In today’s fast-developing technologies, laser engraving is just like a mysterious magician, displaying unbelievable skills. So, how is this interesting and so technological industry? Let’s together uncover the secrets.
What Is Laser Engraving?
The principle of laser engraving processing is the same as CNC technology. The materials melt and vaporize instantaneously under the exposure of the laser beam, and traces are created due to the chemical and physical changes of the surface material through the light energy of the laser. Or partly, the material is burnt away by light energy to expose the desirably etched patterns or text.
It finds wide applications in the fields of electronic industries, gift decoration, industrial manufacturing, and so on because of its preciseness, speediness, and powerful flexibility. Laser engraving technology can engrave patterns and words on various materials precisely, like metals, plastics, glasses, and woods, whose visual effect and endurance are excellent.
How Does Laser Engraving Work?
Laser engraving technology refers to a technique of engraving with high-energy-density laser beams focusing on the material surface, making it heat up and vaporize rapidly to form any preset patterns or text. Specifically, three steps are involved in the process:
Focusing And Positioning
The laser beam passes through lenses that focus and concentrate it on a certain minute area of the material’s surface; this minute area will generate very high temperatures.
Engraving Or Cutting
After placing, the laser moves with computer guidance to precisely engrave or cut on the surface of the material.
Cooling And Cleaning
After engraving, the material often undergoes cleaning in order to remove scorch marks or residuals to improve the looks of the final product.
What Materials Can Be Used For Laser Engraving?
Laser engraving machines are everywhere, and the materials used in laser engraving are too numerous. Herein, I will review several usual materials and their ways of laser engraving techniques.
Acrylic (Plexiglass)
Acrylic is especially employed in advertisement lines because of the economical engraving and cutting it provides for laser machines. Usually, Acrylic is engraved from the back and appears three-dimensional. Designs must be mirrored for optimal results, and engraving should be done rapidly with lower power. Quality is enhanced by an air blow device during cutting, and the operators are supposed to remain close to avoid flames.
Wood
Wood engraves and cuts very easily with the laser engraving machine. Lighter color woods, like birch, cherry, or maple, can be effectively vaporized by the laser, making them suitable for engraving. A very popular wood material for engraving is linden wood. It is soft and easy to work with, just like European linden wood. The grain of linden wood is not very apparent, so painting the engraved pieces is advisable. Thicker boards produce more smoke when processed, and it is advisable to use a smoke purifier.
MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)
MDF is also used for signs and backing panels. It consists of a thin layer of wood veneer over high-density board material. Laser engraving can be done on this material, but the engraved patterns will be uneven and dark, so it often requires coloring. Usually, it will be better if 0.5mm dual-color boards are used for inlay purposes. After engraving, you can clean the MDF surface by simply using a damp cloth.
Dual-Color Board
Dual-color boards are a type of engineering plastic made of two or more layers of different colors, specifically designed for engraving. The standard size is generally 6001200mm, with some brands offering a size of 600900mm. The engraving effect is excellent, providing a clear contrast and sharp edges.
Painted Copper Plate
Normally, copper cannot be laser engraved. However, there is a material with a special coating on the copper surface, allowing the laser to vaporize the coating completely and expose it to the copper plate underneath. Manufacturers usually polish or treat the copper plate beforehand and then apply paint so that the places exposed after engraving will be smooth and can last long. If the copper surface is untreated, then a protective layer should be applied after laser engraving to prevent oxidation and surface discoloration over time.
Main Types Of Laser Engraving
Laser engraving can be divided into two categories: raster engraving and vector cutting.
Raster Engraving: The laser head swings from side to side, very similar to high-resolution dot matrix printing. It simply engraves a line composed of a series of dots. The laser head then moves up and down to engrave multiple lines until the complete image or text is formed.
Vector Engraving: It follows the outer contour of the design. It is normally used in cutting through materials like wood, paper, and acrylic, and also comes in handy while marking various material surfaces.
Steps In The Laser Engraving Process
The laser engraving process involves several steps, each of which is crucial from preparation to the completion of the engraving. Below is a detailed introduction to the laser engraving process:
Designing The Graphic: Design the graphic or text to be engraved using a relevant design software. At the same time, it is feasible to use downloaded images.
Material And Equipment Preparation: Prepare materials to be engraved, including but not limited to wood, acrylic, or glass, together with corresponding laser engraving machines.
Setting Parameters: According to the chosen material and model of the laser engraving machine, determine the corresponding parameters such as laser power, speed, and scan spacing.
Calibrating Laser Engraving Machine: After switching on the machine, calibrate the laser head to position the laser head to the correct distance and position from the material.
