Laser engraving technology continues to soar as a premier marking method in the Recognition and Identification Industry. If you have been keeping up to date, you know that today’s laser engraving machines are more affordable and easier to use than ever before. Plus they have more power, more speed and more features and options.
     In an effort to help keep readers up to date, EJ publishes this Buyer’s Guide annually because advancements in this technology can and do occur at a rapid pace. For years, readers have used this guide as a starting point for finding a laser engraving system that best suits their needs and helps them build a successful business. After all, spending money on equipment that isn’t what you expected or needed could be catastrophic to a small business, especially in today’s rocky economic climate.
     Look for several new features and options in this year’s guide, including a few more table and cabinet features (such as table substrate and interior cabinet lighting), safety features (such as a fire sensor and emergency stop button) and laser marking features (such as variable Z-stroke capability).
     There are also some new systems in this year’s guide with new capabilities. Xenetech Global, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA, has introduced an interesting new laser system called The XL Duo that can not only raster and vector engrave with a CO2 laser but it can diamond drag engrave as well.
     As in the past, the 2009 Laser Buyer’s Guide includes the main features and specifications for the major laser engraving systems available in the industry in a convenient chart format. These charts can be viewed on EJ’s website at www.en
graversjournal.com/charts09). There you will see all of the charts that are referenced in this article detailing all of the laser systems and their specifications. The charts are organized alphabetically by manufacturer name, followed by the name of the laser engraving system. Keep in mind that space prohibits listing every available feature and option for every system, but the primary ones have been included. Note, too, that the information listed in the charts was provided by the manufacturers.
General Specifications
(View General Specifications chart online at www.
engraversjournal.com/charts09)
     This chart provides basic information about each laser engraving system, including the price and warranty details. The prices listed for the systems are general guidelines designed to give you an idea of how much a system costs. Prices will vary depending on the exact setup, features and options ordered, area of the world you are located in, etc. For this reason, most manufacturers have listed a price range and/or a general starting price to give you a ballpark idea of system prices. You will need to check with the manufacturer for more specific pricing.
     The Standard Components column in the General Specifications chart lists the major components supplied with the system. Most manufacturers include driver software with the purchase of a laser and some are even offering layout software, a computer and some accessories as part of the package. Lasers that require liquid cooling (typically lasers with 50 watts of power or more) may or may not include the cooling unit (listed as “water chiller” in the chart). Some lasers now include a touch screen keypad, which many users find to be a very user-friendly way to operate the machine.
     Because there is a relatively broad selection of laser engraving machines included in this Buyer’ Guide, we’ve included the Laser Type and Major Applications (Apps.) categories to give you an idea of what the particular machine is designed to do. The Laser Type category details a physical description of the system. For example, the laser system might be a freestanding, enclosed laser or a smaller desktop machine that you can fit on your workbench.
     The Major Apps. column in the General Specifications chart provides a basic idea of the type of work for which the laser is suited. For instance, some systems are well-suited for general engraving, e.g. awards and signs, while others are more suited for industrial marking, marking on metal or rubber stamp production.

The new XL Duo System from Xenetech Global, Baton Rouge, LA, uses the laser focus tool while the diamond-drag tool remains mounted.				The Rayjet desktop laser from Trotec Laser, Inc., Ypsilanti, MI.

The LaserPro Spirit GX laser from GCC, Walnut CA.				The VersaLaser desktop laser from ULS has an optional storage cart.

A honey comb cutting table helps minimize burning of the back side of materials being cut. Photo courtesy of ULS.				Trotec’s Speedy 300.

Laser Marking Features
(View Laser Marking Features chart online at www.engraversjournal.com/charts09)
     The final chart in this Guide describes each system’s Laser Marking Features. These are typically operator-definable features that allow you more control over the laser engraving process.
     As shown in the chart, many of the computer-controlled lasers have a feature known as Proportional Power. This control automatically changes the power of the laser beam by linking the laser’s pulses with the speed of engraving. For example, in vector mode the laser operates at full speed when engraving straight lines, but slows down when cutting a curve. Without proportional power, this would result in deeper cuts when cutting curves than when cutting straight lines. The proportional power feature increases/decreases the laser power as necessary, e.g. power is decreased when engraving curves and/or increased when engraving straight lines. This feature is very useful as it can eliminate variations in depth and line widths.
     Raster-Only Mode is a software setting that instructs the laser to only engrave in raster mode and ignore any vector lines in the image. This is primarily used when lasering clip art. CorelDRAW clip art, for example, is known to have “hidden” vector lines in many images. If these lines are engraved as vectors, the result is usually very unattractive—the image is often distorted and, in general, it looks odd to have “stray lines” within an otherwise rastered image.
     Another feature associated with raster engraving is called Optimized Raster Engraving. Laser engravers with this time-saving feature will automatically optimize the engraving speed, i.e. the laser engraves in the areas where an image exists and then skips the blank spaces between image areas. This feature can substantially reduce engraving time since the laser “scans” only those areas to be engraved rather than the entire layout.
     Memory Buffer is a feature found on some systems that enables you to download several jobs (in some cases up to 99) to the engraving unit, which can free up the host computer. When several jobs have been downloaded, you can select which job(s) to engrave. With some systems, the buffer will also display information such as the selected laser power and engraving speed for the job.
     File Compression is a feature that works in conjunction with a system’s memory buffer. When a file is selected to be sent to the memory buffer, the software automatically “compresses” the file prior to sending it, which not only reduces the time it takes to download a job to the engraver but also reduces the amount of memory the file occupies in the buffer.
     Auto Halftones is a software feature that is typically built into the driver software that automatically generates halftone images from artwork such as photographs. In order to be laser engraved, a photograph must first be converted into a halftone (a series of various sized dots that the laser can engrave). This usually involves importing the image into a separate software package and applying a “halftone screen” to create the dots. Automatic halftoning eliminates this step by applying a halftone screen for you, based on the engraving resolution that you select.
     Some lasers also feature a type of “halftoning” option known as “dithering.” Instead of applying a traditional halftone screen to a photographic image, the dithering technology applies a random dot pattern which looks more like lines as opposed to dots, and it tends to create a more realistic rendering of the photo in the final engraved result. This is an especially nice feature to have on your laser if you do any type of photo engraving.
     Indicator/Spotting Beam, briefly mentioned earlier, is a convenient feature that allows you to visually check the position of your layout on the workpiece without actually lasering. A CO2 laser beam is invisible, but a spotting beam can be used to create a visual reference showing the exact location of the lasered mark. The feature is essentially a red indicator dot light that shows up on your work so that you can see where on the material the engraving will take place, without wasting time and materials through trial and error.

