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 textile, stainless steel, stone, glass, wood, plastic, and laminates. Therefore, if you know this technique and have the right equipment, you can engrave desired symbols, design or lettering on glass, wood, marble, granite, acrylic, stone, coated metals as well as leather.
The technology is widely used for etching glass gift items with names and quotes, as well as, engraving company’s logos on steel mugs or mementos. Therefore, the laser engraving and cutting technology have made possible to quickly etch a pattern or cut out even the most intricate design. Here are a few tips to increase productivity and ensure 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 are going to 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 great looking engraving pattern in less time.
2. Engrave multiple items in one batch
The best way to increase productivity is to print in multiples, instead of one at a time. When you are required to engrave multiple items of the same design, you can increase your productivity by 37% if you print multiples. 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 to clean the residue and can be done by changing the orientation of the laser engraver for signs before the process.
4. Center engraving
As compared to setting up custom files and jigs, center engraving is useful to save you a lot of time. 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 object being engraved.
5. Good Equipment
The quality of the final outcome and engraving speed depends on the quality of the equipment used. For this reason, it is recommended to invest in the right machines to get the best results. According to experts, an equipment with 25-30 watts of power is suitable for surfaces like vinyl, glass, wood, and metals. While for surfaces like natural stone, an equipment with higher wattage is preferred. This means before purchasing an equipment, it important to consider the materials to be used in the projects.
These were the basic tips that you need to follow while you start using the laser engraver. Laser cutting and engraving has various applications in various industries and sectors which has resulted in its growing popularity. Due to its mounting popularity and demand, engravers continue to look for the ways to improve the output.