Importing The Graphic File: Import the designed graphic file into the control software of the laser engraver.
Preview: Before engraving, preview the design to see whether it meets the requirements. Adjust if necessary.
Start Engraving: Once all the parameters are adjusted, start the engraving process. The laser head scans along the outline of the design and uses the working principles of laser combustion and vaporization to engrave the graphic or text onto the material.
Finishing The Engraving: After engraving is complete, take out the material and clean it, so that your equipment stays clean and the material looks nice.
Moreover, laser engraving technology involves some safety measures, where the operator should be trained, acquainted with the structure of the equipment and its performance, and knowledgeable in the operating system. Personal protective equipment, such as specified safety glasses, should be properly worn. Any abnormalities that may be reflected in the course of processing should be immediately stopped, the problem resolved, or referred to a supervisor.
Laser Engraving Vs Laser Etching
In recent years, laser engraving has become wide in use and application. Still, most people do not know exactly what laser etching is and consider it the same thing as laser engraving, which is not correct. In fact, they are different processes. Years ago, many logos didn’t consider using laser engraving or etching techniques, but now everything has changed. Using laser engraving for logo marking has become simpler and more aesthetically pleasing. Recently, a customer asked me if laser etching was the same as laser engraving. I explained to him at length, and today, I’ll tell you the five differences between laser engraving and laser etching.
Difference 1: Speed
Laser engraving can carve the desired logo or mark in a very short time, while laser etching can’t get the same job done in a short period of time, say within 1 minute.
Difference 2: Principle Of Light Emission
In the process of laser engraving, the laser beam will burn the surface of the material, leading to the localized vaporization and optical reaction. In comparison, laser etching involves a chemical reaction to achieve metal engravings.
Difference 3: Effect
While laser engraving on metal is done to a limited depth, laser etching allows for greater depth. Besides, the effect of 3D attained is quite different-laser engraving has a stronger 3D effect, and laser etching appears rigid.
Difference 4: Production Process
In the process of making laser engraving, it mainly deals with creating a vector image and inputting it into the respective equipment to start the processing. While in laser etching, the process involves preparing the chemical solutions and using high-energy pulsed lasers to etch the depth desired on the surface of the part. It can be adjusted according to the customer requirement.
Difference 5: Material
Laser engraving can be performed on various materials, whereas laser etching is restricted to metals.
Types Of Laser Engraving Machines
Laser engraving machines can be further divided into two main categories depending on the type of materials they have been designed to process. These are further divided into two types: non-metal engraving machines and metal engraving machines, each applying different laser technology. In addition, there are subdivisions according to specific applications. Here’s an overview of the different types of laser engraving machines:
Non-Metal Laser Engraving Machines (CO2 Laser Engravers)
These machines are mainly used for engraving non-metal materials such as wood, acrylic, plastic, rubber, leather, glass, and many more. They use CO2 laser tubes to generate highly efficient laser beams that can cut, engrave, and mark non-metal materials effectively. The CO2 laser is generally adaptable and is ideal in applications related to signage, craftsmanship, and home décor.
Common uses include woodworking, sign making, fabric engraving, plastic marking, and personalized gifts.
Laser Source: CO2 laser tubes.
Metal Laser Engraving Machines-YAG Laser Engravers
The YAG laser engraver is used for engraving metals with the help of a solid-state laser. For marking and engraving on hard metals, such as stainless steel, titanium, and aluminum, it is very suitable. YAG lasers have a higher power output and are capable of creating deeper and more precise engravings on metal surfaces.
Common applications: Metal engraving, part identification, serial numbers, and industrial part marking.
Laser source: YAG laser.
Advantages Of Laser Engraving
Laser engraving boasts an impressive array of benefits associated with it, which makes it a primary choice for many industries. Its precision, speed, and ability to work with different materials are just the beginning. Whether it is creating intricate designs or needing to mark items permanently, laser engraving offers an array of benefits.
High Flexibility
Laser cutting can process a wide range of materials easily, from metals to non-metals, including stainless steel, aluminum alloy, carbon fiber composite, and acrylic. For complex-shaped parts, it can realize “one-time forming” through CNC programs, which greatly reduces the cost of secondary processes.
Speed And Quality Combined
Laser cutting is a lot faster compared to the other conventional mechanical methods of cutting, and also provides clean and burr-free edges, minimizing post-finishing work after the process. In particular, it guarantees competitiveness in efficiency and results on cuts of thin sheets.
Thickness Diversity
It can seamlessly switch between thin and thick sheets by adjusting the power of the laser. The modern laser cutter has the ability to cut metal sheets from a few millimeters up to several dozen millimeters thick, answering a variety of solutions for many different industries.
