At first glance this seems like sort of a basic question, but these terms get interchanged all the time. If you think it through, this could cause confusion on both the buyer and the equipment provider sides, causing mistakes and mishaps in configuring the correct machine for the job.

I’ve been involved in the laser business since 1986, presently with Trotec, but previously with different types of laser companies who provide both standard and custom equipment for a wide variety of applications. In that time I have always worked closely with the Applications Technicians who are tasked with determining the feasibility of a project and specifying the correct process AND laser for the job. So this is what I learned from them over the years.

Laser Engraving
This is the most common term and simply defined, means that in the process of creating the mark, material is removed or vaporized during the process. An example in our business is CO2 laser engraving plastic for signage. This is often a two-ply plastic with one color called the “cap” laminated to a contrasting color called the “core”. The engraving process removes the cap and exposes the core to create a sign that has an attractive look. There is also engraving in the processing of metals. Typically used to guarantee permanence, material is removed to create depth. Usually this is a process reserved for 1,064nm wavelength lasers (YAG for example) as those types of lasers couple well with metals. When engraving metals this way the laser is breaking the machined surface of the object, so oxidation or rusting can occur as a result. This would be a question at the time of feasibility testing. “Do you want depth? If so do you realize that the base material could oxidize? Depending on the answer the next option might be Laser Marking.

Laser Marking
Annealing or precipitation marking is commonly used when processing metal items where the surface of the part must stay intact. Often items like surgical implants, surgical instruments or high precision bearings require this type of marking. With laser marking, the heat of the laser actually redistributes the carbon in the material to create a jet black mark with only micron level surface disruption. If done correctly there will be no oxidation or rusting even under salt spray tests or autoclaving. Some plastics like ABS and Delrin also allow for a nice contrast when processed with a 1,064nm laser. If you processed the same material with a CO2 laser you would get an engraved marked with no contrast. This is all a matter of wavelength and how it reacts to the material OR the pigment in the material.

Laser Cutting
This is sometimes confused with laser engraving but really means totally sectioning a piece or cutting shapes directly through material. Most laser cutting is performed with CO2 lasers as again they interact with the material rather than the pigment within the material. We work a lot with acrylics which can be used for signage, retail displays and many other applications. While cutting, special attention is taken for smooth cuts and what is a called “flame polished edges”. There are times where high powered, pulse YAGs are used for metal cutting but even with these materials, high powered CO2’s seem to do the best job. In the cutting world, the other technology that is used is water jetting which also does a nice job on metal and stone. Cutting does not always mean thick materials though. Other common applications are paper cutting, leather sectioning and even things like gasket cutting.
So , in conclusion, understanding this basic terminology while you are shopping for a laser or a company to work with will go far to strengthen your communication with the vendor and will give him a better chance of meeting your needs and expectations.

The actual technology that goes into todays laser engraver began to be developed in the early 1960s. It was back then that scientists and research engineers discovered that a high energy light source could be created, focused and used for various means.

Creating Light From a Gas

The gases that are used to create the original light source have a lot to do with the how a laser performs and by the way CO2 gas is used in laser engravers. So how is light created from a gas? It’s quite simple. They are created by agitating the molecules in the gas in an enclosed container, just the same way that light is generated from a neon light bulb.

A Far Cleaner and Safer Engraving Process

Laser engraving is often referred to a laser etching and unlike most all conventional methods of engraving or etching, no mask is required. That’s because unlike other methods of etching, no harsh chemicals or high temperatures are used in the laser engraving process.

The Capacity For Delicate Precision Work

Laser engraving also has many other inherent benefits when compared to standard engraving techniques. For instance, the actaul beam lends itself to far more precision work. Thus even very small and delicate items can be etched on with a laser engraver.

Other Benefits Of the Laser Engraving Process

Unlike other standard methods of engraving or etching, a laser engraver generates no dust or leaves no chemical residue. Also engraving on uneven surfaces is far more easily done by laser engraving. Thats because a light beam is far more easy to manipulate around and across these types of surfaces.

Transferring Images With a Laser Engraver

Amazingly, new technologies have been developed that allow people to automatically transfer images to surfaces with a laser engraver. The image is simply loaded into the engravers memory and with simply touch of a button the image is automatically engraved as it is on the surface of an object.

engraving takes a piece of precious metal, stone, or wood and gives it a unique look while endowing it with a sense of permanence and ownership.

the engraving process etches designs, signs, or insignias into the surface of the material by removing a portion of it.

the four basic techniques that are available for todays engravers include hand engraving, pantograph, computer numeric controlled engraving, and laser engraving.

the most ancient, and expensive, method of engraving is hand engraving. using hammers of various weights, chisels, and other sharp tools with various profiles, designs are meticulously tapped into the surface of the material. accuracy and precision are required with each and every stroke in order to achieve the proper overall look to the design.

a magnifying glass, or other enlarging equipment, is often required for the hand engraver to fill in the minutest of the design details.