		Epilog’s Mini 18 laser engraver.

     The specifics of how this feature actually works will vary among systems. For example, on some units you can direct the indicator beam to different areas on the workpiece and display (e.g. on a LED readout) exact X,Y coordinates, while other units allow you to direct the laser through a “dry run” with the cabinet door open, causing the beam to simulate the engraving or cutting job. (The inclusion of this feature may require additional safety precautions. Check with the manufacturer for specifics on this.)
     Many lasers have a set origin, i.e. the reference position on the laser’s worktable. For instance, many lasers in this industry use the upper-left corner as the point of origin. Relocatable Origin, the next feature in the chart, is used for changing the origin position. This is helpful when you’re engraving odd or nonsquare items, e.g. where’s the upper-left corner of an obelisk? In a case like this, changing the origin to the center, for example, will greatly simplify the setup process.
     Similarly, Center-to-Center Positioning allows you to change the home position of the laser to reference the center of your artwork. Typically, this is used in conjunction with the relocatable origin feature just mentioned. Center-to-center positioning provides you with additional flexibility for properly positioning text and graphics on the item to be engraved, especially odd-shaped pieces.
     Variable Z is a new feature added to the Laser Marking Features chart this year. This feature allows you to vary the Z position (up/down vertical movement) during a single job. For example, if you’re laser engraving the inside of a bowl, variable Z will direct the laser head to pass over the top of the bowl and then drop down inside the bowl where it focuses and engraves. After engraving, the laser head raises to clear the bowl and returns to the home position.
     Auto Focus/Material Thickness is a sophisticated tool that causes the laser to continually focus during engraving (like a Z-probe/sensor on a computerized engraving machine). This prevents depth variations in uneven materials and it also allows you to engrave materials/items that are purposefully uneven in shape, e.g. a tapered glass or a bumpy surface, without changes in engraving depth.
     Software-Adjustable Table Height is another feature that represents some of the innovative technology available in today’s laser engraving systems. This feature will automatically adjust the table height/focal distance between engraving passes, e.g. to automatically cut through thick material.
     Bottom-Up Engraving is used to reverse the normal engraving sequence and start engraving at the bottom of the job and work toward the top. This feature was developed for engraving materials that generate excessive smoke, e.g. rubber for stamps, since it greatly reduces the amount of smoke that’s drawn over the already engraved area, ultimately saving you cleaning time. It’s also useful for lasering colored materials such as white plastic with a bright red core. This feature would help prevent red soot from being dragged over the white plastic and causing discoloration.
     The last feature in the chart is 3D Engraving. In laser engraving as in mechanical engraving, 3D effects are accomplished by varying the depth of the cut. This is achieved by raster scanning an area and then firing the laser at different power settings at each X, Y position. Higher wattage lasers provide a greater degree of relief. Also, the more depth variation you have, the greater the three-dimensional effect. Many lasers with this feature allow engraving up to 256 depth levels per raster pass.
     The last column in this chart lists any specialized features the manufacturer chose to highlight. This is an area where the manufacturer can showcase newly-added and unique features about their equipment. Contact the manufacturer directly for more information about special features.
Conclusion
     It is interesting to see how laser engraving continues to evolve in our industry. Each year we see more features that make laser engraving more user-friendly and convenient. Even the “look” of laser engraving machines has become more sleek and modern, not to mention more colorful, which makes them fit nicely into retail environments.
     Of course, we’re also seeing new technological developments that can enhance what you can do with a laser. It wasn’t that long ago that the primary applications for laser engraving were awards and standard signage. Today, however, the list of applications is almost unlimited. Consider just a few diverse examples of what you can engrave with a laser: three-dimensional and ADA signage, jigsaw puzzles, multi-layered fabric appliqués for wearables, stainless steel and chrome, bar codes, labels, decals, control panels, electronics such as laptops and iPods, glassware and a whole lot more.
     With each Buyer’s Guide we publish, it becomes more evident that your options in laser systems continue to expand, whether you’re looking for a system at the low end, one closer to the high end or somewhere in between. So if you’re ready to venture into laser engraving or add to your current capabilities, this is the perfect place to start. We’ve compiled all of the basic information you will need in order to get started into a profitable and, hopefully, enjoyable business!