While laser engraving has mostly been used in industrial settings, brands like EM-Smart are bringing it to our desks! Now, with desktop laser engravers, crafting has become more efficient and detailed.

For beginners in the world of laser engraving, you might be wondering where to start. This blog will guide you through everything—from what laser engraving is to how to choose the perfect laser engraver for your needs. This beginner's guide includes the following parts:

1. What is Laser Engraving?
2. How Does Laser Engraver Work?
3. How Does a Fiber Laser Engraver Work?
4. Laser Engraving vs Other Engraving Methods
5. How Much Does a Desktop Laser Engraver Cost？
6. What Materials Can Laser Engraver Engrave?

7. Laser Engraving Software

8. How to Use a Desktop Laser Engraver Machine

9. FAQs

1. What is Laser Engraving?

Simply put, laser engraving is the process of removing material from a surface using a powerful light beam, without the laser actually touching the material. You can create detailed and lasting designs—like text, logos, or patterns—on many different surfaces.

In factories, experts say laser engraving is a non-contact marking method, where the laser beam removes material, leaving behind a precise and permanent mark.

Four Characteristics of a Laser

The stimulated emission of light generates a laser. Unlike regular light sources, lasers have the same frequency, phase, propagation direction, and polarization state as the incident light, giving them the following unique characteristics:

• High Directionality - Lasers emit light in a highly directional beam, allowing for powerful focus even over long distances.
• Extremely High Brightness - When focused through a lens, a laser beam can create temperatures in the thousands—even tens of thousands—of degrees at the focal point.
• High Monochromaticity - This ensures that the laser can be precisely focused on a single point.
• High Coherence - With a large energy density, lasers have consistent frequency, vibration direction, and phase. When the laser waves overlap in space, the resulting interference creates stable alternating areas of high and low light intensity. This phenomenon, called interference, is what makes laser light coherent.

2. How Does Laser Engraver Work?

There are two work principles for laser engravers:

"Thermal Processing" involves a high-powered laser beam directed at the surface of the material. The material absorbs the laser energy, causing a thermal excitation process in the irradiated area. This results in the material's surface (or coating) temperature rising, leading to phenomena like transformation, melting, ablation, and evaporation.

"Cold Processing" uses high-energy (UV) photons capable of breaking chemical bonds in the material (especially organic materials) or the surrounding medium, causing non-thermal damage. Due to cold processing, it breaks chemical bonds without causing the "thermal damage" side effects, so there is no heating or thermal deformation in the inner layers or nearby areas of the material being processed.

3. How Does Fiber Laser Engraver Work?

A fiber laser mainly consists of several components: the pump source, coupler, rare-earth doped fiber, and the resonator.

The pump source is made up of one or more high-power laser diodes, which emit light (called pump light). This pump light enters the rare-earth-doped fiber through a special structure. After the fiber absorbs the pump light, the energy of the particles inside changes, triggering the release of laser light. Finally, this laser light is reflected by the resonator, resulting in the laser output we see.

4. Laser Engraving vs Other Methods

You might be wondering how laser engraving compares to other marking methods. Here are some key differences:

• Laser Engraving - Ideal for quick, shallow marks, while engraving creates deeper, more lasting impressions.
• Mechanical Engraving - Uses tools to cut the material, which is slower and may not achieve the fine detail of laser engraving, but is ideal for 3D carving.
• Chemical Etching - Great for mass-producing detailed textures, but its precision and material range often fall short of laser engraving.
• Hand Engraving - Great for handy items like a leather wallet or card holder, and the large size, like woodcarving.

Fiber Lasers can mark items at speeds up to 15,000mm/s, making them perfect for businesses that need fast, precise custom markings.

For new users, the real benefit of laser engraving is its speed and precision. This allows operators to easily create more creative projects.

Types of Laser Engraving Machines

For beginners, choosing the right laser engraving machine is crucial. There are many desktop laser engravers on the market, but each type works differently and is suited for different materials due to the laser technology used.

