Metal Engraving: Overview of Laser Engraving on Metal

Metal engraving is a process that removes material from a solid metal surface. Manufacturers vaporize substrates such as steel, titanium, aluminum and many other metals using high-intensity laser beams from engraving machines. In addition to laser engraving, there are other metal engraving methods with their respective possibilities and limitations.

This article explains engraving and everything related to it. We discuss metal engraving, how to engrave metal, what benefits it offers, and what tips to keep in mind when laser engraving metals. Let's start!

What is metal engraving?

Metal engraving involves engraving text, logos, numbers, images, 2D codes and other things into metal. This logo/sign editing technique uses incisions to create lines, letters or patterns on metal surfaces.

Various industries such as automotive, medical, jewelry, energy, and aviation use laser-engraved metal parts in their operations. Project managers and business owners can brand their products using this technique. Texts, serial numbers, logos, codes and other things can be engraved on various metal materials using different engraving methods.

How does metal engraving work?

Metal laser engraving processes are generally based on the principle of sublimation. Sublimation is the process of converting a material or substance from a solid to a gaseous state. Unlike evaporation, sublimation converts the solid state directly into a gaseous state, leaving out the liquid form.

A relatively high temperature is required to convert the solid to liquid state. The laser beam delivers high energy to the surface it hits, converting solid substances directly into gas or vapor. The relatively higher temperature of the laser beam turns the surface of the material into vapor.

What kind of metal can be engraved?

Different engraving methods work best on different types of metal. However, it is important to note that each metal has unique properties that make it suitable for specific applications. Although aluminum is the most popular and commonly engraved metal, manufacturers also engrave many other metals. The following metals are most commonly engraved:

1. Aluminum

Anodized or coated aluminum is a good material for making trophies and plaques. Machining grade aluminum is suitable for manufacturing control panels, industrial applications, and indoor and outdoor signage. Permanent, high-contrast engravings can be made on all types of aluminum, from raw aluminum to coated aluminum.

This metal is perfect for various engraving processes, including laser engraving and rotary engraving machines. Therefore, it is possible to obtain aesthetic and deep engravings on aluminum. Furthermore, laser engraved aluminum parts are resistant to high temperatures and other surface treatments such as shot peening.

2. Brass

“Engraving brass” is a soft, readily available metal for engraving. Commercial brass is extraordinarily thick and difficult to engrave. For deep engraving, brass with a thickness of 0.040 to 0.060 inches is best. This type of metal is best filled with color to provide high-quality contrast between the background and the engraved feature.

3. Stainless steel

Stainless steel has many advantages, although it is much more difficult to engrave. It is moisture-proof, corrosion-resistant and very durable. The collet spindle is an important tool for cutting stainless steel. Split collet spindles provide deeper cuts and produce much less cutting chips due to their additional rigidity.

Laser engraving is sometimes not suitable for cutting stainless steel because the laser can remove an important protective layer. Therefore, manufacturers use laser annealing as an ideal substitute.

4. Silver, gold and pewter

They are soft metals that are relatively easy to cut. They are the perfect material for making gift items in most engraving applications such as jewelry personalization. Diamond drag engraving offers the best results with these materials. You can make deep cuts in these materials using the same tools you use to cut brass. In most cases, you don't need cutting fluid to cut silver, gold, or pewter.

Types of Metal Engraving Methods

Below are common techniques used in most recording services:

1. Laser Engraving

Laser engraving is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to mark parts. The process is based on the ability of laser beams to vaporize specific areas of the component in predetermined patterns. The most appropriate term for this is sublimation – a process in which metals (in the solid state) are converted into gases without becoming liquids.

The laser beam delivers a large amount of energy to the surface of the part, making it sublime. This changes the surface of the material with high contrast. This process can be used to engrave barcodes, logos, serial numbers, part numbers and QR codes.

The high reliability of this technique makes it a popular method for metal engraving. It guarantees the identification and traceability of parts over a long period of time. Laser engraving on metal is fast, durable and produces deeper dents than laser engraving and marking.

Laser engraving materials

Manufacturers apply laser engraving technology to a long list of materials, such as:

● Metals – Metal is the main material in many industries. Various metals are suitable for laser engraving, with aluminum being the ideal metal. But stainless steel, which consists of several alloys, is also ideal for this technology. In fact, stainless steel engraving is one of the standard engraving services in many industries.

● Coated Metals – Laser engraving also works well on coated metals. It is a unique technique used to apply markings to coated metals as the coating or finished surface can be removed. Laser engraving is effective on mild steel, powder-coated stainless steel, coated aluminum, and other types of coated metal.

●Plastic – The temperature required for laser engraving often varies. It varies according to the absorption range of the plastic used and the additives used in the manufacturing process. Plastics that can be laser engraved include ABS, Polycarbonate (PC), PET, Polypropylene (PP), Acrylic, etc.

