Laser on copper plating

[Dobe]

I have a project where we have changed from ink stamping to lasering required info on a copper plated part. The laser has been missing letters on the copper plating. I am going to work on the intensity to see if there is any difference. I have tried buffing off some of the copper which seems to work better but that really is not an option; it would add more cost.
I attached a pic but a little hard to see. Letters are missing in the lower right quandrant. Anyone have any experience with this? I have the part centered in a fixture.

Lasering coppper plating?
Laser not set correctly?

 

[EdStainless]

I am wondering if it is a function of the reflectivity of the Cu.
Perhaps a matted surface would work better.
Changing laser settings might also help so that you are not as sensitive to surface finish.

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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

 

[Dobe]

I have tried to mess around with the settings frequency/power but has not changed. I have moved the artwork into different area's/quandrants but nothing seems to work so far. I have rotated the artwork that didn't work. It has to have something todo with the copper because it will laser on other materials. I am going to have to call our contact for the laser to see what they say.

 

[tbuelna]

Have you checked the alignment between the surface being marked and the laser? Some laser machines don't perform so well when marking very far from their origin point.

Also, have you considered that your shallow laser marking on a bare copper surface may not be legible after the copper oxidizes?

 

[Dobe]

We have a gage that we use to be sure our distance to the surface being lasered is correct. Not sure what to do about your 2nd question tbuelna. I have contacted our copper plater and I am contacting our laser support today.