A wide variety of products can be engraved, marked or etched with laser engraving. Although laser engraving technology has a high initial purchase price, long-term savings that come with it outweigh it. Many businesses use laser engraving technology to enhance their products and offer exclusive benefits to their customers, rather than just industrial and manufacturing companies.
Basic Benefits
According to LaserProNA, laser engraving can mark and engrave virtually any material with high precision. Gold, silver, copper, aluminum, titanium, brass, platinum, steel, and brass are among these metals. In addition to industrial strength alloys and plastics, laser engravers are used to engrave medical devices. There is an excellent reputation for Laser marking machines when it comes to durability and heat resistance. Having microscopic etched words that never degrade is crucial for medical devices. Environmentally unfriendly inks, acids and solvents are not used in the etching process. Biodegradable metals are marked with laser energy rather than ink. All other methods used in the industry, including ink jetting and hand engraving, are prone to fading over time. Medical products that need to be traceable forever will need laser engraving.
Industry Benefits
Medical devices must be marked according to specific requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Essentially, titanium medical implants must have permanent marks such as colored logos, serial numbers, and part numbers. Machine readable 2D codes are required by the FDA for these marks. For permanent identification, firearms and small arms components must have part and serial numbers etched into them by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). Automobile manufacturers use metal parts with attractive graphics imprinted on them. For marking logos, barcodes, serial numbers and certification symbols, laser engraving technology is used. In addition to custom text, alphabetized codes can be engraved with laser engraving. Steel sheets and other materials are marked and cut using laser engraving technology. Heat-sensitive metals like gold and silver can be marked with it by jewelers.
Production Benefits
The Production Pros
Laser engraver and cutters provide many benefits for the manufacturing process. There are many types of materials that can be cut by laser cutters, as well as many different thicknesses. By cutting very narrow widths, parts can be nestled and machined more efficiently. For reliable, repeatable results, laser cutting offers customized solutions as well as programmable settings. It also saves time when switching production flow for client or market demand on a daily basis since set-up isn’t required for repeat machines. Laser engraving is free of harmful chemicals and material waste, unlike toxic chemicals. Professionally operated laser engraving equipment will add value and beauty to products when operated by an experienced professional.
The Production Cons
Laser engraving and cutting machines have certain disadvantages that must be managed properly. It’s important to carefully plan the use of these machines since they consume a high amount of energy. An incorrect setting can result in product burning or inaccurate markings. It is much more expensive to engrave with lasers than to engrave with plasma or waterjet. Depending on the type of material used, laser engraving machines have varying production rates. Providing fast cutting speeds for thicker materials is the goal of some laser engraving machines using high-power lasers. These machines use more energy because of their high power. Metals like brass and copper, which reflect light, will not be capable of being engraved with laser engraving machines.
Laser engraving is generally a very eco-friendly way to produce permanent marks on a variety of materials. This non-contact engraving method eliminates the possibility of tools wearing out or breaking. These systems are economical production solutions due to their robustness and reliability.
