Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Engraving ...

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Engraving Machines

Many people underestimate the size and importance of the engraving industry. According to a Linkedlin survey, the value of the engraving machine industry in the United States in will be US$1.6 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.93%. The engraving industry is still at the cusp of a technological revolution. The advent of laser engraving now allows for more efficient engraving at a lower cost. Soon, engraving machines will become commonplace, similar to home printing machines.

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But what exactly is a laser engraving machine? So what can a laser engraving machine do? Keep reading the Fumeclear article to learn all about these powerful tools and the advantages they have to offer!

What Is a Laser Engraver?

A laser engraver is a powerful tool that enables the user to engrave images, graphics, and or text onto a long list of common materials. They work fast and precisely to create high-quality engravings with minimum help from the user. 

As technology continues to progress, laser engravers are getting more affordable and higher quality in the products that they create. More and more people are considering getting their own laser engraver for their home business or hobby. But there are a number of things that you should consider before purchasing any laser engraving machine.

Who can learn to use a laser engraving machine?

Another advantage of laser engravers is that they can do most of the work themselves, as long as you edit the desired pattern/image/text into place. This means they are very simple to use. In other words, as long as you know how to use a computer, almost anyone can learn to use them.

Once the design is entered into the system, the laser will automatically engrave the required images, text and/or graphics onto the work material. This means you don’t need a particularly steady hand or any other skills to make a laser engraver work for you. You need to have a basic understanding of how to use a computer and possibly graphic design software to create the designs you want to print, but you don't need to be an expert in these areas, you just need to know enough to get the designs designed for you to engrave division.

Who Should Buy a Laser Engraver?

It's really simple. Laser engraving systems can engrave or cut materials cleanly, accurately, quickly, and require minimal setup time. As with high-volume production, results are easily repeatable with just a few pieces. So, whether you are a hobbyist, a small business, or a manufacturing company and you need the qualities mentioned above, a laser may be right for you. There are many different lasers available in different sizes and feature sets, at a wide range of prices. You can find laser engraving systems costing anywhere from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Affordability is a relative matter, but rest assured you may be able to find something that fits your budget.

What Materials Can Engraving Machines Work With?

Laser engravers are incredibly powerful tools. They offer exceptional control over energy output, allowing for highly precise engravings. As a result, you can use laser engravers on both sturdy and delicate materials, depending on the type of laser you have.

Fiber laser engraving is popular for metals. You can use it for jewelry, nameplates, or other metal gifts.

CO2 lasers are primarily used for plastics, leather, glass, wood, and other softer materials. Additionally, you can use a laser engraver on paper. This technique can create unique and striking designs for invitations, artworks, and other paper products.

Moreover, you can use laser engraving on glass. Traditionally, engraving has been reserved for other materials because the process can easily break fragile glass. However, laser engraving allows you to create precise images on glass as well as other materials.

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You can also perform precise engravings on plastic and rubber materials. Modern laser engravers are highly accurate and can engrave images onto plastic. However, it's essential to know which materials should not be used with a laser engraver. For example, PVC plastic should not be used. When processed with a laser, PVC emits hazardous fumes that are corrosive and can damage the laser system itself, even with exhaust ventilation.

What Size of Laser Engraving Machine Do I Need?

If you are engraving smaller items, a small laser engraver will be sufficient. These are sometimes called desktop engravers and are popular with hobbyists and craftsmen. However, if you are considering starting a business, you might need a larger, more durable laser engraver.

The power of the laser determines the speed and depth of your cuts, so keep this in mind when making a purchase.

Even if you occasionally need to engrave larger items, you can always use professional services. Therefore, if you only need to handle larger jobs occasionally, you might want to buy a small laser engraver and rely on professional services when needed.

What are the disadvantages of laser engraving machines?

Laser engraving machines are highly efficient and precise tools widely used for engraving and cutting various materials. However, they also have some potential drawbacks and limitations, which include the following aspects:

1. Health Risks:

   • Harmful Gases and Particles: During the laser engraving process, especially when engraving organic materials like plastics, wood, or leather, harmful gases and particles are released. These can be detrimental to the operator's respiratory system, and prolonged exposure may lead to health issues.
   • Laser Radiation: High-power lasers pose potential hazards to the eyes and skin. Without proper protective measures, they can cause burns or permanent vision damage.

2. Environmental Impact:

   • Emissions: The harmful gases and particulate matter produced during the laser engraving process can pollute the environment if not properly managed.
   • High Energy Consumption: Operating a laser engraving machine requires substantial electricity, particularly for high-power laser equipment, leading to a significant energy demand.

3. Equipment Cost and Maintenance:

   • High Initial Cost: Laser engraving machines, especially high-precision or high-power ones, have a high initial purchase cost, which may be a barrier for small businesses or individual users.
   • Maintenance and Consumables Cost: Regular maintenance is necessary, including cleaning optical components, replacing laser tubes, and maintaining cooling systems, which increases operating costs.

4. Material Limitations:

   • Material Compatibility: While laser engraving machines can handle various materials, not all materials are suitable for laser engraving. For example, some highly reflective metals and certain plastics may require special types of lasers or additional coatings.
   • Thermal Impact: Laser engraving is a thermal process, which can adversely affect heat-sensitive materials, causing deformation, charring, or discoloration.

5. Operational Complexity:

   • Requires Expertise: Operating a laser engraving machine requires a certain level of expertise and skill, including equipment calibration, software use, and experience with different materials.
   • Safety Measures: Strict adherence to safety protocols is necessary, including wearing appropriate protective gear and ensuring the equipment has effective ventilation and protective systems.

