A laser engraving service can put an image, numbers, or letters on just about any material. Consumers can use these services to have a plaque engraved for an award or achievement, to have a couple’s name engraved on an object for an anniversary or wedding, or many other occasions where engraving might be wanted. Laser engraving can be done on many different materials, although some are easier to work with than others.
Natural materials usually take well to engraving. Wood was one of the first materials used for creating images via laser engraving. The softer the wood, however, the harder it is to have it engraved as it is easily vaporized by the laser. Leather and latex rubber can also be engraved this way, while fur can not.
A material that has a tendency to laser pretty well is plastic. Cast resins and basic acrylic plastic are easily engraved, while other thermoforming plastics might have some melting around the edges. Special laser engraving plastics, incorporating silicate and other materials, were developed for use for engraving faceplates, signage, and similar jobs. Urethane, silicone, foams, and vinyls, are generally not good for laser engraving. A laser engraving service will likely have to test the plastic before beginning the engraving process to make sure the material will be conducive to laser engraving.
While metals used to be very hard to work with, updated technology has made metal one of the easier materials to work with. Coated metals are easily engraved as the enamel on top of the metal can easily be burned off. There is now a wide array of finishes and different colored spray coatings that can be used for engraving.
Stone and glass are very hard materials to work with, although laser engraving glass can be done with the right equipment and the correct process. It may be better to have the glass sandblasted or cut using water and diamonds. Stone and glass can fracture when hit with a laser, and thus the process has to be done just right or the engraving will not work. The visual consistency of a laser engraving on glass may not be that good, so that is something to keep in mind when considering this type of service.
The demand for laser engraving on jewelry has been growing in recent years. Jewelers now can accomplish this task more easily with the use of desktop laser units, rather than the big pieces of equipment they used to need. Jewelry engraving machines have now been made that can engrave the back of a watch or even the inside of a ring. Since jewelry comes in flat and curved surfaces, these new machines have been made to handle either surface.
Someone may also seek laser engraving services for creating fine art. By scanning or creating images on a computer, or having a digitized drawing from an artist, the image can be laser engraved onto any of the materials set forth above. A laser engraving service now offers a lot more than in the past, and could be the solution to providing a special and personalized gift for someone you know.