All you need to know about laser engraving
How it works, advantages, choices... Dive into the world of laser engraving!
Laser engraving, marking, and cutting are used not only in industry, but also by retailers, craftsmen (for product customization), and signage specialists.
From laser sources to materials and laser engraving machines, discover the possibilities for your business.
The differences between laser engraving and marking
Laser marking and laser engraving are techniques frequently used to personalize items, provide signage, or mark parts in industrial processes. Their major advantage: high efficiency on a variety of materials, for long-lasting, aesthetic results.
However, they differ in several respects: interaction with the material, appearance, and durability of the result.
- Laser marking involves marking logos or inscriptions on a material by heating it to its melting point.
- Laser marking is particularly well suited to surface treatments because of its superficiality.
- Its high precision makes it ideal for small characters and detailed patterns.
- It is also highly resistant to heat and corrosive substances.
- This technology promotes increased productivity thanks to high marking speeds.
- This technique involves vaporizing the material deeply onto the surface to be engraved.
- Laser engraving uses a powerful laser beam to remove the top layers of material by sublimation (transforming it from a solid to a gaseous state).
- The depth of the engraving can vary depending on the material, the power of the laser, and the amount of material evaporated.
- Despite a longer engraving time, it offers greater durability thanks to the engraving depth.
- It is compatible with projects requiring a certain degree of wear resistance.
Laser engraving vs. laser cutting
In engraving, "laser table" or "laser station" machines can process shapes, graphics, images, and text to engrave photographs, logos, or lettering on a variety of substrates. Two processes are possible.
- Raster engraving, which involves removing material line by line or point by point.
- Vector engraving (or marking), is based on a graphic composed solely of vectors (geometric lines and curves) drawn one after the other. Compared to raster engraving, this method takes longer.
Laser cutting, on the other hand, is a thermal separation process where the laser passes through and cuts out well-defined geometric shapes - letters, signs, labels, models, objects, etc. - and then engraves them. With the exception of metal, the laser table can cut a wide range of materials including wood, leather, cardboard, rubber, silicone, textiles, plastic, etc.
Laser engraving and laser cutting: case studies
Laser cutting and engraving machines (CO2, hybrid, green...) are capable of handling a wide range of applications:
Product personalization through laser engraving
Signage: engraving and cutting of panels
Identification and traceability with laser engraving
Object creation with laser cutting and engraving
Focus on laser classes
Whatever the application, to use laser engraving machines safely, there is a standard that qualifies them according to four categories divided into sub-classes, from the most to the least dangerous for users. These are referred to as laser classes, and are structured as follows:
- laser class 1 - safe for normal use;
- laser class 2 - harmless to the human eye during short-term exposure;
- laser class 3R - risk of eye damage in direct vision, but low if exposure is limited;
- laser class 3B - risk of eye damage in direct vision, even with brief exposure;
- laser class 4 - risk of serious eye damage and skin burns.
What are laser sources?
CO2 laser engraving
CO2 laser engraving is a marking and cutting technique used in various industries and markets, mainly for marking organic materials.
It relies mainly on the use of a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser beam for precise, detailed marking.
The advantage of the CO2 laser engraving machine lies in its versatility. And for good reason, its adjustable settings enable it to cut a wide range of materials.
DPSS sources
The DPSS laser, for Diode Pumped Solid State Laser, consists in generating laser light using the resonator principle, in combination with pump energy.
Several laser sources fall into this category:
- green lasers,
- UV lasers,
- YVO4 lasers...
Fiber laser
Fiber lasers involve guiding light and the booster pump through glass fibers (fiber lasers). This technique enables high-resolution engraving thanks to the quality of the beam and optimal focus (precise focus).
On the production side, fiber lasers offer efficient cooling and a compact structure.
The MOPA laser
The MOPA laser can imitate the long pulse of conventional fiber lasers as well as the short pulse of conventional solid-state lasers. It enables marking of equivalent quality, with a faster process.
This technology is compatible with many projects. And for good reason, reactions are moderate (burning, melting, heating, etc.).
Laser engraving on different materials
Not all materials and laser sources are compatible with each other, depending on whether they are organic, plastic or metal.
For marking organic materials, we prefer CO2 laser sources, and the same goes for our plastics (Gravoply) or PMMA, which can be cut and engraved with CO2. For metal marking, the best source(fiber or hybrid laser) will depend on the desired result.
Wood is a very popular material for laser cutting and engraving.
For engraving that respects its characteristics, we recommend the use of a CO2 laser engraver. This will enable you to apply varnish or paint afterwards.
Laser engraving on metal produces a permanent, high-contrast marking without damaging the material.
For this type of project, we recommend using a raw, anodized, painted or plated metal surface.
Laser engraving on glass can also be used for personalization projects (window dressing, glass panels, etc.).
The technique owes its popularity to the quality of the rendering, which enhances the object without damaging the material.
The different types of laser engravers
Different types of laser engravers are available to suit all applications and uses. For example, the need is not the same for a production line, a workshop, or an independent store.
We therefore distinguish between galvanometric technology, used in laser stations and integrable lasers, and gantry technology, used in laser tables. This difference makes it possible to adapt to production environments and the size of the objects to be engraved.
The laser station, an equipment that can be adapted to any space, from the factory to the store.
Laser stations use galvanometric technology, with 4 different laser sources:
- fiber,
- DPSS (hybrid and green),
- CO2.
Engraving is achieved using a set of mirrors that reflect laser beams at very high speed.
They can be used in a wide variety of settings like factories, robotic cells, workshops, offices, independent stores, etc.
This type of engraver is fast and precise, mainly for marking and engraving small objects.
The laser table, compatible with small spaces
Laser tables engrave line by line along 3 axes: horizontal (X), vertical (Z) and depth (Y). This technique ensures clean cutting or engraving.
The laser tables offered by Gravotech feature a CO2 or fiber source, or both in the same laser table.
They are compatible with smaller spaces such as a workshop, factory, office or store.
This is a slower type of laser engraving machine, lacking in precision but offering a large marking area.
Laser integration for production lines
Integrable lasers use galvanometric technology.
4 laser sources are available from Gravotech:
- fiber,
- DPSS (hybrid and green),
- CO2.
Generally speaking, these laser engravers are used in industry (production lines, factories, robotic cells...) to mark parts. The goal is to mark for identification and traceability.
Which laser engraving software is the most suitable?
To drive these different laser engraving machines, you need laser engraving software with, CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) functionality and a controller. These are essential to create your toolpaths, control the machine, and send it your command file (G-code). You can also use CAD (Computer Aided Design) or DAO (Computer Aided Drafting) software to design, draw, and specify your patterns and texts to be engraved.
At Gravotech, 3 software packages are available to manage your laser or integrable table or station:
- Gravostyle™: the engraver's toolbox for exploring all design possibilities.
- Lasertrace: the industrial software for marking traceability and identification (excluding laser tables).
- Gravotouch™: the software designed for use on a tablet in the store, featuring a modular, fully customizable digital interface, ideal for beginners.
From machine technologies and solutions, laser engraving is integrated into a dense environment. Today, laser engraving is compatible with a wide range of materials, needs, and applications, guaranteeing results adapted to every type of project.
Would you like to find out more about our laser engraving machines? Gravotech's team of experts can answer all your questions.