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 The chemical process of engraving is much more time consuming and has been replaced by photography.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.

Different materials that can be engraved with lasers

Filed under: Laser Engraving, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 2:09 pm

Engraving inventory and supplies with lasers has grown very popular with inventory managers. From government agencies to schools and hospitals, any organisation with a sizable amount of supplies to track and sort benefits from laser engraving. Furthermore, lasers can engrave almost any surface with barcodes, codes, images, or text.

Laser Basics

Few people realise that the word laser is actually an acronym, which stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”. The three most commonly used lasers are CO2 lasers, which use carbon dioxide gas inside the laser to produce a stream of photons; nd:YAG lasers, which use neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet to produce its photons; and fiber lasers, which use a glass fiber doped with ions such as ytterbium to create photons.

While the different lasers may not mean much to the average lay person, it makes a difference when engraving different materials with laser technology. For example, when engraving metal with a laser beam, the best type of laser to use is either an nd:YAG or fiber laser; CO2 lasers should not be used. On the other hand, less reflective materials, including wood, acrylics, and plastics, are better suited for CO2 lasers. When choosing a company to engrave inventory items with lasers, it’s important to check to see if they are using the right technology for the job.

    Industries in Which Laser Engraving is Especially Important

    Medical: In the medical industry, it’s crucial to mark equipment indelibly, and laser engraving is perfect for the job. Non-intrusive laser engraved codes on equipment and tools stay clean, do not rub off, and make it easy to track medical inventory as they move from ward to ward or hospital to hospital.

    Electronics: Ever opened up a computer and taken a close look at the various parts inside? Each is marked with serial numbers, sometimes text, and other identifying marks. This type of engraving on electronics parts is the work of laser engraving.

    Manufacturing:     In a factory environment, knowing how much of an item is produced, and where it’s shipped is absolutely crucial. Regardless of extreme conditions of heat or cold, laser engraving on cardboard, metal, plastic, and other surfaces easily stands the test of time.

    Other Application of Laser Engraving

    Laser engraving can go far beyond simple barcodes and supply management applications. These days, laser engraving is used on promotional gifts, such as pens and key chains; on signs and nameplates; on custom rubber stamps, such as an address stamp; and delicate decorative work on glassware and ceramics.

    Given the power and versatility of laser engraving in virtually every business, and the ability of lasers to engrave virtually any surface, it is likely that laser engraving will remain popular for decades to come. If there’s a better technology for inventory managers to track their supplies than laser engraving, that technology hasn’t yet been invented.

    nd:YAG lasers offer an ideal solution for medical engraving needs

    Filed under: Laser Engraving, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 12:22 pm

    nd:YAG lasers have become increasingly popular among medical device manufacturers who are looking for a highly precise, reliable method to effectively mark and identify their devices and components, such as surgical instruments, implants and prostheses, with serial numbers, logos, proprietary symbols or labels, as well as other information.

    Offering an unmatched level of precision, accuracy, and speed, nd:YAG lasers provide a number of advantages over other engraving and etching processes. Employing the accuracy of computerized laser beam guidance, nd:YAG lasers provide deep, detailed engravings of a much higher quality than those obtained through other techniques, such as silk screening, or mechanical or chemical etching.

    With higher energy levels and shorter pulses and wavelengths than CO2 lasers, nd:YAG lasers can achieve markings which are much more precise and finely detailed than those achievable by systems using the CO2 technology, making nd:YAG lasers the ideal solution for fine, accurate marking of metal, plastic, and composite materials.

    Most medical instruments, devices and components are used in a sterile environment, and nd:YAG laser marking systems offer advantages in that arena, as well. Employing a unique process that allows the surface of the device or component to remain smooth during and after the marking process, nd:YAG laser marking helps to ensure the engraved areas will not become harbors for germs or bacteria, while also resulting in marks which are impervious to chemicals and heat.

    nd:YAG laser marking systems offer a level of control that matches or exceeds most government requirements for marking of medical devices, making them an ideal choice for your manufacturing business.