What machine can engrave stone?
Experts recommend engraving on stone on a laser machine. So let us study out what criteria should be taken into account when choosing the equipment and how to create high quality items.
Advantages of laser machines for stone engraving.
Stone engraving is mostly used for souvenir production and manufacturing of signs and decorative elements for monuments and tombstones.
Laser engraving in the ritual sphere is performed with either impact marking machines or laser machines. According to experts, the second method has a number of significant advantages.
- The image made on a laser machine is of higher quality and more detailed. Due to the smaller diameter of the laser beam, the DPA value is 2500. In contrast, for the impact marking machine, it is 128 DPA.
- When engraving with a laser machine, the structure of the stone is preserved. The laser beam forms a pattern by evaporating the top layer of material. While an impact marking machine does it damaging stone and chipping pieces away.
- A laser machine is much faster than an impact marking machine.
- Laser machines consumables have a longer service life.
Let us consider in more detail what happens to the stone when using an impact marking machine and laser equipment.
Impact on material structure
In an impact marking machine, the work tool touches the workpiece with force. As a result, the material is destroyed in the impact zone. A crater is formed, which is called a puncture hole. The size of the hole is determined by the amount of energy and the duration of the impact of the tool on the stone. In order to obtain a crater, the workpiece should be punctured several times. In this case, a microscopic chip is formed as a result of each impact. And it is impossible to avoid this when processing stone with an impact marking machine.
When laser engraving is performed, particles of material are evaporated by the high temperature of a laser beam. A deepening is formed, but at the same time, the stone structure is not damaged.
Differences in the effects on the stone produced by impact marking and laser engraving become evident if we compare the holes on stone obtained by such methods.
Engraving speed
The laser forms an image on stone much faster than an impact marking machine. To create a drawing with an area of 30×40 cm, it takes no more than 20 minutes.
In addition, there is an ability to machine several workpieces at once, which significantly speeds up the work.
The impact marking machine is much slower. To make the same image, it takes several hours.
Thus, for mass production of souvenirs and monuments, it is worth choosing laser machines, and for single-item production, an impact marking machine is quite enough.
Another advantage of purchasing laser equipment is the possibility to engrave on most organic materials, including plywood, wood, glass, fabric, leather, etc.
Consumables service life
As a rule, laser equipment does not need many consumables. To process stone, a 60-80 W laser tube is quite good. Its power is enough for engraving, and it gives a small spot, which ensures creating the finest lines. Moreover, if the laser tube is used at 10-12% power instead of full power, it will last much longer. However, some kinds of stone require higher laser power.
On the other hand, an impact marking machine needs periodic change of the main consumable – the needle. Because of multiple impacts with the material, it quickly dulls or even breaks.
Design features of a laser engraver
The main design elements of a laser machine are a rigid durable frame, a movable gantry, and a working area. The rigidity and high weight of the equipment is a prerequisite to prevent the machine from breaking under the weight of the stone.
An important feature of a laser machine is the electrically driven change of the working table height. It is essential when machining heavy stone workpieces.
There are portable versions that include a gantry only. This type of equipment is used for engraving on large workpieces, for example on the whole tombstone. In this case, the machine is placed directly on the workpiece. When working with stone materials, this option helps to perform complex tasks.
What laser equipment is suitable for engraving on monuments?
The Wattsan LT (6090, 1290, 1610) laser engravers are used in many workshops engaged in the manufacture of tombstones. The equipment comes with a chain mechanism for table lifting that can withstand up to 80 kg. According to experts, the most versatile model is the Wattsan 1290 LT. The working area of 1200×900 mm allows engraving on both small items and stone slabs of the appropriate size. The machine is controlled by the Ruida control system that comes with the RDWorks software.
Important! When processing white and black marble on a laser machine, it is necessary to use special grinding so that the image is clearly visible and bright. While granite engraving is usually bold and nice even without grinding.
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What machine to choose for engraving souvenirs?
