I just tried lasering my first ipod for a customer. I told her sure I can laser engrave it. To my surprise my 45 watt epilog didn't even put a mark on it. I used 100speed & 40 power and 50 speed & 40 power.
I thought they were anodized aluminum and could be lasered. Am I wrong? Should I use more power? I didn't want to take the chance on ruining it so I figured I'd ask.
Thanks,
Tony

Which IPod are your doing?? Big difference between how to engrave the various styles.

IPod Nanos are anodized Alum. and laser engrave very easily - we use the same power and speed settings for maglites as well.

If it is a full standard full size IPod it is stainless on the back and you will not mark it without CerMark - add CerMark and engrave it to get black lettering.

If you are looking at the engraving on the back of a Standard IPod and see the frosty engraving done by Apple - you are looking at a Yag engraving - your CO2 engraving will not look this way. You will have to use CerMark to get a mark.

There has been a lot of discussions on IPod and engraving the various styles that are on the market - you might want to do a search and read some of the other threads.

Respectfully Steve - You are incorrect - anodized aluminum Ipods can be lasered very easily.

You are correct on CerMark statement - CerMark is made to be used on "bare metals" only. CerMark on anodized aluminum should never be a consideration.

Agreed.

My daughter engraved her iPod (Chrismas gift) last week, and it turned out great. It's one of the anodized units.

Harvey - Currently Apple sells 4 colors of anodized IPods - these are the Nano style - plus one special red IPod that is Red (money goes to Aids fight in Africa) Current colors are Silver, Green, Blue and Pink. I am not aware of a clear anodized IPod. I do know that the colors listed above including the silver laser very well and very easy. The silver will have the least contrast which is white on silver - but it looks no different that a silver Maglite engraved with a laser. If you look at Apples web site you can see what a silver IPod Nano looks like laser engraved. I grant that they are probably using Yags to do the work but on anodized you can get the same white mark with a Co2 laser. The contrast is very good and looks sharp. I agree that a diamond drag or burnish would look good too but it can be done with laser and Pizzaman does not appear to have anything but a laser. So I was simply trying to give him info to complete his job. But currently we do not know which IPod he is working on.

Not trying to cause an argument my friend but, on the IPods that are on available today a laser can mark any of them in one way or another.
Full size Ipods 30 Gig and 80 Gig have the polished SS back - engrave with CerMark. The new Shuffles (Smallest IPod) are Silver anodized and engraved on the back with a laser.

I am not sure I completely understand much of anything but I do know that it will change! ;-)

Steve - I am not picking on you. But in this case there may be a difference of opinion in what Harvey and I like. That is not an issue as far as I am concerned.

My point is that Apple lasers all there anodized color IPods those of us with lasers can do the same engraving on anodized Ipods, it matches the logo and other detail on the back of the IPod and looks good to me and the customers I have engraved for. No doubt that diamond drag and burnish can be used and look good but there is a choice and frankly lasering them is quicker and easier.

As I have told him I have never seen a clear anodized IPod - it is possible that it is something that they do not currently make it. But for the ones that they do have available now - a laser will work on any of them very well. Since I have lasered them I feel confident to offer my advice.

I don't believe everything I think - I also don't believe everything I hear! :S

Thanks guys. I just assumed that it was anodized. But looking at it now it's obvious that it's stainless steel. Is there any danger of damaging the unit when lasering? Also what do most of you charge for a name and phone number.
Thanks,
Tony

We drag or burnish Ipods as our laser is not in our store. We charge a $25.00 set up fee which includes 1 line. Each additional line is $4.00. We have the set ups for all sizes saved on our machine but we still charge a set up.

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Yes I have dragged those stinking Nano's. When dragging them you really have to watch the margins or the clip will be pushed up if you go past the fulcrum point.

What I have called the clear anodized is in all probability what they call silver anodized. It is a thin anodize coat over the aluminum. I do not think my customers would accept engraving that looks like the Apple logo. We are basically in New York City, just across the Hudson river. Here if it is not garish it does not go. Apparently your customers are a bit more refined, thank goodness. If it was possible to engrave it in flashing lights, I would make a million around here.

Disagree away, if I am wrong, I want to be set straight. My skin is certainly too thick to be offended in any way.

I guess I am tired, the spiel chicken was smoking on this post.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

Harvey - not a right or wrong here - just opinions - and I value yours very highly. I am not sure why but my customers like the engraving that apple does on the anodized cases - so if I match it they are happy - midwest vs east coast ??
My whole point was to make it clear to Pizzaman that he could laser the IPod if anodized - Steve left it as thought diamond or burnish was his only choice - not correct. Along with the fact that Pizza man shows he only has a laser - my goal was to help him get the job done.

Tony,

Be careful handling the ipods that have the high-polished stainless backs, they will show every little scratch. This also applies to the plastic front material.

I had a customer bring in a brand new ipod like this that he took out of the package and rested it on my sales counter. After "the customer" twisted it around a time or two, it look like it had been through battle.

I just had a call asking if I do Ipods. Of course I said SURE! She asked me if I really was sure because Things Remembered told her engraving would damage it. I have seen a lot of discussion on HOW to mark them but nothing on anything damaging them. Now I'm not so SURE.

Anyone experienced damage from the laser? I have my own engraved by Apple, I guess I'll play with it.

Jim

Jim,
We drag them with our IS400. Our customers are happy with the results.

Dee

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)