: 1500 mm/min, 75%, 1 pass. Adjust from there. Process 1. Clean the slate — dust and oils affect result. IPA wipe. 2. Mark flat face — engrave on the smooth cleft face, not rough back 3. Focus exactly — stone surface must be at focal length 4. Run a test — always test a corner first. Each slate piece varies. 5. Air assist — reduces dust buildup on lens 6. Brush off debris — dry brush after engraving, then damp wipe Design Tips High contrast designs work best — thin lines, fine detail engrave well Photos — convert to high contrast B&W, use Threshold mode at ~140 Text — minimum 10pt font, bold fonts read better White areas in design = engraved = white on slate Troubleshooting Sealing After engraving, apply a light coat of matte clear sealer or lacquer to protect the engraved area and increase contrast. Wipe-on polyurethane works well. Slate Sources Craft stores (Hobby Lobby, Michael's) — small coaster blanks Amazon — slate coaster sets, tile sets Local tile stores — offcuts often free or very cheap Roofing suppliers — authentic roofing slate in large sheets

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