How does a laser engraving machine function? 

How does a laser engraving machine function? 

A laser engraving machine generates permanent markings on a material. Engraving allows producers and buyers to identify and trace the product easily. Manufacturers use laser engraving to generate product identification numbers, barcodes, and other markings on various materials such as metal, wood, and plastic. 

Some examples of laser engraving are, a sports trophy engraved with the winner’s name, ballpoint pens etched with the brand logo, and a component inscribed with the batch number. The main advantage is that a laser can engrave almost any pattern on different materials. In this blog post, we will describe how laser engraving works. 

Laser Engraving Working Explained!

In the laser engraving process, the laser beam impinges on the material and exposes it to high temperatures. Depending on the exposure period, the color changes and generates contrast, or the material evaporates or burns. The resulting laser engraving is permanent and wear-resistant.

Laser engraving is as easy as printing. First, arrange the engraving in your preferred graphics application ( Photoshop, AutoCAD, Illustrator, Inkscape, etc.). Next, utilize the printer driver to deliver the graphic to the laser. With the touch of a button, your chosen material is laser engraved or laser cut using the saved parameters. 

The Role of Laser Engraving Machine!

A laser engraving machine is a piece of equipment that engraves drawings, characters, or numbers on materials with a laser beam. These engraving machines employ automation to create accurate cuts and engravings on a variety of materials, such as metal, wood, glass, and plastic. A laser engraving machine’s main components are the laser and the lenses, which generate and focus a beam of light intense enough to etch the pattern.

There are several applications for a laser engraving machine. Laser engraving creates sturdy, long-lasting markings such as:

  • 2D Data Matrix Codes
  • Barcodes
  • QR Codes
  • Logos

Types of Laser Engraving Machines

There are several types of laser engravers available. The most common laser engraving machines are:

Fiber laser markers:

Fiber laser markers are laser engraving machines that carry energy through glass fibers. A laser diode generates light and transports it over a fiber-optic cable, where it collects energy and changes form to suit the application. Fiber laser markers provide accurate marks and are incredibly strong. Find out more in our blog post on what fiber laser markers do.

Crystal Lasers:

Engraving machines with crystal lasers employ garnet or vanadate crystals to alter the beam’s properties and increase its power. For example, vanadate laser markers have better beam quality and depth of focus than fiber laser markers.

CO2 laser markers:

This laser engraving equipment sends the emitted light via glass tubes containing gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen. These CO2 laser marking equipment bounce light between two mirrors as their intensity increases. CO2 laser markers are flexible machines that can operate with a variety of materials, including plastic and wood.

UV laser markers: These laser engraving equipment employ ultraviolet (UV) light to mark things with cold marking techniques. Manufacturers can cause minor heat damage to biological materials and polymers using UV laser markers. 

Find a Laser Engraving Machine.

You can check our marking systems, which include a variety of lasers for industrial applications, Our laser engraving machine includes fiber lasers and CO2 lasers. If you need help, you may always free to connect with us.