How To Select A Laser Marking/Engraving Machine

1. The Type of Materials for Engraving

Star with selecting the engraving material,

Common materials are metal, acrylic, paper, plastic and wood.

Not all machines can work on all types of materials.

Here the few machines suitable for different materials:

1. Acrylic , wood, clothes – CO2 Laser Marking
2. Plastic, Metal- Fiber Laser Marking
3. Glass, Plastic- UV Laser Marking
4. Metal Colour Shades (on SS)- MOPA Fiber Laser Marking

2. Marking Quality

The marking quality of the machine can be checked by marking a square of the installed lens size.

If the quality is good the perfect square will be marked along with the sharp edges. 

3. Cycle Time

The cycle time is referred to the time taken by the machine to mark one single job.

Based on this time the number of products that can be marked in 8 hours is calculated.

4. Electricity Consumption

The electricity consumption of the machine is the total units consumed by the machine in its running period (In a day).

Normally it is 0.5*6=3 Units for 8 hours of working

5. Often Asked Questions

How does it cost to mark one piece?

A few things that need to be considered are:

1. Machine Cost
2. Operation Cost (Rental+Manpower)
3. Electrical Cost

6. Warranty

 The lead time of warranty and what all things are covered within warranty must be cleared out before purchasing the machine.

7. Budget

This is on the list of most important factors when it comes to buying an engraving machine. This is because your budget determines the type of machine you can buy. Although the price of the machine should not dictate its quality, your budget is an important decision-making factor.

If you want a device that can engrave on different materials, you should expect to spend more money. There may be cheaper options, but they may curb the products that can be marked. Therefore, ensure you consider these factors when setting your budget.

The prices of machine vary. The factors affecting their prices include the type of laser, engraving material, engraving area, and laser power.

8. Availability of spares & service

After purchasing the machine if the client requires spares/service then there must be support window available.