Laser marking and laser engraving services use a computer-controlled laser beam to discolor the surface of a component, or engrave it by vaporizing the material. The laser can be positioned and controlled very accurately, allowing for a variety of effects to be achieved. Laser marking services and laser engraving services differ in terms of material capabilities and printing capabilities. Materials that can be marked and engraved with lasers include: metals, plastics, rubber, glass, stone, marble, granite, foam, and composites. Some laser marking services and laser engraving services print company logos or graphics onto products or packages. Others apply semi-permanent markings, often by stamping with inks that can be washed away with special solvents. Many laser marking and laser engraving services print bar codes, matrix codes, universal product codes (UPC), or serial numbers for product identification purposes. Companies that print certification or regulatory symbols enable manufacturers to indicate compliance with standards from organizations such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or the Council of Europe (CE).
Selecting laser marking and laser engraving services requires an analysis of services offered and secondary capabilities. There are five parameters for services offered: CAD/CAM support, design assistance, prototyping, short-run production, full-scale production, and inspection or quality control. Computer aided design (CAD) is used to design products quickly and accurately. Computer aided manufacturing (CAM) is used to fabricate products directly from CAD outputs. With regard to secondary capabilities, laser marking and laser engraving services may provide three-dimensional (3D) engraving, computer numerical control (CNC) engraving, dot peening or dot peen marking, dry offset printing, electrical discharge machining (EDM), electrochemical marking or etching, embossing or debossing, and hot stamping services. Additional capabilities for laser marking services and laser engraving services include: indent marking, letterpress printing, pad printing, rotary engraving, screen printing or silk screening, scribing, sublimation transfer, and water jet or abrasive machining.
Laser marking and laser engraving services use a computer-controlled laser beam to discolor the surface of a component, or engrave it by vaporizing the material. The laser can be positioned and controlled very accurately, allowing for a variety of effects to be achieved. Laser marking services and laser engraving services differ in terms of material capabilities and printing capabilities. Materials that can be marked and engraved with lasers include: metals, plastics, rubber, glass, stone, marble, granite, foam, and composites. Some laser marking services and laser engraving services print company logos or graphics onto products or packages. Others apply semi-permanent markings, often by stamping with inks that can be washed away with special solvents. Many laser marking and laser engraving services print bar codes, matrix codes, universal product codes (UPC), or serial numbers for product identification purposes. Companies that print certification or regulatory symbols enable manufacturers to indicate compliance with standards from organizations such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or the Council of Europe (CE).
Selecting laser marking and laser engraving services requires an analysis of services offered and secondary capabilities. There are five parameters for services offered: CAD/CAM support, design assistance, prototyping, short-run production, full-scale production, and inspection or quality control. Computer aided design (CAD) is used to design products quickly and accurately. Computer aided manufacturing (CAM) is used to fabricate products directly from CAD outputs. With regard to secondary capabilities, laser marking and laser engraving services may provide three-dimensional (3D) engraving, computer numerical control (CNC) engraving, dot peening or dot peen marking, dry offset printing, electrical discharge machining (EDM), electrochemical marking or etching, embossing or debossing, and hot stamping services. Additional capabilities for laser marking services and laser engraving services include: indent marking, letterpress printing, pad printing, rotary engraving, screen printing or silk screening, scribing, sublimation transfer, and water jet or abrasive machining.
Laser marking and laser engraving services are located across the United States and around the world. They adhere to a variety of certifications and regulatory standards, including AS 9000, AS 9100, and QS-9000. Laser marking and laser engraving services follow four main quality standards from the International Standards Organization: ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001, ISO 13485:2003, and ISO/TS 16949:2002. Some laser marking services and laser engraving services are registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Others comply with military specifications (MIL-SPEC) or military standards (MIL-STD). Laser marking and laser engraving services that provide certifications for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications are also available.
