10 Things to Consider When Buying laser marking machine

08 Apr.,2024

 

With so many different types of lasers, each offering different benefits, choosing the right one for your marking/engraving needs can be challenging. 

The key to knowing which machine to use, is knowing the difference between marking and engraving and, beyond that, the material you would like to mark or engrave.

In this article, we’ll give you a quick overview of laser marking and engraving machines, as well as the key things to consider when selecting them.

 

Difference between laser marking and laser engraving

Though often used interchangeably, laser marking and engraving are two very different processes.

Laser marking uses a low-powered laser beam to leave a lasting mark on a material. This is achieved by changing the material’s appearance using material oxidation. During this process, the surface of the material remains intact and the final mark is clean and defect free.

(Photo: Regal Blades)

Engraving, on the other hand, removes material through vaporisation. The outer surface of the material is removed using a high-powered laser beam, engraving at a depth of up to 0.020” in metals (but can go as deep as 0.125” in materials such as graphite).

Laser marking is typically used for logos, barcodes, QR codes and other text markings on plastics and metals, while laser engraving is used on metal, thermoplastic, glass, leather and wooden surfaces. Some machines can both mark and engrave, while others are dedicated to one or the other.

Types of laser marking and engraving machines

There are four types of laser marking and engraving machines. Some are applicable to both marking and engraving, while others specialise in one of the two:

  • UV lasers

Designed to be a practical solution for marking plastics and glass, UV lasers can engrave a vast number of materials, from metals to paper.

These lasers are engineered for high-density and low-density polyethylene and synthetic fibres, making them suitable for laser engraving applications where the surface of a product needs to be protected.

  • Fibre lasers

The most popular type of laser for marking and engraving. Fibre lasers are a type of solid state laser and produce an extremely small focal diameter, resulting in intensity far greater than a CO2 system.

These are ideal for permanent markings, including serial numbers and barcodes. Also, as they can produce an intense laser mark with an extremely small focal diameter, they are well-suited for metal engraving (including coated metals) and high-contrast plastic markings.

  • CO2 lasers

Though one of the earliest gas lasers to be developed, CO2 lasers remain one of the most useful types and are the highest-power continuous wave lasers currently available.

Modern CO2 lasers produce the laser beam in a sealed glass tube filled with gas (usually carbon dioxide). A high voltage then runs through the tube and reacts with the gas particles, increasing their energy and producing light.

CO2 lasers are typically used for cutting and welding. Low-power CO2 laser marking machines are better suited for non-metallic materials and plastics.

  • YAG lasers

Commonly known as flash lamps or lamp-pumped lasers, YAG lasers utilise a lamp (bulb) as a pumping mechanism and a crystal as the gain medium. Both reside in an optical resonator which reflects the light and helps create the laser light.

Though used widely across manufacturing, they’re becoming obsolete as bulbs have a short lifespan and require frequent replacement

Find the right laser for your business here!

 

Advantages and disadvantages

UV lasers

UV lasers require far less power to produce clear marks and are better absorbed by virtually all materials in comparison to other laser wavelengths. Also, unlike other marking and engraving technologies, there’s no prolonged downtime, meaning the process is — typically — extremely quick and simple.

The marks produced by UV lasers are essentially tamper-proof, as they’re below the surface of the material, and the material does not come into direct contact with the laser marking device. This allows for clean operation and minimal contamination. It’s because of these capabilities that UV lasers are used frequently in the medical and pharmaceutical industries.

 

Fibre lasers

Fibre lasers are perfect for marking on difficult materials, such as gold and nickel plating, plastics, PCB and other sensitive materials and layers. They can also be used for smooth finishing of deep engravings and annealing for medical devices.

When used in conjunction with a high-powered master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA), fibre lasers are suitable for deep engraving. A MOPA laser will increase the peak power output of the laser and optimise the beam quality, allowing for precise markings and deep engravings.

Overall, fibre lasers are high-performance, reliable and often compact compared to other laser marking and engraving machines.

