Engraving Methods

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking, metal plate embossing, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:37 pm

here comes a time where you need a metal plate or various other types of material engraved with some sort of information. It could be for anything from identifying and marking your tools to a trophy placard and everything in between. Engraving is used by several industries and homeowners alike.

Why engraving? There is a certain permanence that comes with this form of marking. It will not fade away or melt off and it’s a method that will make sure your information is there to stay. This process has been in use for centuries on end.

Older methods made use of engraving and chemical etchings on metal plates to produce images on paper. The chemical process of engraving is much more time consuming and has been replaced by photography. Even further back in history we have people using handheld engraving tools. We have come a very long way in this process.

Today, the most popular method of engraving is done with high powered lasers. These systems range from desktop sized applications to almost as big as a one car garage. Lasers can mark anything from metal to crystal and is by far the most versatile method ever used.

There is also a quick and economic means of engraving and that would be the use of a high speed rotary tool. If you need to mark your shop tools or other objects for identification, you could buy an electrical handheld engraving tool and save yourself time and money. These can be found in your local big box tool stores and in arts and crafts stores as well. There’s still something to be said for low cost solutions, if that will work for you and your task. Save the laser for something really special as there are plenty of creative uses for this technology.

It’s plain to see there is a wide variety for meeting your engraving requirements. You can be as low tech or high tech about the task as you and your bank account want to be. So determine your needs and how much you can budget for the project and head to your favorite search engine to explore what’s available.

metal engraving

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking, Uncategorized, metal plate embossing, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 1:52 pm

Metal engraving is a process in which a design is incised on a piece of metal using an engraving tool. This form of decorating metal has been around for five thousand years. The tools are pressed into the metal to cutting it and forming the desired design. The harder one pushes the engraving tool into the metal, the wider the mark. The correlation between dipping depth and engraving width is determined by the top angle of the tool.
Engraving tools are made out of hard steel that cuts the design onto metal surfaces such as steel plates or copper. Engraving tools are available in a variety of sizes and shapes for making different lines and marks. The three most commonly used tools are called the chisel, the graving tool (also called bulino), and the burin (also called ciapolla).
The chisel is not used for cutting, but is hammered. This does not remove any of the metal, but depresses it. A pliable support is placed underneath to prevent the metal from breaking or buckling.
Gravers are halved carbide round rods with a cutting edge. The graving tool has a wood handle making it easier to control the depth of the cut made with this sharp steel tool.
The burin is also a sharp steel tool, but comes in different shapes (lined, rounded and flat) to produce different effects.

The two most popular kinds of engraving decoration are damascening and niello.
Damascening is metal inlay in which a fine metal plate is inserted into a grove that has been made in a differently colored metal, and then is beaten in.
Niello is a mixture of silver, tin, lead, and copper that has been fused. This heated mixture is used to filled an engraving in a precious metal. After the mixture cools, the face plate is polished to bring out the semi-opaque design.
Engraving produces a unique quality of mark characterized by steady, clean edges. These lines and marks are produced by specific tools designed just for that purpose. This is a very specialized form of art with many types of materials and designs that takes years to master.

The Future of Laser Engraving

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 10:37 am

The future of laser engraving is directly influenced by the variables of materials, the types of lasers and their capabilities.

What is Laser Engraving?

Laser engraving is a technique that uses a laser to etch/mark or to engrave the surface of other objects. These marks can vary in depth and can be used to create designs in or on objects or to imprint a message. The types of lasers used depend on the material being etched. The next generation and lasers of the future will advance three-dimensional techniques, integrate with existing design programs and see the development of better multi-engraving etchers and micro-machines. In addition, laser engraving techniques of the future will begin to develop and implement green methods and practices.

How Does a Laser Engrave or Etch a Material?

Basically, a laser beam (Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is focused on a material which results in a modification of the surface and in the optical appearance of the material. The material being engraved determines the type of modification that will occur. For example, on paper, wood or cardboard the etching would occur as carbonization (burning) while the surface of a metal might be melted.

Different Types of Lasers, Their Uses and Future Applications

A few examples of how engraving lasers are currently being used include engraving/etching bar codes, 2D codes, photographs, identification tags, logos, glass doors, mirrors and to mark circuit boards and electronic equipment. Advancements in laser engraving technology to reduce material stress and vibrations are helping to expand and increase the potential for future marketable applications.

CO2 Lasers typically use low power sources to engrave plastics, paper, acrylic materials, wood, transparent objects and leather (Long wavelength applications) and use a Carbon Dioxide gas sealed chamber inside of the laser to create the laser photon stream. Generally, a CO2 laser is used for organic materials.

