Unlocking the Secrets of Metal Laser Engraving

Jul 02, 2024

With laser equipment, marking operations, whether it is a soft metal like aluminum or a hard metal or alloy like steel, can be achieved quickly, easily and permanently, bringing unprecedented convenience and efficiency to metal processing. Laser marking and engraving can be used to produce traceability labels and create personalized promotional items.

Zero-contact metal marking ensures unnecessary wear and tear on both the engraving material and the engraving tool. In this way, the cost of the marking technology is significantly controlled in the long run. At the same time, the marking technology is also able to engrave it. In this article, metal laser engraving and marking and precautions will be introduced in detail.

The difference between metal laser engraving and laser marking

Laser engraving creates a depth mark by penetrating the surface of the material, whereas laser marking creates a clear, high-precision mark on the surface of the material only, with little or no penetration of the material.

Laser engraving not only removes material from the surface of the metal, but may also alter the structure of the metal surface, resulting in contrasting and easily recognizable markings. Laser marking, on the other hand, is a technique that utilizes a concentrated laser beam to alter the surface of a workpiece.

Manufacturers tend to use galvanometer or fiber laser systems when marking bare metals and reinforced plastics. Fiber lasers have a longer wavelength than CO2 lasers, so they are more readily absorbed by metal surfaces, allowing them to be marked. Although manufacturers sometimes use laser engraving and laser marking interchangeably, there are distinct differences.

What do I need to be aware of when laser engraving on metal surfaces?

Laser engraving has a wide range of applications, so if you master some operating techniques can help you get better results in this process, here are some tips for your reference:

Before starting laser engraving, carefully clean the metal surface using denatured alcohol and a clean cloth to ensure that the surface is dry, dust-free, and free of grease and other contaminants, which not only ensures the efficiency and quality of the laser engraving, but also helps to prolong the life of the laser equipment and cutting head.

When laser engraving on metal, an appropriate amount of marking aid (or "laser engraving spray") is sprayed to enhance the absorption of laser energy.

Because engraving settings vary from metal to metal, it is necessary to test the metal being engraved to determine the optimum laser speed and power settings when first engraving a metal part.

For better positioning, autofocus or manual focus can be performed, and raster settings can be used to optimize images, graphics, and text.

Laser engraving vs. hand engraving

The advent of laser engraving has certainly boosted the engraving industry as a whole, but it has posed a challenge to engravers who are relatively unskilled. Hand engraving is an art, its core value lies in human creativity, just as engraving can not replace the unique flavor of calligraphy. Many people would like to have their favorite elements incorporated into their carvings, but these personalized designs are often hard to find in templates and can only be accomplished by hand carving, so those who are true carving artists will only become more valuable.

However, the use of laser engraving can be realized in mass production, thus making the high price of engraved works of art become more affordable. The majority of players can therefore enjoy a more diversified and reasonably priced choices, which undoubtedly brings great benefits and convenience to the cultural game enthusiasts.

All in all, under the competition of mechanical technology, the way out for hand-carving is to keep pursuing higher artistry and fineness to maintain the market position.

Engraving applications

Love Bridge Lock

On charming bridges across the country, you'll find a unique symbol of love - the love bridge lock. On these delicate padlocks, the lovers' beloved names or unique initials are carved, each stroke uniting the promise and expectation of love. And the keys to these locks are discarded forever, signifying that love, like this lock, will never be opened until the end of life. This is not only a romantic expression, but also a solemn oath of rock-solid love.

Reach a verdict

Metal Engraving is the best choice for creating high-quality products and making brand markings. Due to the growing demand for customized metal parts, metal laser engraving technology has become the process of choice for designers and manufacturers for custom part production. As a result, it is widely used in industrial operations, commercial product marking, and more.

The market is very competitive nowadays, so if you are eager to make your products stand out, then metal engraving process will be your best choice. Of course, in order to ensure the desired results, it is also crucial to choose a reliable partner to establish a cooperative relationship with. We offer you the opportunity to purchase Engraving tools We offer you the best channels for purchasing engraving tools.

Common problems

Time required for laser engraving

Depending on the complexity of the design to be engraved, the type of material and the power of the laser determines the amount of time needed to engrave the metal, and laser engraving takes anywhere from a few seconds to several hours.

Does engraving cause wear and tear?

Once laser engraving is complete, it is almost impossible to completely remove or reverse its effects. This is because it works by physically cutting through the surface of the material with a laser beam, rather than a physical or chemical printing process on a physical surface like a printer. However, if exposed to air for a long period of time, the engraving may be eroded by the natural environment.

Metal suitable for engraving

Aluminum is one of the most popular and widely used metals for engraving. However, stainless steel, brass and copper are also suitable for engraving due to their good heat transfer properties.