Stainless Steel Laser Engraving: The Ultimate Guide

Stainless steel is a hard material, which is why people have doubts about engraving it using a laser engraving machine. However, the laser beams are powerful enough to engrave this material. 

How Does Laser Engraving Stainless Steel Work?

Laser engravers use the intense heat caused by the laser beam to cause a portion of the stainless steel's surface to vaporize, creating a mark. The entire engraving process is controlled by software. A design is imported to guide the laser beam's movement across the material. This ensures high accuracy.

Laser Etching Stainless Steel

However, if you engrave it with a low-powered laser engraver, the engraivng is not very deep. That's because the temperature only melts the surface of stainless steel, but is not enough to evaporate it. This is called laser etching.

Color Laser Engraving on Stainless Steel

A powerful laser can also add color engraving to some metals, including stainless steel. Usually, you see black markings on metals, but if the laser is powerful enough and it can oxidize the material, the metal will be etched with a certain color, making the etching or marking more beautiful.

What Kind of Laser Can Engrave Stainless Steel?

It is a must to know the right laser for stainless steel engraving before you buy one. There are various types of laser engraving machine available.

The laser engravers that can engrave stainless steel are:

• Fiber Laser 
• Diode Laser
• CO2 Laser
• Infrared Laser 

Fiber Laser Engravers

Fiber lasers are the most suitable type of laser engraver for metal, including stainless steel. 

The commonly available fiber lasers have different wavelengths ranging from 780nm to 2200nm. They can be absorbed by metals, including stainless steel. Therefore, it can easily engrave or etch the material. 

The optical power of fiber lasers varies from 20W to several thousand watts, depending on the application. Some lasers can even cut metal. But as far as the stainless steel engraving is concerned, small fiber lasers of 20-100W are also suitable.

The engraving results of a fiber laser are exemplary. With only one pass, the engraving is quite clear and deep compared to other types of laser machines. 

Diode Laser Engravers

A diode laser engraver is not as powerful as a fiber laser, but it can still etch stainless steel. 

It is usually a blue laser, which has a wavelength of 450-455nm. This wavelength can also be absorbed by stainless steel. You might need to engrave several passes or apply a marking spray layer to stainless steel for darker engraving if a low-powered diode laser is used.

XTOOL S1

Diode Laser Engraver for Stainless Steel

Best enclosed diode laser. Safe for home use. Ideal choice for both DIY and Business Projects.

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CO2 Laser Engravers

CO2 laser engravers excel in cutting and engraving non-metal materials, but they can also engrave coated and plated metal. For engraving stainless steel, you need to spray a coating on it before marking.

Infrared Laser Engravers

Infrared lasers (IR lasers) are another type of laser you can use for engraving stainless steel and other metal. Common infrared lasers are diode-pumped solid-state laser with a wavelength of 1064nm, which is in the infrared region, hence the name. 

The main purpose of this laser is to engrave metals, including gold, silver, platinum, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and titanium. Other than metals, these lasers are also excellent for plastic engraving.

XTOOL F1

Dual Diode and IR Laser Engraver

Best portable laser engraver for stainless steel. Engraving speed reaches 4,000mm/s. Perfect for on-the-go projects.

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