Wood

Wood is one of the most popular materials for laser engraving because you can use different techniques to achieve different results. Common uses of laser engraving on wood include inlays, item personalization and prototyping.

Many types of wood are suitable for laser engraving:

Natural wood
Solid wood
veneers
noble wood
Cork
chipboard
plywood
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
High Density Fiberboard (HDF)

Metal

You can use a laser marking machine to mark practically any type of metal, making it one of the most commonly used materials in laser engraving. Metal engraving is useful for industrial applications such as automotive component manufacturing and aircraft wing modification.

Some of the best metals for laser engraving are:

Buyer
Gold
Silver
Stainless steel
Iron
Platinum
Brass
Aluminium
Steel
Coated metal
Titanium
Carbides
Palladium

Plastic

Plastic materials are engraved for applications ranging from jewelry to signage to wall art. Some of the most common laser marking plastics are:

Silicone
vinyl
Acrylic
Cotton
polypropylene
polycarbonate
Polyamide
Polyethylene

Paper

You can use paper laser engraving systems to create products such as business cards, greeting cards, and other custom items. This inexpensive marking material comes in many forms:

art paper
Cardboard
fine paper
corrugated cardboard

Glass

Laser engraving on glass can create stunning effects for products such as wine glasses, windows, mirrors and bottles. You can use industrial laser engravers on both round and flat glass, but proper techniques are required to avoid breakage or inconsistencies. However, crystal glass typically has too high a lead content for laser engraving purposes.

Leather

Leather responds exceptionally well to laser engraving processes, making it ideal for products such as shoes, belts, purses and wallets. You can laser mark all of the following types of leather:

natural
Synthetic
Whole grain
suede
Vegetable tanned
bonded
nubuck
Alcantra
took a nap

Stone

Stone is a laser engraving material that is ideal for exposure to the elements, making it suitable for outdoor installations, such as patios and walkways. Commonly used stones for laser marking processes include:

natural stone
Brick
Marble
Ceramic
Granite
Porcelain