Why is laser engraving so expensive?

laser engraving

As someone who has been working with laser engravers for quite some time, from simple dog tags to larger custom wood pieces, I can say that laser engraving is a awesome and powerful tool. Almost any type of material you can think of, there is a laser engraver for it. Whether it’s for personalized gifts, branding, or industrial applications, there is a laser engraver that can make life easier.

The accuracy of laser engraving, along with its ability to create awesome designs, makes it a popular choice for everything from promotional products to hobby creations.

I’ve often heard people ask why laser engraving is so expensive. The truth is, the cost isn’t just about the engraving itself, but rather, there are several factors at play here. You have to take into consideration everything. This means you have to consider the materials being engraved on to the complexity of the design and the equipment being used. Having personally worked with various laser engraving machines, I understand how the technology, precision, and skill involved all contribute to the overall pricing. Some people are using machines that costs way over $10,000 while the main machine that I use costs only about $550.

While the upfront cost can seem high, it’s often justified by the quality and durability of the final product. Let's go into the different factors that affects engraving prices.

Factors that affect engraving prices

There are a few factors that you have to consider. Below we will go over each.

  • Material Costs

Alright, let’s talk about how material cost comes into play. Remember, not all materials are created equal in this world we live in. You’ve got wood, metals, plastics, and even glass. Each one plays a big part in determining the cost of the engraving job you will be performing. This is especially true since not all laser engravers can engrave on certain materials. For instance, if you decide you want to engrave on certain types of metals, you would not choose a diode laser over a fiber laser. This is where things can get pricey as you can find diode lasers as cheap as around $100 while fiber lasers are usually starting at roughly $1000. Let's go into details on some of these materials.

Wood is a very easy and cheap to engrave and it smells kind of nice while it's getting zapped by the laser's beam. It might not be a pleasant smell to some, but I like it. If you’re going for wood, you're in for a pretty budget-friendly engraving. You can find nice pieces of wood at you local dollar store or your local Walmart.

Metal, on the other hand, is much harder to engrave. Engraving metal takes more laser power and time. Think of it like chiseling away at a statue versus writing something in your notebook. Naturally, this will mean that the price of the machine used to do the job will be more expensive and that will influence the cost of the engraving.

Plastic can be a little tricky material to engrave just like metal.

Glass is also tricky to engrave but will create a beautiful outcome when done right. Glass is delicate, so we have to be extra careful, which adds time (and cost). Plus, if you drop it, oh well, that's a whole different story at that point.

  • Design Complexity

Now, if you’re thinking about going all-out and getting one machine that can complete any design on any material, first off, I am just like you! But looky here, if your design is overly detailed, then your machine will take longer to engrave, and the more your machine cost will go up. You have to think of laser engraving design as like ordering a custom made car or custom made clothes. These items will cost more than just the regular ones.

Think of it this way: Simple designs = quick, cheap, and easy.

  • Time and Labor Involvement

Let’s be real now: laser engraving isn’t simply just pushing a button and waiting for the awesomeness to happen. There is a lot of prep work and setup involved. This prep and setup is usually only necessary when you are going to be starting a new project. If you are handling the same type of engraving over and over again then setup and prep work would be different as there wouldn't be much things to change.

The more time and effort it takes to get things just right, the more the price reflects that.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Operation Time: Depending on the type of material and how complex the engraving is, some projects can be completed in a few minutes, while others can take hours. This also comes down to the type of laser engraver you use.

Prep and cleanup: Before and after the laser does its thing, there might be prep work involved, like setting up the design, making sure everything's aligned perfectly, and sometimes cleaning up the aftermath (looking at you, glass and metal dust and even canvas cleanup).

  • Equipment Costs

Not all laser machines are created equal. Some laser engraving machines cost about $110 while some can cost over $10,000. Below I will go over the main classes of laser engraving machines.

High-end machines: These are like the Lamborghinis of the laser engraving world. They’re fast, precise, and can handle complex designs on almost any type of surface. This is however usually hindered by the type of high end laser. You have high end diode, fiber, and CO2 lasers available for purchase. These come with a higher price tag, but you're paying for that next-level quality.

Lower-end machines: You can still get decent results from these types of machines, but, they’re slower and not as sharp with detail. I currently have one that cost $550 and it creates awesome engravings. I have some examples on my Youtube Channel. I go over how to paint canvas and engrave them to get awesome outcomes.

  • Laser Operation Time

When deciding how much to charge for laser engraving, some companies or individuals might factor in the amount of time the laser is running. Let's see what factors might be considered below:

Laser operation time: This all depends on the amount of electricity you specific laser engraver uses and how much time is needed for completing each project. Diode lasers that use a gantry will always take longer to complete a job compared to the newer type lasers on the market like the Monport 6W Handheld Diode Laser Engraver. These newer types of laser do not use a gantry, they instead use two small, highly responsive mirrors, one for the X-axis and one for the Y-axis to steer the laser beam very quickly. These mirrors can tilt to move the laser beam across the work area without moving any mechanical parts. This makes quick work of laser engravings.

Summary of the main cost drivers

  1. Material Type (e.g., wood vs. metal)
  2. Design Complexity (simple vs. intricate)
  3. Equipment Quality (high-end vs. low-end machines)
  4. Laser Operation Time (short vs. extended)

So, in a nutshell, the cost of your engraving is a mix of the material, the complexity of your design, the quality of the machine you're using, and the time it takes to get everything just right. At the end of the day, we’re all about making sure you get a top-quality, custom piece that’s totally worth it!

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