Laser Engraving Stone: Tips and Tricks
Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your journey into the world of CO2 laser technology, within this guide, we've shared a range of invaluable stone engraving tips and tricks to help you achieve stunning results, from debunking frequently asked questions to choosing the best stone types for laser engraving.
What Types of Stone Can You Laser Engrave?
All stone types can be laser engraved, including marble, slate, granite, pebble stones, basalt, limestone, soapstone, agate and lapis, to name a few. It's worth noting stone or rock is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals, and each reacts differently to the laser beam.
What Are the Benefits of Laser Engraving Stone?
Investing in a stone engraving machine that utilises CO2 laser technology offers a range of benefits, including:
Precision: The accuracy of a laser machine in comparison to other stone engraving techniques is phenomenal. It allows for the engraving of intricate designs, fine details, and crisp lines.
Versatility: A CO2 laser provides you with the ability to engrave various types of stone, including granite, marble, slate, limestone, and soapstone, to name a few. Additionally, it allows for the laser cutting and engraving of acrylic, wood, glass and fabrics all in one compact system.
Durability: Laser engraving creates lasting, fade-resistant marks on stone, making it an ideal choice for outdoor signage, memorials, and long-term applications.
Quick Results: Laser engraving machines are super fast and, most importantly, can produce consistent, detailed results when engraving stone, making them ideal for high-volume production or time-sensitive projects.
Environmentally Friendly: Laser machines use minimal energy to run, making them incredibly environmentally friendly. It also eliminates the need for harsh chemicals or solvents typically used in the chemical etching process of engraving stone.
Can You Laser Engrave Stone?
Yes, you can laser engrave stone. Using CO2 laser technology is a highly effective and popular method for engraving stone.
A CO2 engraving machine creates a high-powered laser beam in a glass laser tube that contains a mixture of specific gases, including nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The laser beam is then projected through a lens at the end of the laser tube, which is reflected off a series of mirrors and then refined through a focal lens onto the surface of the stone. The high-powered laser beam moves along a programmed path that removes material from the surface of the stone, allowing you to engrave intricate designs, photographs, and text out of various stone types.
The entire process is controlled by computer software, which allows for the laser beam to be adjusted to different power intensities, speeds, and settings depending on the stone type being engraved.
Can You Cut Stone with a Laser?
It's not possible to laser cut stone with a CO2 laser machine. We recommend purchasing stone that is either pre-cut to size or taking advantage of a waterjet cutting service.
Stone Engraving Tips
Below, we've shared a range of tricks and tips for engraving stone using a CO2 laser. Additionally, if you have your own stone engraving tips, you'd like to share with our readers? Comment below. We'd love to hear them!
What Are the Best Stone Types for Laser Engraving?
Some of the best stone types for laser engraving include slate, marble, soapstone and limestone due to their very fine texture. For the best outcomes, opt for polished stone slabs or smooth-surfaced stones with flat surfaces to avoid distortion caused by curves.
How Do You Laser Engrave Stone at Depth?
Engraving stone at depths of 2mm - 3mm is achievable with certain stone types, such as slate, marble and sandstone, which would necessitate multiple passes and engraving at a reduced speed. Additionally, deeper engraving tends to produce higher volumes of dust particles, which become lodged within the engraved area. The trick is to use a non-flammable compressed air canister between each engraving pass to remove these particles, which will allow you to engrave at depth.
Tips for Engraving Rounded Stones
When engraving stones with a rounded surface, such as a pebble, for example, to produce the best results, we recommend using blue tack to stabilise the stone on a horizontal flat surface. Additionally, when focusing your laser, use an average value for the height of the laser head so the focal point is consistent across the surface of the stone so that the final engraving result is as uniform as possible.
Keep an Eye on Your Nozzle
Dust is a byproduct of laser engraving stones and may lead to stringing around the laser head. It's crucial to inspect the nozzle opening both before and periodically during longer engraving jobs to maintain optimal performance. Dust accumulation can clog the nozzle, obstructing the laser beam path. To restore optimal performance, clean the nozzle by wiping it with a cloth or rinsing it with water. Additionally, periodically check the lens and mirrors throughout the laser engraving process to ensure optimal working conditions.
Cleaning
Remove any natural dust or dirt from your stones that might impact the laser beams' functionality by cleaning them under running water. Additionally, after processing, wash away any residual stone dust that has accumulated within the engraving, which will enhance the contract between the stone's surface and the engraved areas.
How to Choose a Stone Engraving Machine?
When choosing a suitable stone engraving machine, you'll want to take into consideration:
Your budget
The power of the laser
The size and weight of the stones you're looking to engrave
What training is provided?
Safety features
Maintenance, repairs and replacement parts.
We have a brilliant guide to buying the best laser cutter for your needs, where we explore each of these points in more depth.
Alternatively, when in doubt, speak to the experts. At Focused Laser Systems, we are the UK's leading laser machine supplier and laser repair specialists, where we focus on affordability and reliability.
Our laser cutters have been designed with decades of industry knowledge at their core, using only the highest quality components.
From desktop laser engravers to large format laser cutters, our laser systems are available in an array of bed sizes and power levels, ideally suited for various applications and industries, ranging from creatives and hobbyists to schools, universities, small businesses and manufacturing.
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