 

CO2 lasers

Thanks to their high efficiency and beam quality, CO2 lasers are one of the most commonly used forms of laser marking.

CO2 lasers are suitable for a wide variety of non-metallic materials, including wood, acrylic and stone. They’re also great for cutting thicker materials as they deliver faster initial piercing times, quicker straight-line cutting and a smoother surface finish when working with materials above 5mm.

That said, they do use significantly more power than fibre lasers and are therefore costlier to operate.

 

YAG lasers

YAG lasers are used for etching, marking and engraving applications (as well as for cutting or welding steel).

These lasers are suitable for micro-marking, deep engraving, annealing and ablation processes, while their high speed and accuracy make them an ideal solution for most metals, ceramics and plastics.

However, YAG lasers do produce an incredible amount of heat due to the intensity of their wavelength and consume a lot of energy. As a result, these devices often require water cooling and frequent maintenance.

Other considerations

Now that you understand the types of laser marking and engraving machines available and what they are best suited for, choosing the right machine should be much easier.

But as well as knowing what each type of machine can do, there are several other things to consider:

  • Cost and budget

How much can you afford to spend on your laser marking and/or engraving solutions? Do you need multiple machines for different applications or can you use just one across all of your activities?

Fibre and UV lasers are the most cost-effective, but the initial upfront cost will likely be higher than CO2 and YAG. That said, you will benefit from less maintenance and longer uptime. Think carefully about how much you can afford right now — but also the costs of having machine downtime.

  • Material to be marked and/or engraved

Depending on the material you want to mark or engrave on, some lasers will be more suitable than others. For example, if you want to mark product information on non-organic materials using a non-contrast mark, a CO2 laser would work nicely.

On the other hand, if you want to mark pill bottles, a UV laser would be more appropriate as it penetrates beneath the surface to leave a tamper-proof marking. This helps to prevent counterfeiting, provides no site for infection (as the mark is not raised in any way) and ensures the material remains undamaged.

  • Efficiency and sustainability

Of the lasers listed above, UV are the most energy efficient and sustainable, but they’re predominantly used for marking and engraving below the surface of materials, often using low power.

Lastly, fibre lasers are designed to be reliable, high-performance machines that consistently deliver quality markings and engravings. They’re also much stronger than UV on metal surfaces, but struggle with some organic materials — unlike UV.

As well as comparing fibre and UV, it’s worthwhile doing the same for CO2 and YAG.

 

Let us help you

With the above information, it should be much easier to choose the right laser marking and/or engraving machine for your needs — but why not make it even easier by enlisting our support?

At Needham Laser, we like to be at the cutting-edge of laser marking technology. Our team of engineers use their decades of experience in the industry to find novel solutions to complex manufacturing problems — including yours.

We also have our proprietary laser solution: N-Lase, a fully modular, built-for-purpose laser marking and engraving machine that’s fit for any requirement. The solution can be modified depending on what materials you are working with — meaning no need to acquire new technology — and is built with consistent, long-term operation in mind.

So you can rely on us to help.

Book a demo or get in touch with us and a member of our sales team will be happy to help.

Call us on: +44 (0)1948 660011

Email us on: info@needhamlaser.com

 

 

In this article, we'll cover some knowledge before buying a suitable laser engraving machine. Here we go:

What are laser engraving machines?

 

LASER is the acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser engraving is the process of subtractive manufacturing to engrave material surface using a laser beam. It is a non-contact process, as the high heat and energy of laser melts and vaporizes the area where you are aiming the laser beam at.

Finally, it leaves a permanent mark on the surface, usually used to create an image of the material. With graphic software and parameter, laser engraving can produce amazing effects, such as photo or 3D engraving.

 

How does a laser engraving machine work?

 

A CO2 laser works by electrically stimulating the molecules of a carbon dioxide gas mixture. When focused through a lens, this invisible intensive beam can vaporize many materials. Depending on the speed and intensity of the beam, CO2 laser can be used to engrave a wide variety of materials.

