Laser engraving

The laser beam operates on the surface of the abrasive material, removing the surface layer of the material with great precision. The high temperature of the laser beam, in addition to removing parts of material, can also give a different coloration, due to high temperatures.

The layout of the drawing that you want to engrave is transferred from the design program to the machine that verifies it and automates the cutting depending on the information transmitted.

What are the advantages?

• permanence and inalterability over time;
• high line accuracy;
• great flexibility of the production process, thanks to the automation of the system. In case of design modification, it is sufficient to generate the new cutting/engraving program;
• reproducibility and speed of execution over large quantities;
• thermal alteration of the engraved material concentrated in the surface layer

What you can do with the online laser engraving service

Thanks to the laser engraving technique it is possible to customize almost any type of product or material with drawings, writings and symbols.
Depending on the engraving required, you can opt for two different techniques: raster engraving or vector engraving. The difference is the process followed by the laser.
The first technique is suitable for engravings for solid stamping and images or letters on large surfaces, encoding the pixels of the drawing and transmitting the information to the machine. It is used starting from files in bitmap format (generally) and when there is no need for high resolutions. In this case the engraving process is carried out line by line, just like an inkjet printer (one axis moves very fast, while the other moves slowly).
The second is usually recommended for high-resolution vector drawings consisting of stretches of curved and straight lines, which are reproduced by the machine, vector after vector. In this case the machine axes move simultaneously and at the same speed. This technique is strongly recommended in the case of thin contour engraving or in any case shapes with very low thicknesses; it is obviously used in the case of laser cuts.

Thanks to the possibility of adjusting the beam power, the spot diameter, the movement speed and other parameters, the laser engraving is suitable for different products:

• shop display stands
• artistic or handicraft objects
• paper tickets
• signs and badges
• electronic components, terminals and connectors
• games and toys
• personalisation of trophies and plaques of all kinds (for animals, for bells, keys, etc.)
• written engravings on jewellery, objects of different materials and shapes
• automotive and electronics industry

And many more...

Online laser engraving limits

To ensure that your project is achieved with the best possible result, it is important to understand the difference between marking and laser.
The two applications lead to two different results:
In the case of engraving, the laser works by engraving bringing the material to sublimation (the material is vaporized almost instantly) and leaving the groove of the path, adapting perfectly to craft and artistic projects. With this technique, the laser penetrates deeper into the material, so the engraving will be much more durable over time. However, the process requires more time.
On the contrary, the marking tends to liquefy the material, also changing the colour by imprinting the design on the piece. In this case, marking is in fact a much faster and more automated process. On the other hand, since the altered thickness is much thinner, the marking is more subject to external alterations over time.

In addition, the different processes imply a due consideration about the material on which the drawing is intended to be imprinted.
Materials containing chemical elements such as magnesium, chromium, nickel, cobalt, copper and lead cannot be processed by laser engraving or marking due to the possible release of harmful gases or powders (or in any case it is necessary to provide adequate suction systems and/or processes in an inert atmosphere). Another variable to take into account is the sublimation temperature of the material, in case you want to use laser engraving.
It is therefore advisable to always request a comparison with the technician to ensure the feasibility of the project.

In ErreBiLab we have a laser engraving machine with working dimensions of 160 x 160 mm, so the only limit is the dimensional limit.

What materials can we work with

• Steel
• Wood
• Plexiglass
• PMMA
• Glass
• Metals

How ErreBiLab works

ErreBi Lab is the online prototyping service for those who need to develop a model (simple or complex) quickly and at competitive costs.
We have designers who can design your model and/or direct you in the production phase: from design, to the choice of materials, up to the realization.

A few simple steps to achieve your project:

1. Choose the type of material you want;
2. Choose the type of finish;
3. Choose the colour of the material;
4. Select the thickness of the chosen material;
5. Enter the length (maximum 160mm);
6. Define the angles (minimum 1mm maximum 15mm);
7. Select the engraving type:
   1. only front;
   2. Same front and back;Different front and back;
8. If you have chosen only front or same front and back you can upload a single file in format: pdf, svg, eps, png, jpg, jpeg;
9. If you have chosen the different front and back option, upload two different files in the formats: pdf, svg, eps, png, jpg, jpeg;
10. After uploading the file, you can view your quote and the expected discounts based on the quantity;
11. Before adding the product to the cart you can review all the previously entered parameters, modify them and get the updated unit cost in real time;
12. Once the product characteristics have been defined, notes can be added for the production department;
13. Add the product to the cart and confirm your order

For large quantities and additional processing we advise you to request a personalised quote. If you need assistance we are at your disposal: fill out the form or contact us at the reference number. We will handle your request quickly.