ND: YAG Lasers are small, affordable air cooled systems which are designed to engrave metallic materials and non organic materials. ND:YAG refers to the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet that is pumped with the use of a lamp or a diode to emit the photon stream.

Fibre Lasers, a derivative of the ND:YAG Laser (Pulse repetition rates-can emit longer pulses with lower pulse energy) commonly uses a ytterbium doped glass fiber to reflect the photons and can be used for ceramics, metals and non organic materials.

Green Practices and the Economy: Future Considerations for Laser Engraving Technology

Engraving lasers do not use ink, leave a permanent mark and are generally good for the environment.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act designed to jump start the economy with a focus on restoring and building American-made innovative science technologies may benefit and encourage laser engraving technological advancements. As a result, future laser engraving technologies that focus on energy conservation, utilization of green technologies and renewable resources may be eligible for tax incentives. Also, under this act, qualifying equipment purchases may be deducted during this tax year enabling businesses to purchase or lease qualifying laser etchers.

Considerations for the development of future engraving lasers might also focus on ease of use issues and on how to minimize vibrations and material stress along with processing speed, pulse repetition rates and the quality of results.

Future laser engravers will become more compact and portable, have multiple material engraving capabilities, use minimal resources and energy and have three dimensional engraving capabilities. In order to advance, the engraving lasers of the future will also need to be capable of engraving textured surfaces, irregular shapes and be able to do multiple stages of etching, engraving and carving.

Laser Engraving Machines

Filed under: Laser Engraving — Tags: , , — admin @ 12:25 pm

Laser engraving machines do not require typical mechanical cutting equipment to engrave objects. Instead they use the focused beam of a laser for clean, high speed engraving.

A laser device uses optic lens to concentrate and direct energy to a particular point. This focused energy can be used to engrave, etch or mark both metallic and non-metallic objects. The heat generated by the beam removes material from the surface of the object. Because of the ability to control the intensity of the laser and the precise focusing capability, laser engraving machines are capable of working faster and with more precision than mechanical engraving machines.

Many laser engraving machines use computer-controlled systems that handle the process at speeds and complexity beyond the capabilities of a human operator. One simply programs the design into the software program and the computer automatically engraves the object on its own.

A laser engraving machine generally consists of a guiding mechanism; and optic system for generating the laser beam; a movement system; a cooling system, and an exhaust system. Fiber and CO2 lasers are typical types of lasers used for engraving.

Laser engraving machines generate a lot of energy, which is in turn converted into heat. A lasing machine can accumulate heat rapidly, so an efficient cooling system is needed. Some lasers are fired in pulses to reduce the heat build-up.

The width of the laser beam is controlled by setting the optical wavelength. The beam cuts through the surface of the object engraved at a similar width with the heat either vaporizing or breaking off material from the surface. Because of vaporization, it is necessary to have a good exhaust and ventilation system to prevent the accumulation of toxic gases.

The materials used for laser engraving are metals, plastics, wood, stone and glass. When engraving softwood it is necessary to use low-powered lasers to prevent ignition or excessive vaporization. Metals, on the other hand, require very powerful lasers to engrave their hard surfaces. Sometimes metals can be coated with aluminium in which case the laser removes the coating creating a mark instead of an engraving. Plastic can be marked or engraved, and also changed by a process called foaming.

One use of laser engraving machines is to mark objects for identification, branding, traceability, styling or similar purposes. Part numbers, logos, serial numbers, product specifications, and other identifying and informational matter can be engraved into products.

Laser Engraving Machines

Filed under: Laser Engraving — Tags: , — admin @ 12:20 pm

Laser engraving, or laser marking, is a great way to accomplish many important things and is used for a wide range of applications. Laser engraving marking is commonly used tofor: emboss data on credit cards - personalising them with information such as a person’s name and unique card number; stamping or engraving part numbers on items in order to track them for things such as inventory purposes; and for component marking, (to engrave things such as serial numbers serialisation on items that need to be kept track of).

Laser engraving machines are the fastest, most accurate and most efficient means of performing laser marking. Whether the item in need of laser engraving is metal or plastic, these machines can easily and accurately mark them with the exact information that you require. By using laser engraving machines, a very large quantity of items can be marked with information in a rapid, accurate fashion.

Rather than using labels, which can peel or fade away, it is highly recommended to use the more permanent option of laser engraving. Items that have valuable information engraved on them are much easier to track and take care of. People’s personal information, on things like credit cards, is much more durable when marked by a laser engraving machine.

Whether you want to streamline your parts or components, personalise a batch of credit cards, or any other imaginable scenario possible, laser engraving machines are excellent ways to get the job done as quickly and easily as possible.