another manual engraving method is the pantograph or drag method. in this old method a device (the pantograph, otherwise known as the tracing machine) scrapes the surface of the material with a sharp stylus.

the pantograph is used to trace the designs or letters from the design drawing to the surface of the material. this method is often imprecise in creating the designs and letters, giving the final product an uneven look.

one benefit of this method is that it is faster than hand engraving. you are also unlikely to get mistakes resulting from shaky hands as the stylus operator controls the writing.

a computer controlled method of engraving that gives you a more precise outcome is computer numeric control cnc engraving. a graphic software package that is similar to cross stitching is used to give you letters and designs that are uniform in appearance.

the computer is able to take the images and translate them into numeric instructions for each movement of the machine. you can change to fonts, sizes, and designs that are created with just a few clicks of the computer mouse.

the last method we will discuss is laser engraving, which etches the design into the material with the use of a laser beam rather than a sharp tool or stylus. the design is translated into numeric instructions through the use of a computer program. some of the benefits of laser engraving are the quickness with which an image can be created and the precise clean lines this method achieves. some of the disadvantages include a restricted amount of materials that can be used and a high price tag.

how to bring a laser engraver and cutter function into fully play? —the most important thing is the daily maintenance for its efficient and safety. if did it, the lifetime of machine can be longer, the processing quality can be kept and improved in order to achieve high efficiency.

please execute the following steps seriously

1. connect the ground wire for safety

the laser power and machine body should be protected by ground wire well, the ground wire should be less than 4 for special purpose. the necessities are (1) keep the power work formally, (2) keep the laser tube life time longer, (3) can prevent the machine body shake from external disturbance. (4) prevent high voltage discharge from circuit damage. please connect the ground wire by all means.

2. keep the cooling water freely

please keep the water freely whether is tap water or circulating water pump. the cooling water can carry off the heat from the laser tube, the higher the water temperature is, the lower the light output power (15-20 c water is good), when water break, the tube will be heater and be easily broken, even damage the laser power. so it is necessary to check the cooling water frequently. when the tube have the hard fold or the water pump do not work, please check and maintain on time, in case the low output power make the equipment damage.

3. keep clean & maintenance, discharge air well and wipe usually.

it is necessary to clean and maintain the machine body for its formal working. the guide roll is the key part of the machine, it must be cleaned and kept lubricating, each bearing need to be filled oil periodely, which can make the driver flexible, processing precision and extend the machine lifetime.

4.temperature and humidity

the working temperature should be in the arrange 5-35 c.two things have to be done (1) prevent the circulating water in the tube freezing, please make the water out of the tube after machine stopped. (2) the laser power should be preheat above 5 minutes before working, the preheat time is longer in raining and humidity weather, make sure the moisture go out fully before the high pressure taken, in case the high pressure circuit broken.

5.proper use of laser high pressure key

the laser power is under stand by situation after the laser high pressure key opened, when you touch the manual light or wrong computer operation, the laser light will be out to hurt the people or goods unconsciously. it is better to stop the laser high power after each job, the (laser power can open), operator is prohibited to leave during machine working, in case accident happened, we suggest the continuously working time is below 5 hours, 30 minutes rest interval can be acceptable.
6. keep far from huge electricity quantity and strong quaking equipments

sometimes, the electricity quantity interference can make the machine fail, it is rare, but it is better to be avoided. therefore, please keep far from the large electric transmission and transformation equipments like larger welder, huge electric mixer and so on as well as the strong quaking equipment like forging press, the quaking from the earth is not good for the engraving effect.
7. prevent the thundering and lightening attack

only if the building prevents measures is reliable, that is no problem on this point.
special suggestions

please install a stable power at least 3000w above to prevent the circuit or computer burned in the unstable web and electricity areas.
8. maintain the pc operation stability

pc controlling is mainly used for engraving machine; please use the pc only for engraving machine except install the necessary graphic design software.
due to the web card and virus fire wall installed, the pc speed is influenced, please do not install the virus fire wall in the computer, and forbid the web card before engraving machine working.
9�� guide rail maintenance
during the guide rail working, there is massive dust from processing materials.
maintenance method: firstly, wipe the original lubricating oil and dust on the guide rail by cotton fabric, then coat a layer of lubricating oil on the surface and side face of the guide rail. the maintenance period is one week around.

10�� lower maintenance
after the blower working for a while, there is massive dust in the blower and tubes, the dust can affect the efficiency to make the smoke dust flow out incapable. maintenance method: unload the exhaust duct and clean the dust. maintenance period: once a month

11 screws fastening:
when machine worked for a long time, the moving system screws becomes loosen, which will affect the machine smoothness. maintenance method: fasten the screws by the gift tolls. maintenance period: one month around.

12 lens maintenance:
after long working time, the lens surface has a layer of dust, which will reduce the reflection ratio and transmittance to affect the working efficiency. maintenance method: wipe the lens dust by cotton bud dipped alcohol.