What is The Difference Between a Laser Marking Machine & a Laser Engraving Machine?

With the development of laser technology, the types and performance of laser equipment are constantly improving and improving. At present, the common laser marking equipment on the market includes laser engraving machine and laser marking machine. Many customers feel that the two machines about the same. So, what is the difference between a laser marking machine and a laser engraving machine?

1. The working principle is different

Laser marking machines use laser beams to make permanent marks on the surface of various materials. The function of marking is to expose the deep material through the evaporation of the surface material, or to "engrave" traces through chemical and physical changes of the surface material caused by light energy, or to burn off part of the material through light energy to display the desired etching pattern and text. .

A laser engraving machine is a laser device that uses the thermal energy of a laser to engrave and cut materials. Also known as laser cutting machine, laser etching machine, etc.

2. Different lasers are used

Laser marking machine Laser marking machine is mainly divided into CO2 laser marking machine, semiconductor laser marking machine, fiber laser marking machine and YAG laser marking machine. The service life of various lasers is different, such as metal tube laser and YAG solid-state laser, the service life is generally about 30,000 hours. Of course, fiber laser marking machine lasers have the longest service life, up to 100,000 hours.

Laser engraving machines can be divided into CO2 non-metallic laser engraving machines and optical fiber metal engraving machines. The laser of the CO2 non-metallic laser engraving machine is generally a carbon dioxide glass tube, and the life of the glass tube laser is generally 2000-10000 hours. Fiber lasers can be used continuously for more than 10w hours.

3. Different applicable materials and different application industries

CO2 laser marking machine Laser marking machine is suitable for a variety of non-metallic materials and has a wide range of applications. Various materials can be permanently marked with high quality. Used in clothing accessories, pharmaceutical packaging, wine packaging, architectural ceramics, beverage packaging, fabric cutting, rubber products, shell nameplates, craft gifts, electronic components, leather and other industries. However, fiber laser marking machines can be widely used in metal products.

Laser engraving machines can be roughly divided into: non-metallic laser engraving machines and metal laser engraving machines. Therefore, it can be used for both metal materials and non-metal materials, and the application range is very wide. For example, non-metallic materials such as bamboo, wood, crystal, horn, cardboard, plexiglass, marble, cloth, leather, rubber, plastic, etc. can be laser processed. Clothing, embroidery, cloth toys, home fabrics, handbags, gloves, leather for the toy industry, leather cutting and surface engraving. Precision cutting of non-metallic sheets such as acrylic sheets and medium density decorative sheets in the industries of handicrafts, models, advertisements, decoration, electrical appliances, and plastics.

4. Different processing depths

The laser marking machine only marks the surface of the material, and the depth is very shallow, generally less than 0.5mm, while the depth of the laser engraving machine can mark very deep, ranging from 0.1mm to 100mm, and can penetrate deep into the object. Even if it is opened, the specific depth depends on the material.

5. Different processing speed

The engraving speed of the laser engraving machine is generally the fastest cutting speed of 200mm/s and the engraving speed of 500mm/s; the speed of the laser marking machine is generally three times that of the laser engraving machine.

6. Different processing techniques

The laser engraving machine can be equipped with an electric lifting platform and a rotating shaft, which can engrave regular or irregular objects such as cylinders, special shapes, and spheres. Due to the stability control of the Q head and the optical path setting of the laser marking machine, the platform can adjust the focal length left and right up and down, so it is mostly suitable for plane engraving.

7. The price is different

Different configurations, such as different lasers and different powers, will have different final prices. Generally speaking, the engraving depth of the laser engraving machine is deeper and the power is higher. However, the printing depth of the general laser marking machine is very shallow and the laser power is low. For non-metal laser engraving and cutting machines, the price of low power is much cheaper than that of laser marking machines, but high-power laser engraving machines are also more expensive.