In this laser engraving guide, we'll tell you all about laser engraving on metal, the best laser type for engraving metal, and metal engraving parameters, applications, and some deep engraving ti. Once you know how to use a laser for metal engraving to its full capabilities, your inventive imagination can run wild with the endless options of metal masterpieces and utilize laser to grow your business.

How to choose laser for metal engraving?

Laser marking machines can be broadly divided into these types:fibre lasers, co2 lasers, UV lasers, diode lasers. For metal engraving, fiber laser is the first and best choice due to their wavelength of typically is 1064 nm, which is readily absorbed by metals. Fibre lasers are the best and most professional choice for processing metal workpieces. Although some diodes can complete marking on metal surface, they do not work as efficiently and results as fibre lasers, especially for small business owners who have high engraving requirements. Fiber lasers reduce overhead and operating costs due to their durable components, few consumables, and minimal maintenance requirements. Speed is also a distinctive feature in fiber lasers which can engrave high-precision parts within seconds, increasing productivity.

EM-Smart Lasers from 20w to 60w, can engrave for almost all metal(steel, aluminum, brass, titanium, sliver, gold etc), plastic, leather, stone, slate, hard paper, coated wood etc. Ideal for small business owners such as jewellers, knife makers, key and lock smiths, pet tags, metal blank coin customs, hardware shops, firearms, metal parts machining, laser custom service business etc. If you are new to fiber lasers, 20 watt laser engraver is sufficient for your most engraving needs, I recommend the EM-Smart Basic 1.

How to engrave metal? - Fiber laser settings for metal.

Here are some parameters for reference, due to different laser power and brands, there will be some differences in settings. “P” means “power”, “S” means “speed”, “F” means “Frequency”.

Steel:P:40, S:1000, F:20

Black color on stainless steel: P:80, S:100, F:20, defocus

White color on stainless stee: P:80, S:1200, F:20

Brasss: P:90, S:100, F:20

Aluminum: P:90, S:100, F:30

Sliver: P:90, S:100, F:30

Gold: P:30, S:100, F:20

Can I use EM-Smart for deep engraving or cutting on metal?

Yes, of course you can. Laser engraving and deep engraving are not so different. Deep engraving is just deeper, takes longer. The most important for deep engraving or cutting on metal is the laser power, the more power, the faster and more efficient it is, and the less time it takes to deep carve/cut. For metal deep engraving or cutting, a machine of at least 30w is usually recommended.