Choosing Mechanical Engraving or Laser Engraving Machines

Sometimes a hard choice as there is no clearly defined line between the processes but generally if you answer the following questions the answer will become quite clear.

Plastic or Metal
Mechanical Engraving Machines will work with most materials used in our industry. Hard metals are more difficult and require more trips to the grinder for cutter sharpening.
Most low level C02 lasers such as the Epilog systems that we sell will not directly engrave or cut metals. On some metals we can apply a surface coating that when lasered produces a black and virtually indestructible finish.

Other Materials

Mechanical Engraving Machines will work on materials requiring a delicate ‘touch’ or they will work on more robust materials.
Lasers Engraving Machines can be used on many materials and with some the burning/vapourising process produces a unique contracting finish. Wood for instance will provide a darker finish. By contrast acrylics will generally have a ‘polished’ edge when cut.

Detailed Engraving

Mechanical Engraving Machines can produce fine images with small well ground cutters although the detail is limited to the diameter of the tip of the cutter. Fine engraving is a slow process with a mechanical system.
Laser Engraving Machines by contrast is fast on fine detail including pictorial images.

Logos and Pictures

Mechanical Engraving Machines require special software processing to produce logos and picture images. Laser Engraving Machines work in a similar way to your office printer and produce graphic images quickly and easily.

Cutting Materials

Cotating cutters, properly ground will produce a relatively smooth edge on acrylic sheet.
Laser Engraving Machines will produce a polished finished which requires no further finishing.