Laser Engraving and Etching

What is Laser Engraving and Etching?

Both laser etching and engraving fall under the general category of laser marking. Laser etching and engraving are similar in that they produce permanent marks created when a laser removes material from the surface of an object.

How do Laser Engraving and Etching works?

To create permanent marks, laser etching and engraving processes start with a beam of concentrated light energy.
The laser beam targets a small area of the material, known as the focal point.
The heat generated by the light energy allows the laser machine to alter the material’s surface, while the focal point ensures it affects only a specified part of the surface.
The result is a smooth, high-contrast, lasting mark, which can be human readable (serial number) or machine readable (barcode), etched or engraved into the part’s surface.

In the laser etching process, this mark will reach a depth of about 0.0001 inches. In the laser engraving process, the mark depth is typically up to 0.005 inches.