The laser machine is an excellent choice for applying images to souvenirs. According to the stone structure, an engraving mode is chosen. The quality increases when you choose unidirectional engraving.
What determines the quality of engraving on stone?
Several factors affect the quality of the resulting image
- Material structure;
- Homogeneity of stone structure;
- Geometry of gaps in the drawing;
- Image sharpness;
- Ratio of sizes of the picture to its structural details.
A laser machine is able to obtain the highest results for each of these parameters. This makes laser equipment the preferred choice for machining stone. In the USA and Europe, laser machines are successfully used both in the ritual sphere and in the manufacture of souvenirs.
Top machines for laser engraving on stone
In addition to machining stone, these machines are perfect for engraving and cutting:
plywood and wood;
acrylic;
plastic;
textile;
paper;
leather;
stone;
glass and much more.
Wattsan 0203 micro
0203 micro Work area 200 x 300 mm Tube power 40W Max engraving speed 700 mm Dimensions 810 mm * 500 mm * 265 mm MoreA compact model with a working area of 200×300 mm is designed for engraving on small items. The laser tube power is 40 W, the service life – 1500 hours. 2-phase stepper motors. The model is recommended for hobby and small-scale production. The machine’s dimensions (810×500×260 mm) allow placing it on a usual table.
Wattsan 0503
0503 Work area 500 x 300 mm Tube power 60W Max engraving speed 700 mm Dimensions 650 mm * 1040 mm * 575 mm MoreThe machine with a 50 W laser tube and a working area of 500×300 mm guarantees high quality of processing stone at a speed of up to 500 mm/s. Due to a through table, it can machine materials of any length. The frame structure eliminates vibrations and increases service life of the machine. The model is suitable for processing wood, plywood, paper, plastics, plexiglas, rubber, leather, fur, fabric, cardboard, and even soft metals if using a special thermal paste.
Wattsan 6090 LT
6090 LT Work area 900 x 600 mm Tube power 80-90W Max engraving speed 700 mm Dimensions 1030 mm * 1490 mm * 670 mm + 315 mm (if on its wheels) MoreThe machine comes with an 80-90 W laser tube with service life of 6000 hours. Positioning accuracy is 0.03 mm. The model is equipped with 3-phase steppers and ¼ belt gearboxes that provides smooth operation and improves engraving quality.
Wattsan 1290 LT
1290 LT Work area 1200 x 900 mm Tube power 100-120W Max engraving speed 700 mm Dimensions 1410 mm * 1790 mm * 670 mm + 315 mm (if on its wheels) MoreThe powerful laser tube (100-120 W) in combination with the 1200×900 mm working area allows processing large workpieces and increases production speed. The through laser cutting option is also available, which allows machining materials of any length.
Summary
Summarizing the mentioned above, a laser machine apparently provides higher quality of engraving, operation speed, and longer service life of consumables. At the same time, impact marking equipment is cheaper.
Common to both options is the complexity of developing a layout for engraving: the image parameters are to be selected by trial and error. The Wattsan managers are always ready to help with this task. During the first month of operation, our specialists prepare layouts for stone engraving themselves.
We are happy to advice you from the very beginning
Contact us now.
Make a request
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FAQs
How many watts does it take to laser engrave stone? ›
A 40W CO2 laser can engrave stone at 30% power and 320mm/s. At this speed and power, there is only one pass needed to engrave stone.
What wattage is best for laser engraving? ›At least 50 watts of Fiber laser power is recommended for metal laser cutting or engraving. Forty or 50 Watts of Fiber laser power can be used for direct laser marking metals. Twenty-five to 150 Watts of CO2 laser power is recommended for direct marking of metals.
What is the advantage of a laser engraver over manual engraving? ›- Since the laser does all of the work, there is less room for mistakes and human error. - It allows you to engrave more intricate and detailed designs. Laser engraving also produces a cleaner, more crisp finish. -Laser engraving tends to be more affordable than traditional hand engraving.
