cermark price quote - Engraving Etc. Forum

From:	Precision Laser Creations (PIZZAMAN)	24 Mar 2007
To:	ALL	1 of 4

6414.1
Hi all. I have a customer who needs a price quote for laser engraving a few thousand stainless steel plates. This order will be repeated a few times a year. The plate is about 4"x2" and shaped like a banana. Only six words and two curved lines are to be engraved with the font being about 14. My question is how much per plate should I add to factor in the cost of the cermark. Also can anyone comment the most efficient way to spray the cermark on the plates without alot of waste. How much can I Dilute the cermark without effecting its usefullness. The plates will be exposed to the elements so I don't want it to get worn off. Thanks, Tony

From:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	24 Mar 2007
To:	Precision Laser Creations (PIZZAMAN)	2 of 4

6414.2 In reply to 6414.1
quote: I have a customer who needs a price quote for laser engraving a few thousand stainless steel plates. Tony, I would suggest becoming a handsomely-paid middleman and outsource the work to a YAG/Fiber Marking job shop. They won't need to CerMark every piece and the speed at which they can mark the parts, compared to a Co2 machine, with flying optics, will blow your mind. Less hassle and faster running times, equate to a lower price to you. David "The Stunt Engraver" Lavaneri DGL Engraving Port Hueneme, CA

From:	Cody (BOBTNAILER)	24 Mar 2007
To:	Stunt Engraver (DGL)	3 of 4

6414.3 In reply to 6414.2
quote: I would suggest becoming a handsomely-paid middleman and outsource the work to a YAG/Fiber Marking job shop. As an alternative.....you could BECOME that YAG/FiberMark shop! Gotta go with David on this one - if you're one man with one CO2 machine, you may not be making the best use of your resources with this job. Then again, I have a customer that orders a couple hundred SS plates at a time, and I Cermark them....wouldn't DREAM of sending them out. I guess that's just my own mindset. How much time are you spending applying, drying, and cleaning the Cermark? Could you be using that time more productively (profitably) if you farmed that work out? On a small plate, your material cost for Cermark will be cents. The real cost (to us, anyway) is in the labor involved in the process. Even at that, it's still a very profitable way to mark stainless.

From:	Zonas	25 Mar 2007
To:	Precision Laser Creations (PIZZAMAN)	4 of 4

6414.4 In reply to 6414.1

Tony, I would check with the customer showing them examples of YAG and Cermark marking. I'd guess the customer will pick the cermark. Why I say that is because I'm marking things for the guy with the YAG, as he likes the look better.

As far as the cermark, just cents a piece. I have a big piece of cardboard that I lay the pieces on, spray all at one time with a sprayer that I got at Harbor Freight for apx. $12.00. I have a customer that orders a 100 a month, but not all at one time. I spray them all though and store them in a box and just pull out as needed. Makes it much more cost efficient.

Zona