For customers, it is fairly easy to operate the laser system for engraving and cutting, similar to the way your paper printer prints. You can install most kinds of graphics software in the Windows system, such as CorelDraw, to design the graph you need. Set the page size to the same as the plaque, trophy, or other objects you will be engraving, and print it to the laser. With adjustable speed settings from 0.1% to 100%, power settings from 1% to 100%, and dpi settings of up to 1000, the engraver will print with as much depth and detail as you need.

There are two ways how a laser engraver works; one is raster, and the other is vector. Raster is like a high clarity lattice printing, where the laser head scans left to right, engraving a series of dots one line at a time, then moves back and forth to carve as many lines as needed to make up a full-page picture or characters. Different from raster, vector proceeds on the outline of the characters. We usually use this model for cutting materials, like woods, acrylic, and paper, or marking on the surface of them.


 

 

What is a laser engraving machine used for?

 

The versatility of laser system means that it works on many materials, including wood, acrylic, plastics, stone, metals, etc. In particular, it is a great tool to add numbers, logos, images, and serial numbers to parts. Laser engraving is today a technology commonly used for producing promotional products like pens, signs, and displays, which makes laser engraving suitable for a variety of industries, such as signage and advertising, personalization and identification, gifts and promotions, post-press, apparel, and electronics industries.

One of the most noticeable applications is customization which is popular nowadays, like a wedding ring with a name on it. It is more effective than traditional engraving for small objects.

In the apparel industry, it is most common to use laser machines to directly engrave customized patterns on materials. It is also applied to heat transfer vinyl, especially thick or stretchable materials. The laser engravers cut quickly and accurately, thus replacing the traditional cutting method.

Find out more on our Applications.

 

How much does a laser engraving machine cost?

 

Laser engraving machines are widely used in various engraving and cutting jobs because of the smooth cutting surface, fast cutting speed and high precision, especially in industries that have higher standards and requirements for cutting speed and accuracy. However, when buying a laser machine, people are likely to be confused as to which laser engraving machine to choose and what the price of the machine is.

It is difficult to give a simple answer as it depends on your needs or what kind of work you want to accomplish? Before starting all projects, you first need to consider the material you want to process and its production volume, and then you determine the specs you desire for the machine, such as the type of laser, wattage, and working area size. Different types of laser engraving machines have different functions and applications. Generally, the greater the wattage and work surface, the higher the cost.

Another thing to consider when buying a laser engraver is the cost of maintenance. The amount of cleaning required for machine maintenance depends on the materials used. Sometimes mirrors or lenses need to be finely cleaned, and the machine may also need to be realigned. Regular maintenance and cleaning help avoid consuming too much time and interrupting the company's production line. There is also the after-sales service, which may incur labor and parts costs when necessary.

With all of these having been taken into account, you just need to contact us, and we will help you choose the right model that suits your needs.

 

Why is a laser engraving machine so expensive?

 

The price of a laser engraving machine varies widely from one model to the next. There are some low-cost and self-assembled units available at US$100-300, but the limited efficiency and laser power can only handle paper or the surface of wood and plastic. However, there are some high-quality units that cost dozens of times or even more. This massive difference in equipment cost is reflected by the significant difference in machine quality, functionality, and performance.

High-quality laser engravers typically consist of durable components that do not break down easily and powerful lasers that cut through a variety of materials precisely and quickly. High-quality laser engravers use software that is compatible with many programs, making them highly versatile. Finally, it has a comprehensive warranty and service package that protects you from equipment malfunctions and breakdowns (usually lower-cost laser engravers are not provided with warranty and service and eventually given up).

While it may be tempting to buy the most inexpensive laser engraving machine so you can spend the least money on your latest beloved project, perhaps a more expensive machine is a wise investment for you in the long run. Investing more money into a higher-quality unit means longer service life and smaller maintenance costs, both of which will lead to lower overall equipment costs.

