| Laser engraving got it's start in the early sixties when | | | | methods - these include sand blasting, ink pad |
| scientists discovered they could create a light source, | | | | printing, and etching. They can also provide excellent |
| focus it's energy and yet have a tool powerful | | | | results for marking glass and provide great reductions |
| enough to affect a variety of materials. If you've | | | | in operating costs and cost of supplies. |
| heard the term laser etching it's basically just another | | | | Drawings can be converted into the correct format |
| name for laser engraving. In today's engraving | | | | for laser marking or directly into a variety of formats |
| industry, CO2 lasers, which are named for the gasses | | | | including JPEG, Adobe- Illustrator, Corel Draw and |
| used to create the light source, are the tools of | | | | AutoCAD to name just a few. Marking services can |
| choice. | | | | be used for hundreds of applications from computer |
| Like many inventions of modern times, lasers came | | | | keyboards to special promotional gifts. Products |
| out of a laboratory. They ca be used to engrave | | | | include wedding giveaways, nametags, table |
| mark almost all materials. Sometimes laser marking is | | | | nameplates, engraving of trophies, laser wood |
| referred to as laser etching however unlike | | | | engraving, etc. Because no inks are used it's |
| conventional etching it needs no masks or chemicals. | | | | permanent and the process is |
| Marking is the most favored method when one | | | | environmentally-friendly. |
| wants permanency or aesthetics. Etching is the | | | | Today the engraving can be used for most jobs that |
| process of marking material without cutting all the | | | | are currently being carried out by the conventional |
| way through using reduced power. A laser works | | | | industrial engravers. Laser machines and systems are |
| quite well for cutting acrylic (Plexiglas), PETG, thin | | | | used in a variety of applications and industries |
| polycarbonates (Mylar), styrene expanded PVC | | | | including the medical device industry, aerospace, |
| (Sintra), wood, paper and fabric. Engraving of | | | | manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical, and |
| graphite is a very clean operation. | | | | electronic industry. |
| Etching makes a permanent message on an | | | | Finally there are no consumables so the operating |
| in-process or finished component. The ability to | | | | costs are minimal, and the laser system, if properly |
| laser-cut complex profiles can totally eliminate the | | | | exhausted, runs clean, so expensive cleanup or |
| need for additional operations, making the cutting | | | | by-product disposal is not necessary. Today laser |
| very economical. | | | | engraving, cutting and marking is a viable and |
| Marking of glass by CO2 lasers while moving can be | | | | versatile technology that is being used by many |
| an excellent addition for industrial environments and | | | | engravers to improve productivity, add more available |
| applications for glass marking. And when used to | | | | services to their customers and increase profits. |
| mark or etch glass and quartz replace traditional | | | | |