Laser Etching/Engraving

Laser etching/engraving creates permanent surface marks by locally heating or ablating material, enabling fine detail, fast turnaround, and minimal part distortion.

Overview

Laser etching/engraving (laser marking) uses a focused laser to change or remove a thin surface layer to create text, logos, barcodes, and decorative textures. Depending on the laser type and settings, marks can be annealed (color change on metals), etched (micro-melt/oxidation), or engraved (material removal) with high repeatability and no tooling.

Choose it for durable identification, traceability, and cosmetic branding on finished parts, especially when you want small features, sharp edges, and flexible artwork changes between builds. It works well from prototypes through production because cycle times are short and fixtures can be simple.

Tradeoffs: marking contrast varies by alloy, surface finish, coatings, and heat treatment; some plastics can discolor or char. True engraving depth is limited and can affect fatigue/corrosion performance on critical surfaces. Complex geometry may require rotary/5-axis positioning to keep focus and maintain consistent line width.

Common Materials

  • Stainless steel 304
  • Aluminum 6061
  • Titanium Grade 5
  • ABS
  • Polycarbonate
  • Anodized aluminum

Tolerances

±0.005 in (feature location, with proper fixturing)

Applications

  • Serial numbers and UID/Data Matrix on housings
  • Logo and part number marking on anodized panels
  • Graduated scales on knobs and dials
  • Medical instrument ID and UDI marks
  • Wire and cable ID sleeves
  • Control panel legends and backplates

When to Choose Laser Etching/Engraving

Choose laser etching/engraving for permanent, high-resolution marks or light textures where artwork may change frequently and you want no consumable tooling. It fits low to high volumes when you can fixture consistently and keep the mark area accessible to the beam. Best results come from stable surfaces (known finish/coating) and defined contrast requirements.

vs Media Blasting

Choose laser etching/engraving when you need crisp text, small barcodes, or variable data with high repeatability and minimal masking. Blasting is better suited to broad, uniform matte texture; it struggles with fine line widths and scannable codes on small parts.

vs Chemical Etching

Choose laser etching/engraving when you want fast setup, easy artwork changes, and localized marking without wet chemistry. Chemical etching can be preferable for very uniform shallow etch over larger areas or when you need batch processing with consistent depth across flat parts.

vs Pad Printing

Choose laser etching/engraving when you need a wear-resistant, solvent-proof mark that won’t rub off and you want no ink management. Pad printing can give strong color contrast on complex shapes, but durability depends on inks, surface prep, and clear coats.

vs Mechanical Engraving (rotary)

Choose laser etching/engraving for small features, tight corners, and fast changeover without cutter wear or tool access constraints. Mechanical engraving can produce deeper grooves in soft metals and plastics, but it’s slower for dense artwork and requires tool paths and chip management.

Design Considerations

  • Call out the mark type (anneal/etch/engrave) and required contrast, not just “laser mark.”
  • Specify location with datums and a keep-out zone; avoid placing marks across edges, radii, or heavy texture changes.
  • Define maximum allowed depth on functional surfaces; avoid engraving on fatigue-critical areas unless approved.
  • State surface condition at marking (as-machined, bead blasted, anodized, passivated) because it drives contrast and repeatability.
  • Provide vector artwork (DXF/AI/SVG) and barcode standards (ECC200, cell size, quiet zone) to reduce setup time.
  • Design for fixturing: include a flat or consistent reference surface so the shop can locate parts and maintain focus across the mark area.