Diode, CO2, Fiber, and UV Lasers

There are four main types of laser engraving machines, each with its own way of working to meet different needs:

• Diode Lasers (455nm) - Blue diode lasers are popular among beginners due to their low cost and excellent performance on non-metals. They’re perfect for simple projects, but can’t effectively engrave metals. Compared to other types, they have lower power and precision.
• CO2 Lasers (10.64um) - CO2 lasers use a gas beam. They can engrave materials like wood, acrylic, glass, and coated metals. These machines aren’t great for bare metals, but they offer excellent engraving quality on non-metal materials.
• Fiber Lasers (1064nm) - Fiber lasers use special fiber optics to produce the laser beam. They’re perfect for engraving metals quickly and precisely. Models like the MOPA fiber laser even allow for color marking, which is a unique feature of fiber laser marking machines. While they’re more expensive, they provide faster and finer engraving results.

EM-Smart Mopa 20/30/60R - JPT Fiber Laser Engraver

Fiber laser engraving machine for coloring stainless steel, aluminum, silver, gold, and other metals. Portable and affordable.

Learn More >

• UV Lasers (355nm) - UV laser desktop machines are less common. What sets them apart is the cold processing principle, which prevents materials from burning during engraving. UV lasers are also great for engraving inside specific types of crystal glass, which is something other lasers can't do.

Actually, an IR laser is also used in some desktop laser engravers, like xTool F1 and LaserPecker 4, but this laser appears as a part of the dual laser sources for metal laser engraving. 

5. How Much Does a Desktop Laser Engraver Cost?

Only two main factors -- power and laser type, will decide the price of a laser engraving machine. We can list price from high to low based on laser types: UV Laser, Fiber Laser, CO2 Laser, Diode Laser. And the higher power brings a higher cost.

For a desktop fiber laser engraver, it starts from $1,500 with 20W laser power.

Based on Commarker Omini 1, a 10W UV laser engraver costs $8,500;

A CO2 Laser Engraver starts with 30W laser power, which costs $4,300.

And there comes the novice-friendly diode laser, a 10W diode laser engraver costs only costs $300, a 20W commonly used one is around $1,200.

And the above is only the cost of a desktop laser engraver; you may need to buy some accessories like rotary attachment, which may cost around $300. 

If you would like to buy one for a hobby, a diode laser engraver can be your first step. Let alone the price, there are more you should consider before buying: work height and area, software, product warranty, after-sales service, and its user forum or craftzone.

6. What Materials Can Laser Engraver Engrave?

Grasp the basics—like using fiber lasers for metal engraving and blue lasers for wood. Common materials in everyday life, like aluminum, iron, copper, silver, and gold, are perfect for fiber laser engraving. Raw wood, acrylic, and leather are the specialties of blue and CO2 lasers.

Materials Can Be Engraved or Cut

Materials Can't Be Engraved

Some materials are unsafe to engrave, mainly because they may produce toxic fumes or damage your machine during the engraving process. Avoid using the following materials:

• Chromium (VI) leather
• Carbon fibers
• PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
• PVB (Polyvinyl butyral)
• PTFE (Teflon / Polytetrafluoroethylene)
• Beryllium oxide
• Any materials containing halogens, epoxy resins, or phenolic resins

7. Laser Engraving Software

For beginners, user-friendly software makes laser engraving much easier. While the desktop laser engraver acts like your hand, carving out the ideal final product, the software is the brain, turning creative ideas into actionable instructions.

• LightBurn is a favorite among many beginners. It offers a seven-day free trial, allowing you to draw shapes, add text, and even trace images during the trial period.
• LaserGRBL is also a great option. It's free, easy to use, and comes with a materials database, offering parameter references for different materials, which greatly reduces engraving costs.
• EZCAD pairs well with fiber laser machines and is used by many shops and factories. You can create logos and serial numbers with it.

Tip: Try the free trial of LightBurn, or if you’re looking to save some money, LaserGRBL is a solid choice. Some brands, like EM-Smart, even offer free versions of EZCAD or LightBurn software.

Some manufacturers also provide their proprietary software, which is very beginner-friendly. These programs often have simple interfaces and easy engraving settings, making them popular among engraving users.

Note: For the best results, save your designs as vector files.

Laser Cut Files

Most machines use SVG, DXF, or BMP files. SVG and DXF are vector formats, which keep lines smooth and shapes accurate. BMP is a raster format, suitable for photos and shaded images. AI format is also a good option, as it provides clearer pattern details.

