What Is Laser Engraving? A Tech Guide on the Key Things to Know

The word laser breeds excitement. It’s just human nature.

Thanks to advancements in technology, lasers have a more practical use. Because of this, laser engraving is growing in popularity. 

Use among craftsmen and a generation of do-it-yourselfers has only increased because of accessibility. Laser engravers can help you create some unique projects. It may seem scary at first, but understanding the definition of laser engraving leads to a less intimidating process.

Before you work with a laser engraving machine, you should learn more. Understand the difference between engraving, marking, and etching. Each has its own function and process. 

Here we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of laser engraving. So without further ado, let’s begin. 

What is a Laser?

For those who don’t know, the word laser is an acronym. Laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. This may come as a shock to you, but let’s explain. 

A laser works by way of electricity that drives light amplification. As energy passes through specialized material, atoms begin to bounce around. The atoms then discharge and release extra energy that results in light. 

This light material is called photons. It’s concentrated by mirrors inside the equipment to shoot a beam of light or as you know it, a laser. The laser you’d use for engraving is a lot different than the one you’d get your cat to chase.

A high-powered laser will burn the surface of an item. Engravers are hooked up to additional technology that calibrates the temperature of the photons and guides the laser. This provides a focused beam that’s easy to engrave with. 

Understand Laser Engraving

Engraving is an aggressive method of laser use. It creates intricate “cuts” on different materials (usually metals, silver, gold, platinum, etc.) for visual pleasure. 

The laser is used to melt the surface of the material and change its roughness. The laser changes that solid to a gas, skipping the step of a liquid altogether. The energy needed to reach a vaporization temperature makes an engraver very powerful.

Jewelry is the most popular item to have engraved. Wedding rings, watches, pendants, but almost anything can be engraved. 

So how do you get different types of engravings?

The depth of the laser depends on the controller. The power that drives the machine along with the number of passes can create different designs. Each item you’re engraving has a specific depth it should be engraved at. 

Some shallow and others deep. Engraving depends on the design. 

Using a Laser Engraver Machine

When you’re using a laser engraver you have a few steps to follow:

1. Consider a Design – Before you engrave anything, take the time to consider the design. Laser engraving is permanent. You’ll want to practice and think out your future engraving beforehand so you can avoid mistakes. 
2. Creation Phase – Now that you’ve found some inspiration, you need to design your image or text. Designing can be done with a computer program to ensure the laser engraver does the job right. Most engraving machines come with their own software, but you might need to use other forms like Adobe Illustrator. 
3. Decide on Settings – The settings you choose will control the laser’s strength, depth of cut, speed, passes, line thickness, and other important information. You should mess around with the settings a few times on scrap material to get the design you want. 
4. Start – Engraving can be as easy as pressing start. Once you’ve sorted out the nitty-gritty, pressing a button will start the process if you’re using a machine. 
5. Remove and Observe – Once the piece is done being engraved you can remove it from the machine. If you’ve left anything out, make a design that solves the issue. Rise, wash, repeat. 

Laser engraving is simple as long as you follow these steps. Now that you‘ve mastered this process, you can get into the fun additives of engraving.

Color Creation

The color you’re creating has everything to do with the material being engraved. 

Certain materials react with high-energy laser light on a chemical level. Production of color isn’t the scientific answer. Burning and stripping away layers of the material is what gives way to specific colors. 

If you’re considering aluminum, the oxidation properties actually turn the material white. This isn’t the case when you’re engraving other materials. 

Adding color takes additional techniques. The use of foils and powdered dyes can introduce color to a material when engraving a logo. These are spread overtop of the engraving and passed over once again making them permanent. 

What’s the Difference?

When it comes to etching, engraving, and marking, there are some evident differences. You know what engraving is so let’s focus on the other two laser uses.

Marking is done by operating a lower-powered laser. This laser creates high-contrast marking on a surface but doesn’t alter the surface as significantly as engraving. The surface will be discolored but left alone as far as composition. 

Etching uses a high-heat laser but is the opposite of engraving. This laser actually melts the layer of the material, expands it, and then raises. Etching melts the first thousandth of an inch of the surface of your material creating an embossed design. 

More to Learn

Technological advancements make laser engraving possible. 

The information on the internet that is at your disposal is endless. Laser engraving can be as detailed and intricate as you want it to be. 

By now you should see how easy it is to use a laser engraver, the only steps left are to try it yourself. Give it some time and remember, practice makes perfect. 

Helping You Understand Tech

Technology is at the forefront of laser engraving and the world. 

If you’re searching for technological answers, then this is the place for you. Our blogs are updated daily to make sure you’re getting the most relevant news. 

We cover everything tech from trending topics, to recent news, and even business. But it doesn’t stop there. We are constantly expanding our website to make things easier for you, the reader.

With all this technology at your fingertips, why wouldn’t you take advantage? Keep reading and learn more about the next big thing.