What Laser Marking Is And How It Works
Laser marking involves neither inks, nor drill bits that remove material to engrave a surface. Instead, a laser engraving machine is used, and a laser beam does the engraving. Laser engraving machines consist of a laser emitting device, a control interface, and a surface, upon which the material to be engraved will be placed.
The engraving occurs when the material contracts the laser’s focal point. The high energy of the laser changes the material by vaporizing or fracturing it. In many cases, paint is lasered off of a metal to create the engraving. Because much of the high energy of lasers is converted into heat, it can remove material from a surface very efficiently, making them an ideal engraving tool.
The controllers on laser engraving machines allow the beam to be programmed to traverse a particular path, allowing names and other designs to be engraved. The speed, intensity, and spread of the beam can also be adjusted, allowing more variation in design. To engrave materials like nameplates with words or designs, X-Y tables are most commonly used. The laser is focused through a lens for greater precision.