The term “laser” is an acronym for
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It is used in reference to devices that amplify a beam of light to produce a small yet intense focal point. This technology is applied to a wide range of industrial and commercial operations, as well as promotional and personal applications. In the manufacturing arena, it is used to mark and engrave components and assemblies for various purposes, including adding aesthetic elements, indicating important information, or ensuring traceability, to name a few. For promotional applications it is used for company logos and branding, and personal applications it is used for collectables, personal items, gifts, and beyond.

While laser marking and laser engraving operate under the same basic principles, there are a few key differences that make them distinct. Below, we provide an overview of the laser marking and laser engraving processes to help you understand how they are different, and when they can or should be used:

Overview of Laser Marking

Applications: Medical devices, instruments, logos, UDI, part numbers, identification and tracking information, etc.

Laser marking is a manufacturing process that uses a focused beam of light to permanently alter the surface of the work piece. Unlike laser engraving, it changes or alters a surface without removing material. It produces long-lasting, high-contrast marks that can be easily read or scanned.

Types of Laser Marking Methods

There are many laser marking methods available. The four most commonly used are:

Annealing
Carbon migration
Coloring
Foaming

Advantages of Laser Marking

Compared to other marking methods, laser marking offers a number of advantages:

High marking accuracy/precision. The use of lasers enables us to target highly specific areas on work pieces.
Smaller environmental impact. The laser marking process produces much less waste since it doesn’t remove material from the work pieces to create the marks or images.
Better compliance with industry regulations. The permanence and readability of laser-made markings make the laser marking process ideal for adding important information to manufactured components (e.g., barcodes, serial numbers, and trademark icons).

Applications of Laser Marking

Laser marking is commonly used for:

Barcodes
Date codes
QR codes
Serial numbers
Part numbers
Copyright/trademark icons
Logos
Weaponry
Memorials
Promotions
Branding
And much more!

Typical industries that use it to add the above elements to their parts and products include:

Aerospace
Automotive
Electronics
Medical
Semiconductor
Defense
Civilian
Marketing Companies

Overview of Laser Engraving

Laser engraving uses a focused beam of light to remove material from the work piece to form the desired design (e.g., text, image, sculpture, cut, etc). The resulting work is durable and resistant to falsification.

Types of Laser Engraving Methods

The three main laser engraving methods are laser etching, laser engraving, and laser ablation. The key difference between etching, engraving, and ablation is:

Laser etching produces shallow marks.
Laser engraving produces deep marks or cuts that can withstand exposure to harsh operational or environmental conditions.
Laser ablation produces marks by removing surface coatings (e.g., painted or anodized layers) to expose underlying layers.

Advantages of Laser Engraving

Laser engraving offers many advantages over other marking processes, such as:

Broader range of depths. Laser engraved marks can be made to varying depths, from shallow to deep.
Better durability. The laser engraving process can produce marks that remain highly visible even after being exposed to harsh conditions.
Greater marking speed. Laser engraving is the fastest way to produce laser-made markings, cuts, or sculptures.

Applications of Laser Engraving

The laser engraving process is used for many products in a variety of industries, including, but not limited to, the following:

Aerospace
Automotive
Electronics
Fine art
Jewelry
Medical
Semiconductor
Weaponry
It’s endless!