A Cost and Efficiency Comparison of Laser Marking and Traditional Engraving

The data will be used to compare the costs and efficiency of laser marking and conventional engraving.In this article, we analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these two technologies from the perspectives of equipment investment, processing time, and material consumption. We also present test cases using common materials such as plastic, metal, and wood, providing a practical reference for manufacturers, small and medium enterprises, and craft studios when choosing a processing method.

Traditional meets technology: How to choose a processing method.

When I was helping a friend set up a workshop, I found that many beginners were having a hard time deciding whether to buy a laser engraver or stick to traditional carving tools.We rented two machines to do some testing, and we found that you really have to use your head when choosing a camera.

The wallet decides: Costs laid bare.

The cost of equipment.

Traditional carving machines are priced between NT $ 8000 and NT $ 30,000, and the one that we tested for NT $ 22,000 just needs to have the blades changed for everyday maintenance.Laser equipment is much more expensive. The starting price for a machine with the same area of operation is NT $ 40,000, and you have to be careful to keep it clean and dry.

Consumption of consumables.

To carve 100 logos in acrylic, the conventional method would waste seven boards, since the knife would slip.The laser method only wasted two pieces, but the electricity bill increased by NT $ 15.There's a little trick to this: when making a batch, you can save a lot of material by arranging the patterns more closely together.

Speed Challenge: Efficiency Test Results

Small batch processing.

The traditional engraving machine took 47 minutes to carve 20 wooden coasters, while the laser engraver did the job in 23 minutes.But when the job is a metal plaque with a depth requirement of 0.5 mm, the laser machine has to go over the same area twice, adding 10 minutes to the total time.

mass production.

When cutting 500 plastic signs, a traditional machine must change the cutting head three times, while a laser machine only needs to be cleaned of dust.The final tally: The traditional method took 8 hours, 42 minutes, while the laser equipment took 6 hours, 15 minutes.However, the day's electricity bill for the laser was a real eye-opener.

Strategies for different materials

The best metal processing.

When testing stainless steel and aluminum alloys, the precision of traditional engraving was actually more stable.In particular, for carving characters deeper than 0.8 mm, the old hand is still the most reliable.However, if the mark is on the surface, the heat treatment effect of the laser is indeed more noticeable.

Adaptability to non-metallic materials.

Lasers can create a wide variety of designs in wood and leather.Last time, when we were imprinting a logo onto a handbag, the laser head just lightly swept over it and the effect was achieved. If that had been done with a carving knife, even an old master would have been sweating it.But for cutting thick boards, the traditional way is still more powerful. Cutting a 5-cm-thick board with a laser?

Suggestions for those who have difficulty making decisions.

For studios just starting out, it is recommended that they first rent equipment to try it out.If you're working on a job that requires carving stone or engraving metal, then the traditional equipment is more practical.Laser cutters can save a lot of labor when making small items.One of our customers, who makes wedding gifts, bought a used machine and rented a laser, and actually ended up with lower costs than if he had gone with one or the other alone.