What power laser for stone engraving? ›Unlike for paper or wood, for most hard stone surfaces, you need full power at low engraving speed. As a starting value, we recommend 100% power (p) and about 30% speed (v) for a laser power of 60 watts, and 100% power and about 15% speed for less than 60 watts.
What can a 500mw laser engrave? ›Features. The laser engraving head kits enables to engrave metal, wood, acrylic, and others substances. It can also cut wood and acrylic, depending on the wattage. It is suitable for Sovol SV01, SV02, Creality Ender 3 V2/ Ender 3 / Ender 3 Pro / Ender 5 / Ender 5 Pro 3D Printer.
What can a 20 watt laser engrave? ›The Atomstack A5 20W can engrave many materials and it can also cut some stuff. Engrave: wood, leather, cotton (clothing), rubber, paper, fruit, foam, acrylic, black anodized aluminum… With the machine you can cut paper and tape in one pass and cardboard or wood in multiple passes.
How many watts is a strong laser? ›A laser's power is measured in Milli-Watts (mW) and typically are ranged from 5mW all the way to 1,000mW or 1 Watt. The higher the output of a laser power the brighter it will be, the greater distance it will be visible for, and the greater the burning ability (when over 200mW).
How many watts is a laser engraving machine? ›Laser Engraving Machine for industrial as well as jewellery sector. Available power from 30 watt to 100 watt.
What is the difference between 10W and 20W laser engraver? ›We tested the 20W and 10W modules to compare the time taken. Surprisingly, the 20W module cut the square in 1 minute 1 second, while the 10W laser took 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Thus, the 20W laser module can significantly improve the efficiency up to 250%.
What is the disadvantage of laser engraving machine? ›In addition to the cost, laser marking systems are also limited to moving on a two-dimensional plane. Since it can only scan on the X and Y, it lacks the ability to process materials that have a high hardness or a low ignition point.
What is the best engraving method? ›
For the most part, laser engraving is considered the most popular engraving method for this type of material because the process is simple, cost-effective, fast, efficient and versatile. Acrylic laser engraves easily, vaporizing instantly with the touch of the laser beam and leaving behind bright white letters.
Is laser engraving better than mechanical engraving? ›Laser engraving allows you to process a range of materials including glass, paper, textiles and more. On the other hand, mechanical engraving is not suitable for many materials: fine engraving or marking materials such as paper or leather are not possible.
What can a 7 watt laser engrave? ›Engrave on wood, leather, acrylics, and many other materials! Cut thin and non dense woods like Balsa, Basswood, and thin plywood! Cut many types other materials like foam and acrylics! MAKE incredible objects for projects or production.
What can a 5.5 watt laser engrave? ›A 5.5-5.6 watt (5500-5600 mw) laser is a plug-and-play device. With this laser, you can engrave and cut a variety of materials such as plywood/wood, MDF / balsa, аcrylic, PLA / ABS, felt / fabric, paper/cardboard, hardboard, stone, glass, anodized and painted aluminum, and more.
What can a 40w laser engrave? ›For engraving, you'll easily be able to use wood, leather, paper, cardboard, acrylic, glass, and coated metal. For cutting, the K40 will be able to go through wood, leather, paper, cardboard, and acrylic.
Can laser engravers engrave stone? ›Can you laser stone? Yes. You can engrave stone with a CO2 laser. Whether ceramic, natural stone, granite, slate, marble or porcelain stoneware, you can produce beautiful engravings with a matt finish.
What is the best stone to laser engrave? ›We recommend using very dark black marble (or very light white marble) so the contrast is even more beautiful. Gravolaque will always be necessary as marble does not contract naturally when engraved with a laser.
What can a 100W laser engrave? ›This 100W CO2 laser engraver is a ideal product to process wood, bamboo, plexiglass, crystal, leather, rubber, marble, ceramics and glass. Please notice that metal materials are excluded. It is a suitable and the preferred choice of equipments in industries such as advertisement, gifts, shoes, toys and etc.
