@3d_printall: “How is the engraving white if the print is black?” 🤔 It’s the question I get under almost every laser video, so here’s the full answer 👇 #adv I engrave my 3D prints with the LaserPecker LP4 using its 2W infrared laser module. Infrared light is invisible to us, but the black pigment in the filament (usually carbon black) absorbs it extremely well, while the plastic itself barely does. That means all the energy gets concentrated right where the pigment is. In a fraction of a second, the surface heats up past the point where the polymer starts to break down. The plastic melts and the decomposing material releases gas, which gets trapped inside the molten layer. When the laser moves on, the surface cools almost instantly and freezes millions of microscopic bubbles in place. This is called laser foaming 🫧 Those bubbles are roughly the size of the wavelengths of visible light, so they scatter it in every direction instead of letting it pass through or get absorbed. When all colors are scattered equally, our eyes see white. It’s the same reason snow, foam and crushed ice look white even though water is transparent. That’s also why the engraving often feels slightly raised to the touch: the foam takes up more volume than the solid plastic. 💡 A few things to know: • It works best on dark filaments. Light colors usually go darker instead, because the plastic carbonizes. • Too much power and the white turns brown. Speed and power need to be dialed in for each material. • Nothing is added: no ink, no paint. Just plastic transformed by light. • Always use air extractors when you work with lasers! ⚠️ 🔥 check this amazing machine from the Link in bio! @laserpeckerofficial #laserengraving #3dprinting #laserpecker #lp4 laserfoaming

3d_printall

Open In TikTok:

Region: IT

Wednesday 04 November 2026 08:00:00 GMT