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 by laser 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 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 marking is referred to as 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 metal cutting option can easily be added to some of the laser cutting machines. 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 cut complex profiles can totally eliminate the need for added operations, making it highly economical.
A few of the items that CO2 laser systems can be used for regarding 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. Marking of glass by CO2 lasers while moving can be an excellent add-on for many industrial environments and applications.
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 except laser etching. Industries that use it include the promotional, engineering and medical industries.
Amid the many items being engraved today, iPods and laptops rank among the highest in the marketplace. Some of the products include wedding giveaways, nametags, table nameplates, trophy and wood engraving.
Laser engraving can be used for the kind of jobs carried out by conventional industrial engravers. Engraving machines are common today. And services are available in specialty stores because it’s the most common type of engraving today.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Some people out of curiosity, trying to fix a fault or just out of sheer stupidity will look down a laser into the lens where the laser beam comes out. I don’t care whether your finger is off the on button, you’ve taken the batteries out or if the guts of laser are spread all over your work bench, you NEVER look down a laser. You would never look down the barrel of a rifle and in the same way you should never look down the laser.