Comparison of Laser Etching and Traditional Etching

The laser engraving process differs from traditional etching in terms of cost, efficiency, and the range of materials it can be used on.By comparing the costs of equipment, materials, and production efficiency, it helps companies select the best production method for their needs.

Why are businesses so concerned about the costs of these two crafts?

Cost control is a headache for any business, regardless of whether it is engaged in custom work or large-scale production.Laser marking and traditional chemical etching are commonly used methods of marking products. Many people wonder which is the better option. The answer depends on the production scenario and requirements.

Equipment investment: a one-time expense or a long-term drain?

A high threshold

A laser engraving machine can cost NT $ 100,000 or more, and some high-end models can exceed NT $ 1 million.Once the initial investment is made, there is no need to buy consumables, and electricity and maintenance costs are relatively controllable.

Traditional etching has been on the upswing.

The etching equipment itself may cost only a few hundred thousand NT dollars, but don't get too happy too soon. You've got to buy chemicals and protective materials every month, and you've got to deal with the wastewater.This continuing expenditure is like a bottomless pit, with the money burning faster as the batch sizes grow larger.

Where are the savings?

Laser marking requires no consumables, but there is a hidden limitation: special coatings must be applied to dark metals to produce a visible mark.Although the chemicals used in traditional etching are expensive, they can be used to make sharp traces on any kind of metal surface, and are especially well suited to dark workpieces.

Production efficiency: Time is money.

When testing the production of aluminum alloy nameplates, laser marking took eight seconds per piece, while traditional etching, which involves masking, corroding, and cleaning, took at least three minutes.However, when a large order is received, etching can handle more than 100 wafers at a time, which could reverse the situation.

Maintenance costs: The hidden expense.

Laser equipment requires the regular replacement of lenses and laser tubes, but not very often (every 1-2 years).Maintaining a traditional waste water treatment system is a real headache--it requires regular cleaning of the pipes, and also dealing with environmental inspections.

How do you choose without losing out?

• Small batch, high frequency: Laser printers do not require a large stock of supplies, and designs can be changed at any time.

• Mass production: The cost per unit is even lower.

Special materials for special effects: Glass and ceramics are particularly suited to this technique.

• In areas with strict environmental requirements: Directly pass traditional etching.

The last thing I want to remind you is not to look at the numbers on the quotation sheet alone. You have to take into account depreciation, labor costs, and scrap rates to figure out the real cost.