If you are in a business that has high production needs, then laser engraving machines should be part of your equipment. A laser system will enable you increase your quantity of production because these machines work quite effectively. Laser machines will give you the opportunity to expand your business and take it to greater heights without incurring a lot of costs.

There are quite a number of companies that manufacture these machines and it is important you research first before settling on one. The good thing about laser machines is the fact that they have a long lifespan. You will use them for a long time without getting the urge to replace them.
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Laser engraving is a versatile mark-making procedure. With the ability to create images and text with pinpoint accuracy, laser engraving holds many advantages over other methods of etching and engraving.

One significant advantage laser engraving has is in the ability of creating engravings on a host of different surfaces. Glass, plastic, rubber, even fruit can be engraved upon. This allows an engraver to create designs for many applications.

When engraving there are some notable differences the engraving has between the different materials. Engraving makes a permanent etching on a material, because of this the hardness and texture of the surface will impact the image or text that is being engraved. It is important to keep this in mind, varying materials give varying results for the final engraving.

An example of this is the difference of engraving on perishable goods in comparison to solid objects. A laser engraving will only remain on the perishable item for a certain amount of time, as the item is slowly worn down. Where as a solid object will hold an engraving for much longer due to the rigidity of the object.

When engraving a design a technique many professional engravers use is to keep the engraving flowing. Designing and etching in a way which looks like it was done with a paintbrush, as opposed to an engraving machine.

To create an engraving in this way the engraver will need to master the art of creating designs in single and simple strokes. Using the engraving machine in a manner similar to drawing a flowing line of ink, but with the tools of an engraver.

This may be a seemingly straight forward process, but it can take many months for an engraver to master. Engraving machines are usually used to make sturdy, intentional designs. Creating more flowing designs goes against the nature of the machine and is difficult to pull off.

But it is worth the effort. An engraving designed in this way will have a unique feel to it, a style that evokes the manner in which it was created.

In the last post we mentioned some of the advantages of varying the size of the font when engraving. This time we look at the colour of text.

Using different font colours can go a long way in communicating a certain message. When text is given a contrasting colour it can stand out from the traditional black text that is commonly used.

For example, when red is used it sends the message that what is written is of a cautionary nature. It can also be used as the colour for a warning message.

Its also important to consider the colour that the text is laid upon. When another colour is used to contrast against a primary one, it can send a different message entirely. For example when red is used but on a green background, the message could be of a festive nature as red and green are the traditional colours of the Christmas holidays.

When engraving it’s important to consider the size of the words you use. A large font sends a different message than a smaller font so it makes sense to use different sizing for different uses.

Large text is seen immediately, so the type of messages are often important, need to know pieces of information. Examples where large text sizing can be used: Warning messages, identification numbers, names or slogans and other important notifications.

Smaller text is often used for less immediately important messages such as long identification codes, information about a product, messages and less important but necessary notifications.

There is no strict rule when it comes to text sizing. It really depends on how big you feel the message should be and whether it suits the object that is being engraved upon. Remember that large text can be unsightly and ruin the appearance of the image. But smaller text is harder to read and may not serve its purpose. Try and get the balance just right.

Purchasing a laser engraving machine is a long-term investment. The machine will be creating engravings for many years, so it is crucial you select a machine that has the right features for your personal or business use.

Machine Size

Sizes range from compact to industrial sized models, so it’s important to know what area you will be working on and what size you want to be able to engrave at.

How Will You Be Engraving?

Consider the purpose you are using it for. Do you expect to be doing a lot of engravings in a short space of time? If so the speed of the engraver will be an important concern.

Laser Type

When engraving a personalised message onto an item, the message you chose to engrave is important, but equally important is the font you use.

Choosing a font can be an awkward thing at first. It can be hard to imagine what a certain style of text would look like without actually seeing the finished engraving.

When choosing a font look around at different examples. If you are getting an engraving from a specialist, ask to see some examples. Or perhaps ask for his or her opinion on what font would suit the engraved message. Someone who has a lot of experience engraving words is sure to have a good eye for a font.

Some font styles you could chose from are:

Edwardian Script – An ornate and glamorous font. Great for a surname or initials.

4 Line Roman – A formal font. Suited for business names or room numbers.

El Greco – A unique font. Would suit anything that has a whimsical feel.