![]() ![]() They are beyond the scope of this guide, but designers and craftspeople may want to look into the potential of those devices. With the advent of affordable 3D printers, there are now a number of hybrid machines that can either engrave or print in 3D - usually it's a relatively simple matter of changing the print head. It's another area that bears careful investigation. Some work with a variety of graphics software, some have their own proprietary programs. Many take common file types like JPEG, BMP, and EPS. Some machines will scan from your artwork or photo. Input/software options are equally varied. A number of machines don't work with the latter, which is frustrating for some designers, who typically use Apple equipment. Windows and Android are better served than Mac and iOS. However, you need to be careful with compatibility. There are also usually limits on the amount of adjustability you'll have.Ĭonnectivity can be via USB port or wireless to desktop, laptop, or tablet. So, high resolution gives you the ability to reproduce photographs, for example, in great detail, but the higher the resolution, the slower the machine will work. (for reference, a glossy magazine is usually 300 to 600 d.p.i.). Resolution can range from 150 dots per inch (d.p.i.) to 2,500 d.p.i. Speed of engraving varies tremendously and is usually quoted as a maximum, because the complexity of a design and resolution you use has a major impact. However, you do need to be extra careful with these models, as the laser-engraving unit is exposed. These have the potential for almost limitless size (though positioning on some things could be problematic). There are also open-frame laser engravers, and some of these can be placed on top of the item to be engraved. These machines are inherently safer, because the laser operates within a closed space. We've seen these from under 2 inches square to an enormous 55 inches x 35 inches. The size of the item you can engrave is mostly restricted by the laser’s enclosure. Larger models often plug straight into the mains. The smallest laser engravers run off batteries, and some can accept mobile chargers or similarly low voltage supply. While we're on the subject of power, you'll also want to look at supply. 'Prosumer' engravers deliver around 40 to 45 watts Mid-range engravers deliver between 8 and 15 watts In basic terms, the former will scratch the surface of relatively soft materials like leather the latter will engrave several millimeters deep into steel or stone and easily cut through plastics.Įntry-level engravers deliver around 1,500 milliwatts Power varies from a low of about 500 milliwatts to in excess of 130 watts. The latter is far more common in the kind of laser engravers we are looking at. In the other, the laser moves and the workpiece is stationary. In one, the laser is stationary and the workpiece moves. There are also two types of mechanisms to choose from. As a result, CO2 lasers are those most often used by hobbyists and small businesses. They don't have the intensity of the fiber laser, but that's actually an advantage on many materials. These use a chamber filled with carbon dioxide that is “excited” by electricity. However, their cost means they are mostly restricted to high-volume commercial environments. They are “solid-state,” which means they have few moving parts and, therefore, are very reliable, with minimal maintenance requirements. Particularly suited to engraving metals and plastics, these lasers use diodes to create a high-intensity beam. There are solutions, but it's vital to understand the capabilities of any given laser engraver before you buy. Metals require high power acrylics, polycarbonates, and reflective surfaces present technical challenges. With some machines it's also possible to slice right through the material, cutting out any kind of shape you can imagine - either as individual pieces or part of an assembly. This magnification process creates high temperatures that vaporize the surface of the material being engraved, leaving a permanent mark.īy varying power and intensity, it's possible to engrave card stock, leather, wood, metal, stone, glass, ceramics, and a variety of plastics. In laser engravers, it's focused using a series of mirrors until it becomes very narrow (as thin as a human hair). How does a laser engraver work?Ī laser is really just a highly concentrated beam of light. Some have a print area of less than 2 inches. Budget laser engravers can offer a cost-effective way to start a fascinating hobby, but check capacity carefully. ![]()
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