Etching or engraving for diverse surfaces

Laser engraving process involves the user of laser for creation of detailed designs for etching or

engraving in material surface of distinct objects. Engraved images or designers may include

extremely high quality and finely designed delicate features while some may include mere

marking designs for identification or other purpose. The application includes industrial usage for

numerous sectors like keepsake engraving, medicine and engineering field, etc. Engraved

photographs on hard and durable surfaces like smooth tiles, etc are becoming well sought after in

the market giving a rise to the market for laser engraving.

Since laser offers higher versatility, a broad spectrum of materials and metals can be used for the

process and even though at the beginning of laser engraving research and tests, the metals were

fairly incompatible but now it is vastly used on novel metal alloys and other laserable materials.

Laser engraving machine and process for Wood and Paper

Burning designs through laser into wooden objects is touted among the earliest uses of this

process. Since wood doesn't take too long for burning and offers a compatible surface, it only

requires low-wattage lasers. Hardwoods like oak work quite amazingly with laser processes

however, softer woods may result in inconsistent depths in the design and have been claimed to

cause flame or ignition due to the etching process. Low wattage laser works best on wood and

paper and fiberboard functions great in context of papers but newsprint or linty paper could lead

to burning.

Plastics

Acrylic is vastly used for laser etching as it keeps the etched design together and results in a

splendid finished output. Bakelite and other hard plastics also work best with this laser etching

process. But Styrene and other similar softer plastics don't work too well with it as they tend to

melt during the process so the engraving ends up having a deformed appearance instead of the

expected result.

Like metals, numerous special plastics that are laserable are designed specifically for the purpose

of laser etching. Silicates are frequently used to reduce the heat during te process and prevent

melting of excess material. Vinyl and silicones are not compatible and don't function at all when

used for engraving through laser.

Laser engraving machine or Metals

Certain Standard metals need a predefined, shorter-wavelength for the treatment which is why

the machine also needs to be specifically designed to accommodate these materials or metals

needs. So, using all types of machines will not yield positive results. The machine designed for

coated metals also utilizes a distinct functional aspect and results in better results after it

vaporizes the coating for the metal under it such as anodized aluminum. Patented technologies

by different manufacturers are now used to make engraving machines better suited to metals.

Stone and glass are considered fairly hard to engrave well through use of lasers and usual work

well when treated through conventional or other engraving techniques. Nevertheless, a special or

a combination of distinct engraving technique can be used to develop beautiful patterns since

stone and glass produce some of the best results and work well in terms of durability.