In this regard, leather is a common material suitable for laser engravers. Leather is a soft, durable and inexpensive material that can be used for a variety of personal items. For example, laser-engraved leather wallets increase the perceived value of customers.
Likewise, you can use the best leather laser engravers to etch raw leather sheets, prefab leather goods, and everything in between. So, in this article, I'll discuss everything you need to know to get started with laser engraving leather.
Types of Engravable Leather:
Leather laser cutting service providers prefer natural materials over synthetic ones. This is because natural leather produces contrasting dark burn marks. You can produce beautiful markings by varying the laser speed, power and engraving depth. In this regard, manufacturers use different types of leather for various engraving projects. The most common types of engravable leather are:
Synthetic Leather:
Some people don't like the concept of leather goods. They love nature and see the world from a different perspective. However, manufacturers do not want to keep their customers away from the benefits of leather products.
So, use synthetic leather materials like faux leather, nubuck, suede, and Alcantara instead. The material has very similar qualities to natural leather, so it can also be used for laser engraving. However, you need to check with the manufacturer as synthetic leather sometimes contains PVC compounds.
Suede Leather:
Suede is natural leather, making it an ideal material for producing a variety of items such as wallets and holsters. However, leather is naturally rough and difficult to etch.
Also, suede is easy to dye. Therefore, the manufacturer sprays it over it with a coat of paint. Fortunately, the spray makes the leather look rusty, making it suitable for laser engraving.
Genuine Leather:
Natural leather obtained from raw hides belongs to the category of genuine leather. However, there are many types of leather, and each responds differently to laser engraving.
So you may have to experiment with different laser speeds and powers to find the perfect setting for your material. The only advice I can give is that it is best to start with a low laser setting and gradually increase until you find the sweet spot.
Benefits of Cutting Leather with a Laser:
Laser printing on leather is the best way to cut and etch with minimal damage. You can use other cuts, but the results may not be satisfactory. Here are some of the benefits of using laser cutting leather:
Accuracy: The laser engraving machine is controlled by computer software. This eliminates any elements of error in the design. Therefore, laser cutting provides highly accurate and precise designs.
Speed: Laser engraving leather produces accurate results in minutes. If you try any other method of cutting leather, the intricate design will take hours.
Natural look: Laser cutting is a fast-moving laser that vaporizes the top layer of leather. As a result, laser engraving leather produces high-contrast markings.
Permanent: The cuts and etchings produced by a laser engraver are durable. In some cases, the token lasts even longer than the object.
Detailed design: Without a laser engraving machine, the design details cannot be perfect. The whole process is controlled by computer. So even smaller details are not forgotten.
