Best Engraver for Metal
The metal laser engraver uses a laser beam to abrade the material to be marked and print patterns by creating grooves in its surface. Are you a DIY enthusiast? Do you have an artistic soul and dream of personalizing certain metallic objects in your own way? This guide to the best metal laser engravers is for you. Discover our comparison as well as our advice on choice and use.
How to choose your metal laser engraver
There are several models of metal laser engravers on the market, how to find them? Here are some criteria to consider before purchasing your machine.
Criterion n ° 1: Dimensions
Before purchasing a metal laser engraver, its dimensions must be taken into account. In order for it to fit into the space where you plan to place it, it should not be too large. In order to optimize the use of the machine, take into account the space available in your workshop. If your purchase is likely to be large enough, consider rearranging before finalizing your purchase.
Criterion n ° 2: Power
The power of the metal laser engraver defines the precision of the engraving. Here, it is mainly a question of the power of the laser. The more powerful the laser, the better the engravings will be. The laser can process the harshest materials, such as metal. Machine renderings turn out to be more visible and distinct depending on the power of the machine. It is advisable to acquire a laser with a power between 1500 and 6000 MW.
Criterion n ° 3: The screen
The presence of the screen on the laser engraver makes engraving easier. Settings are made faster with controlled precision. With the presence of the screen, it will no longer be necessary to connect it to a computer before proceeding with the engravings. The ideal screen size should be between 5 and 7 inches.
Criterion n ° 4: The engraving area and the work area
We are talking about the space on which the metal laser engraver works. It will not be able to handle large media sizes if the job is too small. Conversely, it is impossible to finely engrave a tiny medium if the medium is too large. The engraving zone is defined by a part of the machine where the engraving takes place. In other words, it is an area dedicated to the movement of the laser during the engraving. The work area, it includes the area where you can put the object to be engraved. You must therefore take into account the length and width of the object to be engraved so that it can be integrated into the machine.
Criterion n ° 5: The connection
Very important, this criterion defines the ease of use of the device. In general, the models found on the market offer a USB cable connection. You just need to connect it to a computer to work. There are also more elaborate models which provide a connection via Bluetooth. Very practical, no need to drag cables with this model. Even better, you can find one with Wi-Fi connection technology for greater distance access.
Criterion n ° 6: The burning software
To perform an engraving on an object, you essentially need an engraving software. The software takes into account certain files such as .BMP, .JPG, .PNG for image or text engravings. Among the most popular software are LaserGRBL, Rayjet Manager, LightBurn, Lotus Laser System …
LaserGRBL is the world’s most popular free sculpting software. It can import images of various formats which you can edit in PhotoShop, Inkscape, CAD, etc. LightBurn is paid software, compatible with Mac OS, Windows and Linux. It is the most popular in the world among paid software.
How to engrave with a metal laser engraver?
Connecting the device
Usually, the metal laser engraver is paired to a PC or smartphone via a USB cable. However, it is also possible to connect the device using Bluetooth or with an application.
Types of files that can be burned
The image, the logo or the letters to be engraved must imperatively be in 2D. Metal laser engravers, even today, do not support the 3D format. Think of the ai, bmp, cdr, dwg, dxf, eps, jpg, jpeg, pdf, png, scad, syg, and xps files to achieve beautiful engraving.
Installation and engraving
It is necessary that the object on which we are going to engrave is placed on the support manually called also the work area. Once the object is installed, you can place the anti-light beams scope and click on the start engraving button. You just have to wait until the engraving is finished and finally appreciate the splendor of your achievement.
The different types of metal laser engravers
There are 3 kinds of metal laser engravers that can be used to embellish objects of all kinds.
The metal gas laser engraver
Typically, this type of metal laser engraver is used on non-metal media. It can be used on wood, paper, leather, plastic, stone, acrylic and textiles. The metal gas laser engraver is one of the most popular on the market.
The metal fiber laser engraver
If the metal gas laser engraver is powerful enough, the fiber laser is a hundred times more powerful. With this type of burner, the engraving can take a very long time. Unlike the gas laser, the fiber laser seems better suited for printing on iron, metals or tough plastic.
The metal-to-crystal laser engraver
Ranked among the strongest, this type of metal laser engraver is capable of printing on hard materials, among others, metal, reinforced metals, plastics and even ceramics. The engravings come out crisp and distinct with this type of metal laser engraver.
Metal laser engraver or milling machine?
Metal laser engraver
The metal laser engraver is a piece of equipment that allows you to make engravings on a metal, wood or other support. It is prized for performing precision work such as adorning sports trophies or personalized objects. You won’t need the skill of a craftsman to use it. Indeed, the patterns to be engraved are to be imported in a file format to the engraving software and the machine takes care of the rest.
Milling machine
The milling machine is a very essential machine in machining. Its mechanism includes the extraction of material chips. A milling cutter is made up of teeth. With the mechanical engraver it is possible to make deep engravings with metals. It also allows drilling and cutting. At the detail level, compared to the laser engraver, the mechanical engraver does not make it possible to distinguish the details well. To put it simply, the details of the engraving are limited.
Verdict
If you want to engrave patterns or ornaments on any material and are comfortable with computers and a bit of programming, you can use a metal laser engraver. In case you want to work deep, cut or drill material, the milling machine has it all.
What can be done with a metal laser engraver?
Here are some of the benefits that you will get from using a metal laser engraver:
Photo engraving
Engraving a photo is easily done on plastic and other materials, even with an inexpensive metal laser engraver. However, it takes a few tries before you master the process, so you have to be prepared to devote a little time and effort to it. The shades of light and dark tones are very well highlighted.
Get custom objects
A metal laser engraver allows you to personalize almost all the objects in your possession, among others, the phone shell, furniture, textiles … You can also enter your personal data (first name, address) or your favorite quote. If you even want to personalize cookies, nothing prevents you.
Engraving ring and other jewelry
With a laser engraving machine, you can use the laser to engrave wedding ring, ring, earrings, etc. Use your creativity to create the design you want on a PC, and the machine will engrave it on your jewelry.
Permanent engraving
Unlike ink engraving, laser engraving can be kept for a very long time. It is difficult to erase it from an object. It is abrasion resistant, tamper proof and also resistant to heat and chemicals.
Time saving
Once you get used to using the machine, the engraving time is greatly reduced. No need to hold the object or hold the machine while shaping the engraving, just create the design to embed into the object and admire until the job is done.
