Laser Engraving Machine For Metal

ComMarker B4 20W fiber laser engraver

As the owner of EngravingThat.com, I’ve spent so much time and effort trying out different engraving techniques. One thing has become crystal clear to me, laser engraving machines are truly revolutionary. Whether you're creating personalized gifts, marking industrial parts, or crafting personal jewelry, laser engraving brings a level of precision, durability, and versatility that can not really be found anywhere else.

In this article, I want to share my insights into why laser engraving is the best option for working with metal and how you can choose the right machine to fit your needs.

What Is Laser Engraving?

A laser engraving machine is basically a high-powered laser pointer that can permanently mark designs or text onto metal and other surfaces. It uses a beam of light to etch into metal or other surfaces without touching it. This is kind of like magic, but with lasers. I am sure you have probably owned a laser pointer before, you know, those ones you can find at your local dollar store?

For example, the laser pointers you find at your local dollar store are usually around 1mW - 5mW, compared to my Longer Ray 5 20Watts. So, my laser engraver is roughly 20,000 times more powerful. This is how these laser engravers are able to do what they do.

dollar tree laser pointer

Here is an example from the dollar store close to where I live. It costs $1.25 and comes in at a power level of below 5mW.

Best Machine For Metal Laser Engraving

This question, to me, is an easy question to answer. From my experience at EngravingThat.com, if you want the best results on metal, fiber laser engraving machines are the way to go. Hands down, they’re the top choice for metal because of their ability to work with all sorts of metals. Whether it's stainless steel, aluminum, or even titanium.

Here’s why fiber lasers are the best:

  • Designed for Metal: Fiber lasers are literally built for metal engraving. They can engrave faster and with more precision than other types, like CO2 lasers, which are better for non-metal materials. These are some very powerful machines and their price kind of shows that. The machine that I have my sights on is the ComMarker B4 20W fiber laser engraver. It comes in at around $1800 but usually goes on sale around certain holidays for around $1500. Maybe I should treat myself on my next birthday.

  • Durability and Detail: Engravings from these machines are clean and sharp. They can also last a lifetime which is perfect for items such as jewelry or industrial applications.

  • Low Maintenance: These machines don’t need a lot of maintenance or parts replacement, so they’re perfect for heavy use without constant upkeep. These type of machine do not have much moving parts which is one of the reasons why constant upkeep is not necessary.

    This means you will spend less time fixing and more time enjoying your engraver.

  • Versatility: Fiber lasers can handle a wide range of metals, so you’re not limited in what you can work on. Whether I’m engraving stainless steel coins or aluminum coins, the fiber laser gets it done perfectly every time. This is however dependent on your knowledge of the laser itself.

Types of metals That Can Be Laser Engraved

When it comes to laser engraving, not all metals are created equal, but the good news is that many common metals work really well with laser engraving machines. Below are some of the most popular metals that you can engrave—and why they’re great choices!

  1. Stainless Steel

Why it's popular: Stainless steel is durable, corrosion-resistant, and looks sleek after engraving. You’ll see it in everything from personalized water bottles to industrial parts. Engraving these will creates crisp and permanent markings which is ideal for engraving logos, text, and detailed patterns.

  1. Aluminum

Aluminum is lightweight and comes in many forms, from raw metal to anodized (which adds color and protection). I love laser engraving anodized business cards. Whether it be engraving images or just funny memes.

Common Uses: Think custom business cards and plaques.

  1. Copper

Copper has a warm, reddish tone and is often used for decorative purposes. Funny thing or maybe not, I've noticed a lot more news going around about people stealing electric wire from neighborhoods just for the copper inside. Back on topic Kevin. Yes, copper is an amazing metal to laser engrave as it gives a very special look to any gift item you might have in mind.

Copper is great when you want to create custom coins (I made a couple), badges, or electrical components (since copper is a great conductor).

  1. Brass

Brass has a shiny, gold-like appearance, making it perfect for high-end products. If you have one of these machines, why not try to engrave on some brass and share your results with me. This type of metal is perfect for trophies, plaques, and some musical instruments.

  1. Titanium

Titanium is super strong and resistant to corrosion and is often used in aerospace and the medical industries. These are usually used in Surgical tools, medical devices, and high-performance parts.

  1. Gold and Silver

These types of precious metals are obviously a hit in the jewelry industry. Gold is everywhere in our daily lives. From the cellphones we use to the TVs we watch, there is some gold in all of them. The reason for this is that gold is a good conductor of electricity. You can use gold in some fancy items such as Engraved rings, necklaces, watches, and keepsakes.

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