Laser Engraving vs. laser engraving

Some people use laser engraving and laser engraving interchangeably. Despite having identical objectives, they are different procedures. Laser engraving involves physically removing parts of a surface using a laser beam. This creates a depression in the surface of the metal that you can feel and see.

Metal laser engraving, on the other hand, involves heating the metal surface with a laser beam to melt a specific area of ​​the metal surface. The heat from the laser beam melts the surface and causes the material to stretch or expand. This process creates a raised mark that can be seen and felt.

The main difference between laser engraving and laser engraving is the effect or transformation that occurs on the surface of the metal. Laser engraving does not remove any material. No deep markings are created as with laser engraving. Patterns created by engraving are generally 0.001 inch or less in depth.

Likewise, the temperatures for laser engraving metal are lower than for laser engraving. Although laser engraving is faster because no material is removed, laser engraving creates lasting, long-lasting marks. When laser engraving metal, it is likely to be sensitive to abrasion, which is not the case with laser engraving.

2. Diamond Engraving

This process is another reliable method of metal engraving and provides accurate, high-quality engravings identical to hand engraving. A non-rotating device with a cone-shaped diamond tip is used to engrave metals. The tool slides across the surface of the metal while forming the impression.

Diamond grinders are best suited for soft metals and for engraving trophies and jewelry efficiently. This recording process is cheaper and generally very fast. Its line widths allow for easy engraving of small letters. However, the limited line width makes the process inefficient in some cases.

3. Polishing

Polishing is a newer method that better replaces diamond cutting. Unlike diamond grinding, this uses a rotating tool with limited pressure. The engraving tool is a diamond or carbide milling cutter with tips of different widths that removes the top layers of metal and forms a smooth, polished surface.

Polishing has its advantages and disadvantages. An advantage of this method is the unlimited line width and greater freedom in letter height. However, the biggest disadvantage is that it is expensive and requires a noisy recording engine. Also, an additional polishing adapter is required to work well.

4. Rotary engraving

Rotary engraving uses one or more narrow, elongated cutters that rotate through metal parts to remove material from them. This creates a deeper cut or full section of the desired letter or object. Spindle micrometer settings help control depth of cut in most applications.

This technique is a permanent engraving method that can produce letters of virtually any desired size and width. This achieves two- and three-dimensional representations on metal surfaces, making them ideal for industrial and commercial applications. However, it requires a wide range of cutting tools, a motor, a rotating spindle and thorough cleaning.

Laser engraving versus laser marking on metal: what's the difference?

Laser engraving applies information to the surface of components, clearly penetrating the surface of the material. Laser marking, on the other hand, applies legible information to the surface of parts with little or no penetration.

Laser engraving on metal changes the structure of the metal surface as the material is removed. This technique creates high-contrast permanent markings that are easy to recognize. In laser marking, on the other hand, the surface of the part is changed by a concentrated laser beam. The four common laser marking methods are foaming, dyeing, carbon migration and annealing.

Many manufacturers use galvanometers or fiber laser systems to mark bare metals and reinforced plastics. These lasers have different wavelengths than CO2 lasers, allowing raw metals to be marked using a metal marking agent. Although manufacturers often use laser engraving and marking interchangeably, they are different terms.

Considerations for Laser Engraving on Metal

Laser engraving is suitable for many different applications. Here are some tips to help you get the best results possible:

●Make sure the metal is clean before laser engraving. You can also clean the metal with a clean cloth and denatured alcohol. Mistakes are common when engraving dirty metal.

●Apply a balanced amount of laser engraving spray to the metal so that the metal is not visible. If you use too much spray, you may have to etch more than once.

●When engraving a fabric for the first time, it is necessary to do a test run. Metals have different settings for engraving. With the test you can find out the ideal laser speed and power setting.

●Use a grid setting for all images, graphics, and text. Activate the autofocus setting or set a manual focus for better positioning.

●If the recording is removed, reduce the recording speed. A slower rate creates more thermal energy, which allows for better fusion.

University Degree

Metal engraving is an excellent process for refining and branding high-quality products. Due to increasing demand, most designers and manufacturers are now turning to metal laser engraving. Therefore, it can be used in many ways in industrial processes, commercial product labeling and much more.

Common questions

How long does laser engraving take?

Laser engraving typically takes between 5 seconds and a few hours. The time required to engrave metal depends on the complexity of the design, image or text being engraved, the type of material and the power capacity of the laser.

Will the recording disappear over time?

Engravings are often permanent and almost impossible to remove. This is because the laser engraving machine cuts the surface of the object and does not print on it. However, it is possible for an engraving to erode after a long time. In some rare cases, a laser engraved metal may need to be reworked.

Which metal is best suited for engraving?

Aluminum is by far the most suitable and commonly engraved metal. However, stainless steel, brass and copper are also ideal for the process due to their excellent heat transfer properties.