For the engraving industry, CO2 lasers, named for the gases used to create the light source, are the tools of choice. There are a variety of advantages to using a laser over other engraving methods; Firstly, because the tool is a beam of light, there is no contact with the product, which means less chance of damage or deformation of the product. It didn’t take long for the engraving industry to take notice of lasers and they were soon being used for a wide variety of industrial applications including welding, heat treating, etching, and etching.

It was in the early 1960s that scientists first discovered that they could create a light source, focus the energy, and have a tool powerful enough to affect certain materials. The name of the light source – LASER, is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser marking is sometimes referred to as laser engraving; Unlike conventional engraving, laser engraving does not require masks or chemicals.

Laser engraving is basically another name for laser engraving. Almost all materials can be laser engraved/marked.

A laser works well for cutting acrylic (plexiglass), PETG, thin polycarbonates (Mylar), expanded styrene PVC (Sintra), wood, paper, and fabric. Laser engraving provides a permanent message on a finished or in-process component. Laser cutting adds high precision, reduced contamination or deformation, and a quality finish to industrial cutting applications.

Laser engraving is the process of marking material without completely cutting it using reduced power. It can be done in many materials including slate, granite, stainless steel, leather, arborite, glass, mirrors, and premium hardwoods.

Laser marking is also favored when the part to be marked is too small or too intricate in shape to mark with anything other than engraving. Laser marking services can be used for many thousands of applications, from computer keyboards to special promotional giveaways. Some of the items that Co2 lasers and Co2 laser systems can be used for with regard to glass or quartz marking and etching are float glass plants, glass door and window fabrication, permanent serial numbering, ANSI safety information, customer logos, decorative or specialty glass fabrication, manufacturing data related to the plant, date and production line, and/or part numbers.

Glass laser marking with Co2 lasers on the go or on the move can be an excellent addition to many industrial settings and glass marking applications. It is flexible, programmable and environmentally clean. CO2 lasers can provide excellent results for marking glass and also provide significant reductions in operating costs and the cost of supplies.

There are no consumables, so operating costs are minimal, and the laser system, if properly depleted, runs clean, so costly cleaning or product disposal is not necessary. Laser engraved metal uses the most power, especially if the metal is of the harder type.

Of the many items that are laser engraved today, iPods and laptop computers are among the highest priced on the consumer market. Also, these engraving services are available at most specialty stores because it is now the most common type of engraving. Laser machines and systems are used in a variety of applications and industries including medical device, aerospace, manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical, and electronics.