Laser engraving history: It was in the early sixties that scientists first discovered they could create a light source, focus its energy and have a tool powerful enough to affect a wide range of materials. You can think of a laser as a light source that's similar to a light bulb. A light bulb will emit energy all around it.

The favored marking method is a laser marking when permanency or aesthetics are called for. And with advanced software today you can laser engrave practically anything including Bar Codes, 2D codes, photographs and company logos.

Unlike the conventional engravers some engravers use an intense beam of light instead of a rotating or vibrating tool. This beam can either vaporize a small area of the surface called laser engraving or cause a change in surface color of the material called laser marking. The beam is controlled by a computer at high speeds and accuracy to give exceptional quality at a very cost-effective price. Sometimes laser marking is referred to as laser etching. Laser etching, unlike conventional etching, needs no masks or chemicals.

Like many inventions in our recent times, lasers were first conceived in the laboratory. There are many advantages to using a laser over other methods of engraving. Because the tool is a beam of light, there's no contact with product, which means less chance of having product damage or deformation.

The laser metal cutting option can easily be added to some of the laser cutting machines.

Laser engraving metal uses the most power especially if it is the harder type.

Laser etching can take place on many materials including slate, granite, stainless steel, leather, arborite, glass, mirrors, premium hardwoods and on graphite it's a clean operation.

Laser cutting adds high precision, less contamination or warping and quality finishing to industrial cutting applications. The ability to laser cut complex profiles can totally eliminate the need for added operations, making it highly economical.

A few of the items that CO2 lasers and CO2 laser systems can be used for regarding laser marking and etching glass or quartz are float glass plants, manufacturing of glass doors and windows. There is also permanent serial numbering, ANSI safety information, customer logos, decorative or specialty glass manufacturing, manufacturing data related to plant, production date and line, and/or part numbers. You can easily mark in batches of from 1 to 10,000. Laser marking of glass by CO2 lasers while moving can be an excellent add on for many industrial environments and applications for the marking of glass.

Laser marking is a process in which the material is indelibly marked at fast speeds (milliseconds per character). It's also favored when the part to be marked is too small or has too complex of a shape to be marked with anything but laser etching. Industries that use it include the promotional, engineering and medical industries.

Amid the many items being laser engraved today, iPods and laptops rank are among the highest in the marketplace. Some of the laser engraved products are wedding giveaways, nametags, table nameplates, trophy engraving and laser wood engraving.

Laser engraving can be used for the kind of jobs carried out by conventional industrial engravers. Laser engraving machines are common today. Also laser services are available in most engraving specialty stores because it's the most common type of engraving today.