Despite the many advantages of laser engraving machines, these potential issues must be considered. Appropriate measures should be taken to mitigate the negative impacts to ensure safe and efficient operation.

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Hi Everyone,
This is my first post and I am hoping that you can help me make a couple of informed decisions before purchasing a new machine. These are probably some really simplistic questions for you veterans but please keep in mind that I am absolutely starting from the beginning. I have been reading and studying for a while now and I think these first questions would start me inthe right direction.

1. I know that the spot size of the laser tube increases with wattage and that a 40 watt tube spot size will engrave better than a 100 watt tube. I know that a 100 watt tube will cut thicker materials cleaner and faster.My first intentions of use will be mainly cutting and engraving on 3/4"(19mm) pine but I would like to also engrave and cut on other materials too. So my first question is how much less is the quality of engraving on a 100-130 watt machine versus a 40-60 watt model? Could a high resolution lens on a 100-130 watt machine engrave as fine as a standard lens on a 40-60 watt model?

2. Power control. Do you have less power control over a 100-130 watt machine than you do on a 40-60 watt model. Can I turn the power down low enough to engrave anodized aluminum or marble? Would an 80 watt model be a better compromise for engraving? Would 80 watts be enough to cut 3/4"pine or similar woods with good quality cuts?

3. Table size. I'm thinking a 36"x24" would suit my needs but I may go up a notch if a larger platform model would not be anymore difficult to keep aligned, adjusted and squared than a smaller machine. Do larger platforms cause more problems or need more maintenance.

That's it for round one. Hopefully my next set of questions will be more intelligent as I go and more stimulating for you to read. Thank you all so much in advance. I am looking forward to some good discussions.

Gozzie

That's why I am so glad that I ask questions.

Here is a video I watched on a Chinese machine cutting 18mm wood (.70 inches) It appeared to do so effortlessly and the cuts look great. It doesn't say what kind of wood. It does say it's a 130 watt machine. The other videos I watched from the same company show some pretty good engraving but on a lower powered machine. So now am I correct in assuming that this is advertising fluff? I am very grateful for your responses and this is exactly why. I am trying to learn real world answers and get away from the hype of advertisers. Here is the you tube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=48tuHRqLup4

I am definitely not a rich man and undoubtedly will have to go with a Chinese model but I still want to get the best bang for the dollar I can get. I want something powerful enough to cut but still able to engrave fairly decently. More clipart and text engraving than photographic but that could change too. That's what makes this so crazy for us new guys. I just don't know anything about it. It looks like a lot of fun. I don't want to be disgruntled with myself again by making an uneducated purchase. I am going into retirement and it looks like a fantastic hobby to get into. I cant thank you folks enough for your input. Are there any opinions on wattage that can average out on cutting versus engraving on a Chinese model (water cooled) 80 - 100 -130?

Thank you again for the responses, I am very excited about the whole thing.

Gozzie

Welcome Gozzie!

What I have been getting from everyone on the forum as I went through the process you have gone through is that 80watt is about as high as you want to go IF you are interested BOTH in high quality engraving and efficient cutting on the same machine. Once you exceed that you get better at cutting and worse at engraving. For that reason I went with an 80 watt EFR tube (Chinese machine.)

The next question that comes to mind is.....is this a business machine? Or a putzing around machine? If it is business you may want to look harder at western machines and use financing to do it. Provided you have done your homework in terms of your business model of course. If you are looking for something that is still local to the US but far less expensive than a Western Machine you might check out Rabbit Laser USA in Ohio. They offer Chinese machines that have been thoroughly gone over and even deliver it to your door with a days worth of setup and help getting going. And they will support you from then on without problem. They are well thought of on the forum if you care to do a search on them.

In my case, the laser was not my primary tool and I was looking for something that would help me in a retirement, semi paying serious hobby. It was very difficult for me to swallow the price of a western machine. As much as I think of Ray Scott and Rabbit, I had problems even with their cost for what I wanted to do and finally decided to go direct to China. There were some other things I was looking for in a machine as well that tended to push me towards a Chinese machine. Seems fine so far but I haven't done much yet beyond uncrating and setup. If you are looking for business use here in the US I might be pretty tempted to shoot for a western machine right off the bat, or a Rabbit as a second choice.

Can you give us an idea as to your use for the machine? Business or hobby? What kinds of broad things are you looking to do? What kind of volume are you hoping for? Think in terms of engraving and cutting as separate concepts, and also let us know what materials you hope to work on most of the time.

Hope this ends up as a fun process for you Gozzie! It certainly has been for me thanks to everyone here!!

Dave
PS....you might put your location into your profile so we can see where you are located. Perhaps city/state if in the US? Or at least country if you are elsewhere? Then you can get even more specific assistance for your area.

It sounds like a Chinese machine is just right for you. The caveat is that you should be prepared to "fix" it. To get the most out of it you will need to put some time into the machine, it seems that the factory workers stop as soon as it is working, not when it is finely tuned to work at it's best. If you choose to import get a broker and have them handle everything. I can refer you to mine, she has been great. Otherwise for a domestically available machine Ray at Rabbit Laser gets consistently rave reviews, though you will spend quite a bit more money for the same thing. Probably worth it if you don't want to tweak things yourself.

I opted for a 1,400 x 900 machine. You'll notice my sig line is slightly different, it reflects the true working area. The honeycomb bed actually is 1,400 x 900 but the useable range of the laser is different. I wanted to be able to easily cut 24 x 48 sheets. 48" is 1,219mm so a 1,200 x 600 machine is just a bit too small. It is good to have the work area larger than the the largest pieces you intend to cut.