A laser engraver is equipment used to engrave permanent marks on surfaces. It etches anything, from wood, slate, metal, plastic, leather, cardboard, aluminium and even glass to create unique designs.

Laser engravers work by shining a narrow laser light onto the material. The overheating of the laser causes the material to melt, burn and evaporate, resulting in a permanent wear-resistant engraving.

In addition, the high precision of laser engraving equipment allows the design of complex material details without the use of multiple tools. Companies use laser engravers to etch serial numbers, logos into their products, but you can use it to engrave your name or landscape on wood or metal.

There are three main types of laser engravers, including:

CO2 Laser Engraver: It involves using carbon dioxide beams to penetrate the material. However, it has a low-efficiency level; hence it’s ideal for engraving and cutting non-metal materials such as paper, fabric, leather, and wood.

Diode Laser Engraver: it becomes quite popular with hobbyists and makers. The diode in this laser is usually an optoelectronic device that converts electrical energy to light, leading to coherent light with high intensity used to engrave objects.

Fiber Laser Engraver: It produces strong laser beams by pumping an extremely intense level of light via fiber optic cables. Note that these cables are normally doped with ytterbium to release high-capacity energy in the form of photons.

How Does a Laser Engraver Work?
A laser engraving machine vaporizes materials, generating fumes and leaving permanent engraved marks. This equipment utilizes a laser beam that acts as its chisel, precisely incising marks on material by removing a substantial material layer from its surface. The edge that’s left behind will have a premium quality finish on its surface.

The effectiveness of using a laser engraving machine is because it can hit all localized areas with a high energy level. This normally leads to the generation of high heat needed for the process of vaporization. The right laser engraving process depends on:

The type of material being engraved

The vaporization process that’s ideal for engravement usually depends on the ability of the material to withstand temperature. Below is an example of vaporization temperatures in degrees celsius of different materials:

Zinc – 906
Lead – 1750
Aluminum – 2327
Copper 2595
Iron – 3000

Best Laser Engraver Under $300 , Best Laser Engraver Under $500 , Best Budget Laser Engraver , Best Laser Engraver for Beginners