Disadvantages Of Laser Engraving
Because of the limitation of laser power and the size of the equipment, laser cutting can only cut thinner sheets and pipes. The greater the thickness of the workpiece, the greater the decline in cutting speed. Equipment is expensive to invest in, requiring a great deal of money at one time. It can only perform two-dimensional scanning in the X and Y directions. So, it is not suitable for processing high hardness with low ignition points, such as ceramics, glass, wood, iron, and copper.
Applications Of Laser Engraving
Laser engravers are high-tech products integrating light, machinery, and electronics. In the late 1990s, this technology developed successfully and brought a rapid growth in the engraving industry. Today, it is mainly applied in various industries: advertising, crafts, mold making, construction, printing, and packaging, woodworking, decoration, leather, etc.
Printing And Packaging
Now, with the widespread use of laser engraving machines, laser technology has been gradually applied to the making of printing plates in the printing and packaging industry. The most common packing is corrugated cardboard, which falls into two categories: sales packaging and transport packaging. Sales packaging includes items like color boxes and gift boxes, while transport packaging serves for storage and transportation purposes, such as cartons and corrugated boxes.
Decoration Industry
Raw wood, unprocessed wood, is a common material for laser engraving. Light-colored woods like birch, cherry, and maple are easily vaporized by lasers, making them ideal for engraving. However, since each type of wood has its own characteristics, wood selection should be based on the item to be engraved. It’s advised to study the engraving machine’s properties before working with unfamiliar woods.
Leather
Laser engraving machines can solve problems for the leather industry, such as slow manual labor, struggling to lay out patterns, low efficiency, and material waste. With fast speeds and simple operation, it has taken great advantage in the leather industry. The cutting of materials into required shapes according to computer data saves time and labor. There is no need for tools and molds, therefore it’s widely used in the leather industry.
Conclusion
Laser engraving is a versatile and accurate technology that adopts focused laser beams to etch designs, patterns, or text onto various materials, ranging from wood and metal to plastic and glass. The precision of the work and intricate details it provides make it ideal for applications in various industries, including advertising, packaging, crafts, and manufacturing. It works on the basis of directing a high-powered laser onto the material, causing vaporization or burning away in a controlled fashion to create a permanent mark. Due to high speed, accuracy, and low operational cost, laser engraving has become a valuable tool for both custom small-scale projects and large-scale industrial production. From personalized items to complex designs and mass productions, laser engraving is still changing the way we create and make things more personal.
Final Thoughts
As a professional with 15 years of experience in laser engraving, I’ve witnessed firsthand how this technology has revolutionized manufacturing and design. Laser engraving stands out for its unmatched precision and versatility, enabling intricate designs on diverse materials such as metals, plastics, and wood. At Ultirapid, we’ve utilized this technology to deliver exceptional results for industries like automotive, medical, and electronics. For instance, a recent project required engraving highly detailed logos on stainless steel components for a medical client. By leveraging advanced laser engraving machines, we achieved superior accuracy and durability, exceeding client expectations. If you’re seeking reliable and high-quality laser engraving services tailored to your needs, Ultirapid is here to provide industry-leading solutions backed by years of expertise.
Faqs
Can I Use Fiber Optics For Engraving?
Yes, fiber lasers can be used for engraving, especially on metals, plastics, and other materials requiring precision. They generate a focused beam that etches or engraves intricate designs with high accuracy. Fiber laser engraving is widely used for applications such as metal marking, jewelry engraving, and industrial part identification, offering fast speeds and high-quality results.
What Is The Difference Between Fiber Laser And Fiber Laser?
Fiber lasers and CO2 lasers are both used for engraving but differ in their applications and capabilities. Fiber lasers are ideal for marking and engraving metals, plastics, and ceramics, offering high precision and efficiency. On the other hand, CO2 lasers are best for cutting and engraving non-metals like wood, acrylic, and leather, providing better performance on these materials.
Which Laser Is Best For Engraving Metal?
The best laser for engraving metal is the fiber laser. It offers high precision and deep engraving capabilities, making it ideal for marking metals like steel, aluminum, copper, and titanium. Fiber lasers provide excellent efficiency, fine detailing, and high contrast, making them the preferred choice for precise, durable engravings on metal surfaces.
What Is The Maximum Depth That A Laser Engraving Machine Can Reach?
The maximum depth a laser engraving machine can achieve varies depending on the type of material and the laser’s power. For non-metal materials like wood, acrylic, and leather, the depth typically ranges from 0.1 to 0.2 mm. For metals, deeper engravings of up to 1 mm or more are possible with more powerful fiber lasers. Specialized techniques or machines may be required for deeper cuts or more challenging materials.