What can a 1000W laser cut? ›1000W fiber laser cutting machine is used to cut 6mm thick carbon steel with a maximum cutting speed of 1.4m per minute.
What is the most profitable thing to make with a laser engraver? ›- Engraved tumblers. Engraved tumblers are quite trending these days. ...
- Personalized jewelry. ...
- Engraved Photo. ...
- Engraved wine glasses. ...
- Custom engraved cutlery. ...
- Coasters. ...
- Engraved charcuterie board. ...
- Dog Name Tag.
What is the difference between laser 20W and 30W? ›
30W laser marking machine is nearly the same as 20w laser marking machine, only the watt is slightly bigger. So it could excel more work for some deeper laser engraving needs. The 30watt has bigger power than 20 watts, in some respect, the laser marking speed of 30 watts is also slightly faster than 20 watt.
What watt laser should I get? ›If the laser is primarily used for engraving, you will achieve good results with laser powers between 25 and 80 watts. For laser cutting or for very high speed applications, we recommend a laser power of more than 80 watts.
How thick can a 4000 watt laser cut? ›A 4,000-watt laser can process up to 1.0-inch-thick carbon steel, and a 6,000-watt laser can process 1-5/8-inch-thick carbon steel. Oxygen always is used to process plate in this material thickness range.
Is a 500mw laser powerful? ›The 500 mW laser is 100 times more powerful, but the glare distance is only 10 times greater. Although the numbers are not shown on this chart, the same effect happens to the NOHD. The 500 mW laser's NOHD is only 10 times the NOHD of the 5 mW laser, despite being 100 times more powerful.
What are the different laser wattage? ›Lasers are rated by wattage, typically between 25 and 150 watts for mid-sized CO2 lasers in our industry and 20-50 watts for fiber lasers. Large format lasers, like those available from Kern Laser Systems, Trotec Laser and Universal Laser, are available in a broader range of wattages, e.g. 30 to 400 watts.
Will a 20 watt laser engrave metal? ›The Endurance 20 watt laser module is the best solution when it comes to a very fast engraving similar to Co2 laser machine. 20 watt laser engraves on stainless steel and soft metals like ABS, PLA, acrylic, plexiglass, etc.
What is the wattage of a handheld laser? ›In the world of lasers, those handheld laser pointers for presentations are about 5 milliWatts. While a common laser pointer may have really low power, you can build your own superpowered handheld lasers ranging over 50 Watts.
How thick can a 40 watt laser cut? ›40W Laser. You can typically cut up to 5 mm acrylic, 6 mm soft woods using a 40w laser.
How thick can a 100 watt laser cut? ›Highest Class Laser Tube
The 100W laser tube can cut plywood as thick as 20mm and create high-resolution engravings.
As you increase in wattage, you will be able to increase the thickness you can work with. A 50 or 60-watt machine will allow you to cut through closer to 3/8" of acrylic, and a 75 or 120-watt system will allow you to cut closer to 1/2" or possibly 3/4" with two passes.
Is it worth getting a laser engraver? ›
Laser engravers are extremely useful because of the variety of materials that they can engrave. You should think about the different projects that you will be working on and the materials that you are engraving before you choose which laser engraver you wish to purchase.
What are 3 disadvantages of laser? ›Following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of Laser: ➨It is expensive and hence more expenditure to the patients requiring laser based treatments. ➨It is costly to maintain and hence more cost to doctors and hospital management. ➨Increases complexity and duration of the treatment based on laser devices or equipments.
What are the pros and cons of laser machine? ›Some of the benefits include that it can cut through all materials and does not require tooling costs. Also, it does not experience wearing out of the surfaces and works with high accuracy and precision. The major disadvantage of laser beam machining is that it requires a massive amount of money to maintain.