Regarding the high-quality laser engravers, you just need to contact us, and we will help you choose the right model that suits your needs.

 

 

How much does a small laser engraver cost?

 

Small laser engraving machines do not take up much space and therefore have a large market in DIY & hobby users, personalization, and education market. Small laser engraving machines in the market vary in quality and price. The price of laser cutting machine is often determined by the laser brand, laser power, servo motor, laser head and other configurations. Of course, a more affordable system is by default less functional and perhaps less reliable, and the output quality does not always satisfy most people.

One thing to remind you is to consider practical needs rather than price when choosing laser equipment. There are a few factors to determine the suitable laser equipment for you, such as what materials you want to process, what you want the equipment for, and the quality you expect, etc.

 

What are the types of lasers engraver?

 

By laser source, the laser engraving machines developed by GCC LaserPro come with CO2 lasers or fiber lasers.

  • CO2 lasers

    - CO2 lasers are gas lasers that emit infrared radiation and the most common and widely used laser sources with a wavelength of about 10.6 μm (infrared), which is currently the highest power laser in the world. High-power CO2 laser engraving machines are usually used for industrial applications, while low-power ones are used for commodity processing and engraving.
  • Fiber lasers

    - With a wavelength of 1,060 nm and a smaller focal length, fiber lasers are about ten times more intense than CO2 lasers. They are suitable for metal processing and widely used for identification and equipment traceability, such as the numbering or marking of metal parts; in addition, they are also commonly used in industrial technology for equipment cleaning, such as removing rust, paint stains, oxides, etc.

Laser engravers can also be distinguished into X-Y table and Galvo laser systems by processing structure; the main difference between the two is how the laser beam moves for engraving and cutting.

  • X-Y table

    – The laser beam is reflected by a series of fixed mirrors, directed through a focusing lens, and projected vertically from the laser head on the surface of the material. The laser head cooperates with the slide rail of the X and Y axes and directly moves for processing. The maximum working areas for X-Y table are defined by the size of the machines; i.e., the larger the machine, the larger the working area. In addition, the X-Y table can deal with thick materials.
  • Galvo laser systems

    – The laser beam is rapidly moved back and forth by two reflected mirrors driven by the constant vibrations of a motor, and the beam is irradiated on the processed object with high speed, high precision, and repeatability. The size of the working area is determined by the reflection angle and focal length of the optical element and is usually limited to a working area of up to 300 mm x 300 mm.

Recommended reading: ▶ 2024 Top-Quality GCC Laser Cutters & Cutting machines

 

How long do laser engravers last?

 

There is no actual data on how long a laser engraving machine can last, but it is certain that regular and diligent maintenance of the machine as recommended in the user manual will extend the service life of the machine. This not only keeps your laser engraving machine up and running, but also saves you the cost and time of repairing the machine.

Check this article "The Suggestions for Laser Machine Maintenance", which provides 5 basic maintenance tips below to ensure stable and reliable high quality output and extend the life of your machine.

  • 1. Cleaning the Worktable and Motion System

  • 2. Lubrication of the X/Y Rail System

  • 3. Cleaning the Mirrors

  • 4. Cleaning the Focal Lens

  • 5. Cleaning the Exhaust Duct

 

What is fiber laser engraver?

 

Fiber laser and CO2 laser both project high energy beam on object, and the difference lies mainly in the wavelength of the laser source. Metals absorb the wavelength of fiber laser pretty well, and that makes fiber lasers suitable for metal processing. The working area of most fiber lasers is relatively limited. For this particularly, GCC LaserPro developed a full table size production engraver, which yields spectacular engraving results thanks to the design of the X-Y table.

In addition to S290LS, the S400 and Spirit GLS Hybrid which accommodate concurrently CO2 and fiber dual laser sources produce excellent output quality and allow for a wide range of materials to be processed. No matter it is a font or graphic design, a mark on a plastic surface, or a barcode on the metal tool, you will be satisfied with all the results that come from them.

