Consideration Before Using Laser Engraver Metal

 Metal can be engraved with laser engravers since they are incredibly adaptable devices. A laser engraver for metal is your best choice if you want a device that can easily handle light and heavy materials.

Softwoods, acrylic, and other soft materials can all be cut with a laser engraver. However, using a laser to engrave, brand, or etch metal presents new difficulties.

A CO2 laser or fiber laser engraver is typically the best option for swiftly and efficiently engraving metal. However, and most people are unaware of this, there is a novel way to use desktop laser engravers to mark metal (more on this further on). 

We have had the good fortune to test various laser engraving devices for all materials. Based on our own experience and other research, we have compiled our list of the 3d printer laser engraver.

As a laser system producer, we know the requirements for effectively engraving metals. Here are our top factors to think about before laser-marking metal.

1.       Choose the correct type of laser

Based on their gain medium, different lasers emit light at various wavelengths. Unlike CO2 lasers, which use CO2 gas as their gain medium, fiber lasers use optical fiber. The wavelength influences how the metal absorbs energy; hence, it is significant.

Metals often respond well to fiber lasers because most absorb their wavelength efficiently. Therefore, using a fiber laser to engrave these metals makes sense. Because their wavelength is poorly absorbed, CO2 lasers are rarely a good option (they are good at marking organic materials such as plastics and wood, though).

2.       Consider Post-Process Treatments

Laser engraving will take longer if the metal surface you are engraving has undergone post-treatments during production. This is so that engravings on pieces made of post-treated metal will remain legible.

The laser power can be increased or a rotary table installed to engrave parts while other parts are loaded to keep up with your cycle time.

To maintain traceability during post-treatments, including shot blasting, e-coating, powder coating, and heat treatments, Laserax has developed laser marking procedures that make codes more robust.

3.       Minimize the Quantity of Encoded Information

Data matrix codes and QR codes are excellent for marking for traceability because barcode readers can read them more accurately than serial numbers. Additionally, they can fit more information into a smaller space.

These codes are constructed from modules, or cells, of black and white that are organized in a square or rectangular pattern.

 A snapmaker laser engraving is a rare creature. There are not many manufacturers who aim to become experts in many tool techniques. Even fewer can combine them into a user-friendly package.