What are the 2 types of laser engraving? ›The Laser Engraving Process
There are three types of laser engraving: etching, deep laser engraving, and laser ablation (the difference between the three is what the surface is and how much you remove)
Hand-engraved items also tend to be more expensive because they take more time—and since there aren't many people out there who know how to do this kind of work anymore (especially if it involves carving into stone), it doesn't come cheap! The value of hand engraving is hard to beat.
How accurate is laser engraving machine? ›The short answer is very accurate. Today, cut width can be extremely small with laser cutting (less than 0.0001 inch) whilst dimensional accuracy is almost as precise (at approximately ± 0.0005 inch).
What is laser engraving advantages and disadvantages? ›Laser engraving creates deeper indents by vaporising material, while laser etching melts the surface to create a design. This means laser engraving is more durable and long-lasting, but also more invasive and less delicate. Depending on the project and material, one process may deliver better results than the other.
Do laser engravers use a lot of electricity? ›One laser corresponds to the consumption of 2 office PCs.
An average effective working time of 2 hours a day. Of which 50% of the time with maximum laser power (80 watts) and 50% of the time with half laser power (40 watts)
Fiber laser engraving systems are ideal for the engraving of jewelry. The machines use a laser beam delivered in short pulses needed for quality ablation and annealing. The equipment generally lasts for more than 35,000 hours of life and uses little in the way of consumables.
How much laser power required for engraving? ›If the laser is primarily used for engraving, you will achieve good results with laser powers between 25 and 80 watts. For laser cutting or for very high speed applications, we recommend a laser power of more than 80 watts.
Will a laser engraver work on stone? ›
Can you laser stone? Yes. You can engrave stone with a CO2 laser. Whether ceramic, natural stone, granite, slate, marble or porcelain stoneware, you can produce beautiful engravings with a matt finish.
What laser setting for stone? ›Stone dusting is done using the Ho: YAG laser that is set to low energy and high frequency (0.5 J & 20 Hz).
What is the best way to engrave stone? ›For large rocks, the best tools for engraving are laser engravers or CNC routers. Laser engravers use intense laser beams to burn designs on the stone's surface. But CNC routers use milling bits to chip the surface and create designs. They can make designs with depth.
Which stone is best for engraving? ›Black marble and granite is the preferred stone for photo engraving in the laser engraving industry. This is mainly due to the contrast capabilities. Starting with a dark color stone is the best way to achieve a high contrast without a color fill.
What tools are best for stone engraving? ›What kind of tools are used to engrave stones? Hammer and chisels, like a small point, punch, and V blade. You need to know how hard your stone is because regular steel chisels will dull too fast on very hard stone such as river rock or granite. Tungsten steel tip chisels are the strongest.
What is the best stone setting? ›Prong setting, also known as claw setting, is the most common and popular method of setting stones into jewelry. It is the easiest as well as least expensive method of setting a gemstone. Also it allows optimal amount of light to pass through the gemstone, showing the gemstone at its maximum brilliance.
What is the difference between 20w and 30W laser marking machine? ›30W laser marking machine is nearly the same as 20w laser marking machine, only the watt is slightly bigger. So it could excel more work for some deeper laser engraving needs. The 30watt has bigger power than 20 watts, in some respect, the laser marking speed of 30 watts is also slightly faster than 20 watt.
Is laser operation good for stone? ›Laser lithotripsy is a procedure to treat kidney stones. It uses a laser to break the stones into very small pieces. These pieces can be removed during the procedure. Or they may pass out of the body in the urine.
How thick can a 6000 watt laser cut? ›A 4,000-watt laser can process up to 1.0-inch-thick carbon steel, and a 6,000-watt laser can process 1-5/8-inch-thick carbon steel. Oxygen always is used to process plate in this material thickness range.
What can a 200 watt laser cut? ›This multi-purpose laser cutting machine, especially designed for the advertising industry, can be used to cut carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, galvanized sheet, brass and other metal materials.