Laser Engraving

Laser Engraving (marking) is a technology for applying images to the surface of items with a laser beam. The laser power is set by computer so that a thin layer of material evaporates from the surface. Removing part of the material creates a relief on the surface. At lower power you only get a change in the colour or texture of the surface. Laser marking is efficient and easy to use, precise and contact-free. It is used wherever a contrasting, durable image needs to be applied industrially to single items or to batches. Laser-applied images do not wear or wash off, even when wiped with water, alcohol or other solvents, because they are part of the material they are applied to and last just as long. Laser Engraving (marking) can be vector or raster. Vector engraving: the laser beam draws the outlines of letters and logos as thin lines. Raster: you can get an almost photographic image made up of dots of varying density.

TECHNOLOGIES

How the image is produced

During laser engraving, the laser beam is focused on the surface of the item. This causes local heating, which changes the properties of the material (its colour), melts it or partly evaporates it.

The image itself can be produced in two modes: raster and vector.

In raster mode, the image is formed the way a printer prints, with the laser beam acting as the print head. The beam "scans" the image line by line, switching on and off at the right moments.

In vector mode, the image is formed the way a plotter draws. The beam "traces" the image, working along the vector lines of the outline drawing.

ADVANTAGES OF LASER ENGRAVING

• contact-free
• high speed
• marking of assembled items without taking them apart
• high resolution
• high repeatability of complex items in any quantity
• durability
• one-off production of items of any complexity
• reliable, resistant image
• no additional finishing required (final operation)
• attractive appearance

MATERIALS FOR LASER ENGRAVING

• acrylic glass (acrylic)
• paper
• two-layer plastics
• wood (including plywood and veneer)
• cardboard
• leather and faux leather
• linoleum
• marble
• polystyrene foam
• hardboard
• polystyrene
• rubber
• glass
• plywood
• foil

TYPICAL LASER ENGRAVING ORDERS

Laser Engraving lets you apply all kinds of images and logos to a wide range of souvenir and corporate gift products:

• key rings
• lighters
• pens
• watches
• notebooks
• wallets
• desk accessory stands
• industrial products, etc.

Typical laser engraving orders:

• number tags
• nameplates
• sign plates
• tokens
• name badges
• laser engraving of corporate gifts (pens, lighters, key rings, etc.)
• stencils for marking
• marking of industrial products
• laser engraving of computer keyboards
• emblems and logos
• decorative elements for interior design
• marking of semiconductor elements and circuit board components
• production of instrument panels and buttons, marking of scales, dials and verniers

HOW THE PRICE IS CALCULATED

The price of the work takes into account:

• batch size
• engraving area
• uniformity of items
• sequential numbering
• item material
• raster or vector engraving

Laser engraving prices are approximate and may change depending on the complexity of the order.

Before placing a laser engraving order, please read the requirements for the sketches and materials supplied for laser engraving.