Laser technology has gained immense popularity over the past few years, particularly among signage companies for engraving and cutting signage. Today, with laser technology, almost any design can be engraved on numerous materials, such as textiles, stainless steel, stone, glass, wood, plastic, and laminates. Therefore, if you know this technique and have the right equipment, you can engrave desired symbols, designs, or lettering on glass, wood, marble, granite, acrylic, stone, coated metals, and leather.
The technology is widely used for etching glass gift items with names and quotes, as well as engraving company logos on steel mugs or mementos. Therefore, laser engraving and cutting technology have made it possible to quickly etch a pattern or cut out even the most intricate design. Here are a few tips to increase productivity and ensure the best laser results.
1. Adjust the resolution
Dots per inch (DPI) impact the clarity of the image, and the higher the DPI, the closer together the engraved dots will be. Higher DPI gives a clear and highly detailed engraved image but may take longer to engrave. If you lower the resolution, the time taken will also reduce by around 33%. The trick is to find the right combination of resolution and dithering pattern to obtain a great-looking engraving pattern in less time.
2. Engrave multiple items in one batch
The best way to increase productivity is to print multiples instead of one at a time. When you are required to engrave various items of the same design, you can increase your productivity by 37% if you print multiple. This can be done by expanding the page size in your graphic design program to match the full table size of your laser.
3. Bottom-up Engraving
It is better to start engraving from the bottom of the material as you move upwards when printing a sign on any material. This is beneficial for cleaning the residue and can be done by changing the orientation of the laser engraver for signs before the process.
4. Center engraving
Center engraving saves you much more time than setting up custom files and jigs. Center engraving is helpful to quickly set up custom jobs on an item that requires centered text or graphics. Here, the engraver can move the laser by hand to the center of the engraved object.
5. Good Equipment
The quality of the outcome and engraving speed depends on the equipment used. For this reason, investing in the right machines is recommended to get the best results. According to experts, equipment with 25-30 watts of power is suitable for surfaces like vinyl, glass, wood, and metals. For surfaces like natural stone, equipment with higher wattage is preferred. This means that before purchasing equipment, it is important to consider the materials used in the projects. These are the basic tips you need to follow when using the laser engraver. Laser cutting and engraving have various applications in various industries and sectors, resulting in their growing popularity. Due to its mounting popularity and demand, engravers continue to look for ways to improve the output.
