{"id":25952,"date":"2025-12-09T23:56:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T23:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yonglihaomachinery.com\/?p=25952"},"modified":"2025-12-09T23:57:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T23:57:15","slug":"what-is-laser-engraving-process-types-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yonglihaomachinery.com\/fr\/what-is-laser-engraving-process-types-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Qu\u2019est-ce que la gravure laser\u00a0? Proc\u00e9d\u00e9, types et guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Yonglihao Machinery, a rapid prototyping company<\/strong><\/a>, I support product development from start to finish. Our laser cutting services<\/strong><\/a> are one of our core daily processes. Laser engraving often comes next. After a part is cut, customers need durable logos, IDs, or traceability marks. This guide will focus on what laser engraving is, how it works, and how to choose a good approach for your material and mark.<\/p>\n

What Is Laser Engraving?<\/h2>\n

Laser engraving is a non-contact process. It removes material to create a permanent mark with real depth. This physical depth is its main feature. It helps engraved marks survive handling, abrasion, and other steps better than surface-only marks.<\/p>\n

Laser engraving is different from laser marking. The main difference is how the mark is formed. Laser marking might use surface color change, oxidation, or light surface changes. Laser engraving uses controlled ablation and material removal. The result is more tactile and durable.<\/p>\n

In manufacturing, the main reason to engrave is for traceability. Serial numbers, lot codes, 2D codes, and asset IDs must stay readable. Engraving also works for logos and nameplates. You can use it when you want a mark that will not wipe off, fade, or smear.<\/p>\n

How Laser Engraving Works?<\/h2>\n

Laser engraving focuses energy into a tiny spot. It moves the spot along a path to remove material. A CNC program controls this path. Process parameters control how much material is removed and how the surface looks.<\/p>\n

Material removal happens in a few ways. It can be through melting and ejection, vaporization, or short-pulse ablation. Different materials act differently. Some vaporize cleanly. Some melt and re-solidify at the edges. Others, like glass, may get a frosted look from controlled micro-fracturing.<\/p>\n

Depth and contrast come from energy density and dwell time. Energy density is mostly affected by the focus (spot size). Dwell time is set by speed and pulse overlap. This is why the “same power” can make very different marks when the focus or speed changes.<\/p>\n

Most engraving uses raster or vector motion. Raster engraving fills areas line-by-line, much like a printer. It is often used for filled text, photos, and solid logos. Vector engraving traces lines and curves. It is often faster when the art is mostly outlines.<\/p>\n

Main Types of Laser Engraving<\/h2>\n

This section helps you choose a laser type. Base your choice on your material and the kind of mark you need.<\/p>\n

Fiber Laser Engraving<\/h3>\n

Fiber lasers (around 1064 nm) are a practical choice for engraving metals. Metals absorb their wavelength well. They work well for serial numbers, data matrix codes, and durable part IDs. They are great for stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and many alloys. They also scale well from one-off parts to repeat builds. The process is stable once you control the fixture and focus.<\/p>\n

Limits:<\/strong><\/b> Reflective metals and heat-sensitive finishes need tighter control. Copper and some aluminum surfaces can be tricky. Their reflectivity and heat conductivity change how energy enters the material. If settings are too strong, you may see heat tint or soft edges. You might also see micro-burr-like rims. When looks matter, first tune for readability. Then, add depth carefully with multiple passes instead of one heavy pass.<\/p>\n

CO2 Laser Engraving<\/h3>\n

CO2 lasers (around 10.6 \u03bcm) are best for nonmetals. Many organic materials absorb that wavelength well. They engrave wood, paper, leather, and acrylic with great visual contrast. For signs, gifts, and nameplates on non-metal items, CO2 often gives fast, clean results.<\/p>\n

Limits:<\/strong><\/b> CO2 is not the first choice for bare metals without special coatings. On wood, contrast comes from controlled burning. So, smoke management affects how clean the mark is. On acrylic, you can get a clear frosted mark. But heat control is important to avoid roughness, especially on thin panels.<\/p>\n

Diode Laser Engraving<\/h3>\n

Diode lasers are compact systems. They can engrave many materials at light-to-moderate levels. They are often used where space and budget are key. They are also used when production demands are not high. They can work on coated metals, some plastics, and wood.<\/p>\n

Limits:<\/strong><\/b> For deep metal engraving, diodes can be slower. For high-volume industrial marking, they are less forgiving. If you need durable traceability marks on metal, fiber is usually a safer choice. If you mainly engrave nonmetals for strong contrast, CO2 is a common choice for speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Laser Type<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Best Materials<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Typical Strength<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Typical Limit<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Fiber<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Metals, many alloys<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Durable, high-contrast part ID<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Reflective metals need careful tuning<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

CO2<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Wood, acrylic, leather, paper<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Fast visual engraving on nonmetals<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Not ideal for bare metals<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Diode<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mixed, light-duty<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Compact, flexible<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Slower for deep\/industrial marks<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What Materials You Can Engrave?<\/h2>\n

You can engrave many materials. The laser wavelength and energy must match how the surface absorbs heat. For real jobs, I put materials into three groups: engrave easily, engrave with caution, and avoid. This keeps results consistent and the workspace safe.<\/p>\n

Common “engraves well” materials include wood, many plastics (non-PVC), leather, and many steels. Anodized aluminum also engraves well. Metals often need a fiber laser for good results. Glass can be engraved, but it acts differently. The “frosted” look may come from micro-fracturing, not clean removal. You must manage stress and the pattern to avoid chipping.<\/p>\n

Avoid materials that create harmful byproducts when heated. PVC is a classic example. It can release chlorine-containing gases, which are dangerous to people and equipment. Materials with halogens, certain resins, or some composites can also create bad fumes. When in doubt, confirm the exact material grade before engraving.<\/p>\n

How We Choose an Engraving Approach<\/h2>\n

The fastest way to choose a setup is: material first, then mark requirement, then production speed. If the material is metal and the mark must be durable, fiber is the starting point. If the material is organic or acrylic and you want strong contrast, CO2 is often the simplest way.<\/p>\n

Next, define the mark requirement. Think about contrast, depth, size, and location. A logo on a cosmetic surface needs good edge quality and heat control. A serial number for traceability needs to be readable after handling and cleaning.<\/p>\n

Then, check your cycle time needs. Short runs can use slower, cleaner settings. Higher volumes need a stable process that works with batch changes and surface condition changes.<\/p>\n

Use this before you tune parameters:<\/p>\n