Related Reading: Laser Cut Files

8. How to Use a Desktop Laser Engraver Machine

The process is similar across most machines, with four main steps: editing the file, setting parameters, engraving, and post-processing.

Edit the Laser Cut File

You can either design the file or import a pre-made one. Adjust the size, DPI, gamma, and contrast in the software, then preview the engraving to confirm the position and size.

Set Machine Parameters

Most machines come pre-configured with basic settings. Just connect the machine and start working. For simple engravings, adjust power, speed, and frequency based on material settings or tests. Complex tasks like color engraving require adjusting pulse width and frequency.

Start Engraving

Before engraving, wear laser safety goggles and lower the protective cover to protect your eyes. Don’t leave the machine unattended for long.

Post-Processing

For metal items, wait for them to cool down before handling. If you’re not happy with the result (e.g., faint marks), don’t move the item. Simply perform a second engraving with the protective cover on.

Easy-Made Laser Engraving Projects

Start with simple projects to build confidence and understand how the machine works. Here are some ideas to try:

• Engrave your name or initials on a wooden keychain.
• Create custom bookmarks using thin acrylic.
• Make a small logo for your notebook.
• Personalize coasters with simple patterns.
• Engrave a unique design on a wallet.

Choose designs with basic shapes or text. You can find free templates online or draw your own. Practice with scrap material.

Safety Tips for Beginners

When using a laser engraver, always wear protective gear to prevent burns, cuts, and damage from harmful light.

• Always wear laser safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beam.
• A laser protective cover is essential. Most modern machines come with built-in laser safety enclosures, which are designed not just for looks but for user safety.
• If your materials produce dust or smoke, wear a filtering mask to avoid inhaling harmful substances. Alternatively, use an air purifier. Your health is worth more than a few hundred dollars.
• Some materials may produce toxic fumes or catch fire.
• Stay nearby while the machine is running. If you must leave, keep it brief.
• Follow a regular maintenance schedule and check for any issues with your machine.
• Ensure your workspace is spacious, well-ventilated, and free of flammable materials.

Essential Laser Engraver Accessories

For safe and efficient laser engraving, keep these items in your workspace:

Laser Safety Glasses

Always wear glasses that block harmful laser light, with the correct optical density (OD) for your machine. CO₂, fiber, and UV lasers require specific glasses.

Laser Safety Enclosures

These enclosures contain stray laser beams and block dust and smoke, increasing safety and keeping pets/children away.

Optional Accessories

These are not required, but they improve your workspace:

• Fume Extractors: remove harmful gases, especially useful for engraving plastic or leather.
• Rotary Attachment tools: used for engraving cylindrical objects.
• Flexible Fixtures: stabilize irregular objects for engraving.

Finishing Touches

After engraving, follow these steps to enhance and protect your project:

• Gently brush or wipe away dust and debris. Sand any burn marks for a smoother finish.
• Seal wood to protect the engraving, prevent moisture, and avoid burn marks.
• Consider staining wood before engraving to boost contrast, but test on scrap material first.
• Apply a finish (varnish, oil, or wax) for a polished look and added protection.

Tip: These finishing steps ensure clarity and durability, especially for metal, reducing rust risk.

You’re now ready to complete your first laser engraving project!

9. FAQs 

Q1. What power laser engraver should I buy?

It depends on your specific needs. For common non-metal materials like thin wood or leather, a 10W blue laser is sufficient. If you need to engrave or cut metals, a 20W fiber laser machine is recommended. For frequent metal cutting, consider a 50W or higher fiber laser.

Q2. Is it safe to use a desktop laser engraver at home?

Yes, as long as you wear safety goggles, use the protective cover, and don’t leave the machine unattended, especially with flammable materials.

Q3. How can I remove laser engraving marks?

The best methods are sanding with fine-grit sandpaper or using a secondary laser scan to remove the surface engraving marks. Or, engrave with other designs.

Conclusion

Laser engraving work is not as hard as you think, it is more like one of the crafting works. Laser users use a desktop laser engraver to explore the laser engraving journey; DIY novices and craftsmen use it as a capable assistant. Choosing the right laser engraving machine can be your first step in your laser engraving journey.