 

 

Recommended reading: ▶ Exploring the Versatility of Laser Engraving: Capabilities and Materials

How does fiber laser engraver technology work?

 

Fiber lasers use rare-earth-doped fiber as an active gain medium to produce short pulses with high peak power. Fiber laser engraving with high peak power vaporizes material easily to make a clear and visible engraving on the material. Fiber laser with short pulse makes heat-affected zone smaller to reduce over-burning at the edge area of materials during engraving.

 

What materials can a fiber laser engraver?

 

You can use fiber laser engravers on a wide range of metals, including stainless steel, copper, iron, nickel, aluminum, brass, and many more. Some materials, like plastics (ABS, PBT, Silicon, ABS, PS), synthetic leathers and carbon fiber, are also suitable for fiber laser engraving.

 

 

Can a fiber laser engraver work on glass or wood?

 

Transparent glass does not absorb the wavelength of fiber laser, and that’s why fiber laser does not work on glass. In some special cases, fiber laser is used on certain glasses with a special surface coating, which makes it engravable with fiber laser. However, the actual result still depends on the glass and its surface treatment.

If you need to process wood, CO2 laser is recommended, since it is good at producing lifelike images and fine text processing on wood. Wood does absorb the wavelength of fiber laser, but it does not produce the effect and efficiency as perfect as CO2 laser.

 

Why choose a fiber laser engraver for metal engraving?

 

If you want to engrave metals, a fiber laser engraver delivers exceptional performance. A typical fiber laser engraver works at a wavelength of 1.064 micrometers. It produces an extremely small focal diameter (resulting in intensity up to 100 times higher than a CO2 system) and offers a better beam quality due to its light guiding properties, making it the ideal choice for permanent marking of serial numbers, ID codes, barcodes, and graphics on metals. Furthermore, by adjusting the laser beam, the color of the surface of the material can be changed to achieve a special color decoration effect.

 

 

How to choose the best laser engraving machines?

 

Laser engraving machine is widely used for various applications and lots of laser engraving machines are available in the market. So, the question is how to choose the right laser engraving machine. There are some points to be well considered:

 

  • Determine what materials you want to engrave.

    As we talked about in the previous paragraph, CO2 laser machines cannot process reflective and conductive materials like the fiber laser can. Therefore, a CO2 laser engraving machine can engrave almost anything, wood, cardboard, rubber, leather, plastic, marble, tile, glass, etc. In the case of fiber laser engraving machine, it can handle all kinds of metals, as well as some non-metallic materials such as silicon, plastics, polymers and ceramics.

  • Check the specifications carefully

    In order to match your engraving materials and applications, it is important to realize the specifications of the laser engraver you are looking for.

    • Table Size:

      The laser engravers on our list come with different table size, which is important when it comes to what you want to engrave. The machine's table size determines how big a piece of material you can fit in the machine to cut or engrave. A bigger table allows you to engrave larger pieces and even if you're doing something small, like engraving on a golf ball, a bigger bed allows you to engrave multiple pieces with jigs in one run, instead of one at a time.
      Add-ons for some units are available to create a larger workspace, but most units have a fixed size. For better efficiency, GCC LaserPro laser engravers feature ‘Pass-through Front to Rear Doors’, a design with doors on both ends to accommodate extremely long working pieces such as paddle or baseball bat. If your object has a certain height, you have to check out the Z-axis movement. It is recommended to choose GCC LaserPro laser engraver system, which has a minimum 790x530 mm workspace for you to load the material and the Z-axis depth is up to 165 mm.

    • Throughput:

      With excellent engraving effects in mind, pay attention to the working speed of the machine. More profits can be realized in a short period of time when working with high-speed laser engraving machines. If you choose a laser engraver with larger table size, a matching speed must be chosen too. Otherwise, you may have to wait for a while to complete the job when there is a lot of engraving to and the table is totally occupied.
      The strength of the laser is measured in Watts. Higher watts allow you to engrave faster and deeper. Choose the appropriate laser power according to the material to be processed. For some materials, such as acrylic, double-color plates, etc., higher watts are not required, but for other harder materials such as stone and wood, higher watts are required for excellent working performance.

