Engraving is a process that dates back hundreds of years ago. You take a hard metal, piece of wood, etc. and then you cut or carve a design into it. The result may be the decorated object in itself or it can be used as an intaglio printing plate.
You can use CNC routers or saws to cut the material, and then, typically with the help of a laser engraver, create a design on paper. The latter process is called ‘engraving’. It was used in printmaking, mapmaking, and reproduction of illustrations for books and magazines. Here are some facts that you may or may not know about engraving.
The Oldest Engraving
The oldest engraving was made around half a million years ago! A shell found on Java, Indonesia, in the late 1800s was recently found to have markings that may have been carved intentionally — way before humanity reached the technological level that allows for the creation of engraving machines and electronic product design. It is the oldest abstract marking to have been found. What is interesting, is that the likely creator of this engraving is the human ancestor – Homo erectus.
How It’s Used Today
The most popular use of engraving today is creating a text on jewelry, such as pendants, bracelets, or engagement rings. It can also be found on various trophies, pens, and other objects. When people want to transform ordinary objects into something more personal with a specific meaning, they usually choose to do that by engraving. Another way that engraving is used nowadays, is in the modern printing industry.
Laser Engraving
Laser engraving is a practice of using lasers, instead of a burin – a common tool used in hand engraving. It is a process of removing microscopic layers of material and creating visible markings on the surface of the material. The choice of a laser is important to achieve the best quality of the marking.
Laser Engraving Machines
A laser engraving machine consists of three main parts, namely a laser, a controller, and a surface. A laser is a drawing tool that creates the markings on the surface that later create a design. The controller shows, for example, in what direction the laser should be used, or with what intensity, or speed. The surface has to match the material type that the laser will carve the markings on.
Process
There can be a variety of different processes for engraving when using a laser engraving machine. Still, there are some common steps for all of the processes. Firstly, the chosen design is keyed into computer software, then the design is placed within the laser tray, and after that, the laser is focused on the surface. The laser’s power is chosen based on the type of material. Finally, the laser engraving process starts. The engraving is removed from the machine once the process is completed.
Materials
What can be the surface that the engraving can be made on? Basically everything. It can be metal, wood, glass, or plastic. You name it. Depending on the material, the power of the light and the intensity is going to change. Softer materials need less power for making a clear marking. Using too much power can burn through the object. That’s why the intensity of power should be tailor-made for each object you want to customize. Tougher materials require more power for the laser to leave a mark.
The Time It Takes to Engrave
How much time does it take to engrave? Like with many things in life the answer is: it depends. On the type of the material, the size of the design, and the power of the laser. The process of engraving is usually rather quick, but there are many steps when it comes to the preparation of the design, then the material, and finally removing a residue after the engraving process.
Hand Engraving
Hand engraving is still practiced today, despite the available technology, such as laser engraving machines. Professional engravers can achieve a high level of microscopic detail. That is why, for example, modern banknotes, checks, or security-sensitive papers, are engraved and not printed. The printer can’t recreate the detail of hand engravings.
Still, hand engravers only work in a few specialized fields. The most common objects that are still hand-engraved are metal weaponry, jewelry, and musical instruments. In most commercial markets, though, the hand engravings were replaced by milling using CNC engraving.
Tools Used by Hand Engravers
Engravers use a hardened steel tool, namely a burin, or a graver to cut or carve a design on a metal surface, such as copper, silver, or nickel. Gravers have a variety of shapes and sizes. There are ring gravers used by jewelry engravers, knife gravers used for line engraving and deep cuts, and square gravers that are used for cutting straight lines.
Customized Products
There’s a variety of different objects that you can customize by engraving words or your unique design. When thinking about engraving, most probably, you think about jewelry. There’s a great demand for personalized jewelry, which is possible to make not only by hand but also by using laser engraving machines. These machines can work both on flat and curved surfaces, such as those of jewelry pieces.
Next, there are trophies, plaques, awards, etc., for which, depending on the type of order, laser or hand engraving is used. Trophies that are ordered in large quantities are more likely to be cut by laser engraving machines, as it is a more efficient method. Hand engraving may be a more suitable solution for more major-league trophies. Musical instruments are also a common type of customized products that have engravings on them and are usually hand engraved.
Some Final Thoughts
Here are just some of the interesting facts about the art of engraving. The process of the engraving may seem a bit difficult at a glance, as there are many steps that you simply can’t omit. However, it doesn’t matter if the engraving is done by hand or by a laser machine, the outcome is still going to be unique, detailed, and customized for you.