3D Laser Engraving System

SPECIAL NOTE: 3-D Artwork For Sale at www.gantryco.com

Marking:
  will leave a contrasting color on metals by application of water-based chemical.
Etching:
  will remove the surface of the material, no depth of cut.
Engraving:
  will remove material giving depth of cut.

Grayscale image used for piece

Finished piece (click to enlarge)

Laser engraving, etching and marking with a sealed CO2 laser engraving machine has opened new avenues for artwork to be displayed on wood, acrylic, marble, glass, chrome, granite, Corian®, even on coated metals.

The process can be as simple as scanning a photo or drawing into your computer, exporting it to our KCAM software as a .tif file and engraving it. This would be considered a 2-D laser engraving as the laser is either on full power or off. The resolution used to laser engrave will determine the quality of the finished artwork. Typically the Kern Laser Systems use 300dpi (dots per inch) for engraving.

Resolutions from 50dpi - 2000dpi are also commonly used. Laser engraving speeds are determined by the material being engraved, the size of the part being engraved, the depth desired, and the size of the laser that is used. Our laser engraving machines can be customized to fit your needs.

Laser etching photographs into mirror, wood, marble, glass and other materials can be done effortlessly. Special software is available that will automatically convert gray scale image into a .tif file with the best resolution for the material being used. Photographs with good contrast between the image and the background work the best to engrave. Backgrounds of photographs can be removed, if necessary, through a software process, to give you the desired image on your material. Metal can be marked but not etched with a CO2 laser. The beam of the CO2 laser will either be reflected from the metal or be absorbed by the metal. Water-based chemical available to coat the metal with that will leave a semi-permanent mark where the laser beam has touched the surface of the metal. Some of the metals that can be marked are, aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steel, chrome, brass, copper, nickel and tin. Anodized finishes on metal can be removed easily without any extra steps. Many colors are available.

If you want to design a 3-D image, it will take a little longer, but the end results will be breathtaking. The key to 3-D laser engraving is to understand the software you are working with. You need to be able to shade your drawing in gray to give you the depth you desire in your image. KCAM software is one of the very few on the market which will accept true 8-bit or 256 different colors of gray for resolution. That means there are 256 different power levels from black to white, which correlate to the 256 different levels of gray between black and white. There are many brands of software on the market, which will allow you to design in 8-bit grayscale. Some of them include: CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop. More advanced software includes: ArtCAM, and Cimigrafi. If time does not permit the learning of the drawing software, programming artists are available to develop your files at a reasonable charge.

Once you have purchased your laser engraving machine, qualified staff at Kern Lasers that will assist you if questions arise.

Grayscale image used for piece

Finished piece (click to enlarge)

Grayscale image used for piece

Finished piece (click to enlarge)

 

We will cut your samples for you to compare our quality. Want to see one of the above 3D Pieces with your own eyes? Request a Kern Samples Kit!

A Kern Laser Engraving System can be used for:

* Trophies and Awards	* Giftware, Ornaments
* Apparel Buttons	* Glassware
* Humidors, Gunstocks	* Bricks
* Granite Plaques	* Funeral Urns
* Wall Plaques	* Baseball Bats
* Pens, Pencils	* Footballs
* Photos in Wood	* Marble
* Plastic Signs	* Mirror
* 3-D Engraving in Wood	* 3-D Engraving in Plastic

1501 Industrial Drive Wadena, Minnesota 56482 • 1-888-660-2755 • Phone 218-631-2755 • Fax 218-631-3476