What is the laser engraving process?

Laser engraving is a process that vaporizes materials in fumes to engrave permanent and deep marks. The laser beam acts like a chisel, making incisions by removing layers from the surface of the material. The laser hits localized areas with massive energy levels to generate the high heat needed for vaporization. On the other hand, the holes excavated with the engraving have better protection against abrasion than the raised marks formed with the engraving.

In fact, the elevation of laser engraving can reach up to 80 microns, while the laser engraving depth can reach 500 microns. As you can see from the graph below, metals absorb fiber laser wavelength (1064 nm) more efficiently than CO2 laser (10.6 µm). For this reason, fiber laser (a type of solid-state laser) is a better choice for marking metals.

Laser engraving

is a process in which the laser beam physically removes the surface of the material to expose a cavity that reveals an image at eye level.

During the laser engraving process, the laser beam strikes the material, exposing it to a large amount of heat. Depending on the exposure time, the color changes and creates a contrast, or the material evaporates or burns. The resulting laser engraving is permanent and highly resistant to abrasion. Watch MECCO's SmartMark 20 W fiber laser while marking on brass.

See how several settings create different marks, such as frost marks, dark marks, and engravings. Since then, Q-switched YAG lasers have been used for a period as they provided a more focusable laser beam as well as higher pulse frequencies capable of engraving the finer cell configuration required by the ever-evolving flexographic printing process. The term laser marking is also used as a generic term covering a wide spectrum of surface techniques, including printing, hot marking and laser bonding. The leather is not engravable; however, finished leathers can be laser engraved with a very similar appearance to hot stamping.

Before the beam exits the laser machine and hits the material, the lens focuses the beam on the right spot. Several companies offer custom-made souvenirs by taking photographs or 3D photographs and engraving them on the glass. Laser materials, whether plastic or FlexiBrass, are available in a variety of colors, increasing the popularity of laser customization for trophies and plaques. This is because reaching the melting point of a material (laser engraving) requires less energy than vaporizing it (laser engraving).

The engravings are permanent and, therefore, removing them would be like getting a Nickelback song out of your head. In the 1400s, the engraving process became an integral part of the recreation of documents and works of art, as wooden pieces were carved, raised parts were coated with paint or ink, and pressed onto paper or cloth to duplicate an image. Most of the images to be recorded are bold letters or have large areas of continuous engraving, and are well rasterized. The “controller” is the part of the engraving machine that controls the laser; it is the “arm” that manipulates the “pencil”, moves it over the surface, and directs the laser power according to the design instructions.

The development of suitable polymer composites has also allowed the engraving quality attainable with fiber lasers to be realized in printing. The movements of the controller and the laser power are controlled by the data in the design file that you created. Raster engraving traces the laser across the surface in a linear pattern that slowly advances back and forth, reminiscent of the printhead of an inkjet printer or the like. .

Shana Lall
Shana Lall

General tv fanatic. Infuriatingly humble beer lover. General foodaholic. Incurable food fan. Typical travel fan.