[Jewelry making - Article 00103] - Re: [Orchid] Can a Laser Be Used on Enamels?

[Joel Elfman]

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    My brain was wandering yesterday, and an odd thought occurred to me,
    so I came to inquire among the many wise heads on Orchid.  This
    might be an incredibly foolish question especially since I have
    never seen a jewlery laser in operation. 

    Can a laser be used on enamels? 

    I can see some potential problems, but again never having worked w/
    a laser I just don't know. 

    The glass (refractive index) of vitreous enamel is potentially a
    large impediment.  On the other hand, if a surface is roughed up,
    can the laser effectively deliver enough heat in a very small area
    to repair cracks in an enameled piece? 

    Would a laser generate too much heat differential in a small area
    and create further cracks? 

    Could it be used to actually work directly on powdered enamels, or
    would it blow the powders away or would it heat everything so fast
    direct contact wouldn't matter? 

    Or like torch-firing could a laser work from underneath heating the
    metal enough to fuse the glass powders on the other side. 

    Those are some of the issues that occurred to me on this subject,
    I'm sure there are others. 

Joel


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