    • Workspace:

      The size of machine is also one of the factors you need to consider when choosing a laser engraving machine. In addition to the multiple models of laser engraving machines for you to choose from, the most special feature of GCC LaserPro is the dual-laser design, which is not only space-saving but more flexible than a single tube laser machine in material application.
  • Safety Considerations

    No one takes environmental protection and safety more seriously than GCC. From the selection of materials to the inspection of the finished product, the quality is verified at every level to comply with the European environmental regulations RoHS and meet the Pb-free requirements. GCC is ISO 9001:2000 certified, which recognizes GCC's efforts to continuously develop and manufacture products with world-class quality standards.

    Safety is the key to the development of GCC LaserPro laser engraving machines that comply with Class I, II, 2006/42/EC and Class 4. In addition to avoiding laser damage and protecting the user himself. For example, an eye-catching, red emergency button is provided to stop the machine upon activation at the first possible moment when an emergency happens and the user has to stop the machine immediately for everybody’s safety; and a key switch is added to keep the machine from unauthorized use.


 

Why GCC laser engraving machine?

 
  • (1) Global GCC LaserPro customer service

    — GCC LaserPro has over 200 distributors in more than 80 countries/regions around the world, as well as a sophisticated service network. You can always count on local GCC LaserPro distributors for fast technical support.

  • (2) Experienced and reliable manufacturer

    — Established in 1989, GCC has accumulated extensive R&D experiences in optics, mechanics, electronics, software, laser applications and color and image processing. GCC has a strong emphasis on R&D with one-third of employees involving in research and owns many key technologies which makes GCC a leader internationally in visual-tech industry.

  • (3) Stable laser tube

    — the

    laser

    tube is the soul of a laser system. The GCC LaserPro laser engraver is equipped with the most reliable, long-life laser source with superb beam quality and stable laser output. Quality and performance are always our goal.

  • (4) Total solution

    — GCC LaserPro not only offers a full range of features in a laser system, but also provides various options, including air compressors, odor reduction systems, honeycomb tables and software. You have one-stop shopping with GCC LaserPro.

  • (5) Complete product range

    — From 12 Watt to 200 Watt laser source options, 11.8”x 8.3”to 51”x 35” working area size, 20ips to 140ips engraving speed, GCC LaserPro offers you versatile and complete laser system choices.

  • (6) Perfect GCC LaserPro drivers and firmware control

    — GCC LaserPro drivers and firmware control laser pulsing precisely and present superb engraving and cutting output quality.

  • (7) Global Resource, Worldwide Advantage

    — GCC LaserPro builds laser engravers with global resources and advantages, including DC servo motors, linear systems from Japan, laser tubes and optics from the U.S., electronics and professional manufacturing capability from Taiwan, worldwide branch offices (America, China, and Europe) and local distributors network support. GCC LaserPro provides you unprecedented value and outstanding performance.


 

Article by

GCC Product Marketing Team

GCC's dynamic product marketing team consists of professionals specializing in marketing strategy, content creation, and market analysis. They collaborate to conduct thorough market research execute targeted marketing campaigns, and work hand-in-hand with product development and sales teams to seamlessly connect technical features with customer benefits to bring breakthrough GCC products to market.

Further reading:


 ▶ 7 Tips for Making Rubber Stamps with Laser Engravers
 ▶ Laser Engraver Parameter Setup Methods for CorelDRAW, Illustrator & AutoCAD
 ▶ How Do You Maintain a Laser Engraver?
 ▶ GCC LaserPro Laser Engraver Print Driver Introduction

10 Things to Consider When Buying laser marking machine

5 Min Read-15 Tips for Buying a Laser Engraving Machine