Introduction
In modern manufacturing, laser engraving machines have become an indispensable tool in industrial design and production with their precision, efficiency and versatility. However, to fully realize the potential of laser engraving machines, the key is to correctly understand and control their engraving speed. Engraving speed not only directly affects production efficiency, but also affects engraving quality, material loss and the fineness of the finished product. This blog will explore the engraving speed of laser engraving machines in depth, analyze its impact on different materials and application scenarios, and how to optimize speed settings according to specific processing needs. Whether you are a novice or an experienced expert in laser engraving, understanding this knowledge will help improve your work efficiency and product quality.
Definition of Engraving Speed
The engraving speed of a laser engraving machine refers to the speed at which the laser head moves, usually expressed in IPS (inches per second) or meters per second. High speed can bring high production efficiency, and at the same time, the adjustment of speed can also control the depth of cutting or engraving. For a specific laser intensity, the slower the speed, the greater the depth of cutting or engraving. Users can adjust the speed using the engraving machine panel or through the computer operating software. The adjustment range is 1% within the range of 1% to 100%. Advanced motion control systems allow users to still obtain ultra-fine engraving quality when engraving at high speeds.
The Influence of Engraving Speed on Engraving Effect
The influence of the speed of the laser engraving machine on the engraving quality is mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Engraving depth
The faster the speed, the shallower the engraving effect, and vice versa, the slower the speed, the deeper the engraving effect. This is because the residence time of the laser head on the material determines the accumulation of laser energy. The faster the speed, the shorter the residence time and the less energy accumulation, resulting in a shallower engraving depth; the slower the speed, the longer the residence time, the more energy accumulation, and the deeper the engraving depth.
Processing efficiency
The faster the speed, the shorter the processing time, and the higher the work efficiency; the slower the speed, the longer the processing time, and the lower the efficiency. On the premise of ensuring the quality of engraving, increasing the speed can improve production efficiency.
Heat-affected zone
Slow speed may lead to an increase in the heat-affected zone, thereby affecting the physical properties of the material, such as wood may be charred due to overheating.
Engraving edge quality
Speed control will also affect the smoothness and clarity of the engraved edge. Appropriate speed can ensure the smoothness and clarity of the edge, while improper speed setting may cause rough or unclear edges.
Material properties
Different materials react differently to laser engraving, so the speed needs to be adjusted according to the characteristics of the material. For example, some materials may require slower speeds to avoid overheating and ablation, while other materials may allow faster speeds.
Balance of laser power and speed
Laser engraving machines require a perfect balance of speed and power to complete the work. If the connection between the speed and power of the cutter is not maintained, the engraving may be completely ruined.
Optimization of the control system
It is very important to improve the data processing capability of the control system and optimize and improve the speed processing at the inflection point, which can improve processing accuracy and efficiency.
In summary, the speed of the laser engraving machine directly affects the depth, efficiency, edge quality and heat-affected area of the engraving, so in actual operation, the speed needs to be adjusted according to the specific material and design requirements to achieve the best engraving effect.
The Relationship Between Engraving Speed and Power
There is a close relationship between the engraving speed and power of the laser engraving machine, which together determine the effect and quality of the engraving. The following are several major aspects that affect each other:
Engraving depth
The greater the power, the higher the energy, and the deeper the engraving depth. On the contrary, the smaller the power, the smaller the energy, and the shallower the engraving depth. The adjustment of speed will also affect the engraving depth. The faster the speed, the shallower the engraving effect; the slower the speed, the deeper the engraving effect.
Material properties
Different materials react differently to lasers, so the speed and power need to be adjusted according to the characteristics of the material. For example, flammable, fusible, and easy to burn black materials may require lower power and higher speed to reduce thermal damage.
Production efficiency
The faster the speed, the higher the engraving efficiency, but some engraving depth and quality may be sacrificed. While pursuing high efficiency, it is necessary to ensure the engraving effect by adjusting the power.
Heat-affected zone
The improper combination of power and speed may cause the material to overheat and affect the physical properties of the material, such as wood may burn due to overheating.
Engraving quality
High power and appropriate speed can improve the engraving quality, but too high power may cause the material to melt or burn, and too low power may not achieve the desired engraving depth.
Balance of power and speed
The laser engraver needs a perfect balance of speed and power to get the job done. If the connection between the speed and power of the cutter is not maintained, the engraving may be completely ruined.
Cutting width
The best feature of high-power lasers is cutting thicker materials and faster cutting speeds, but it also increases the risk of thermal damage and melting, as well as wider cutting widths.
Different Materials Require Engraving Speed
When engraving different materials, the power and speed settings of the laser engraving machine need to be adjusted according to the characteristics of the material and the engraving requirements. The following are some common materials laser engraving machine power and speed setting recommendations:
1. Acrylic:
- Thickness: 3mm
- Power: 20-30W
- Speed: 100-150 mm/s
2. Plywood:
- Thickness: 6mm
- Power: 30-40W
- Speed: 50-80 mm/s
3. Stainless steel:
- Thickness: 1mm
- Power: 50-60W
- Speed: 20-40 mm/s
4. Aluminum:
- Thickness: 2mm
- Power: 80-100W
- Speed: 10-20 mm/s
For other materials, here are some general guidelines:
- Wood: The laser power of the laser machine can be lowered to minimize the risk of fire. It is best to use wood with a fine surface for best results.
- Metal: For metal engraving, fiber laser engravers are most effective because metal absorbs light in the infrared spectrum. For example, the ComMarker B4-60W fiber laser engraver, with a laser power of 60W, can easily cut metal up to 2 mm thick with an accuracy of 0.01 mm, making it ideal for deep engraving.
- CNC precision parts: For precision parts, fiber lasers are often the best choice because they are highly accurate and can engrave a wide range of materials. The laser settings used depend on the material being engraved and the desired results. Try different settings to find the best balance between engraving speed and depth.
In practice, it is recommended to start with the recommended settings and then fine-tune them based on the actual engraving results. Adjust only one parameter (such as power or speed) at a time so that you can accurately judge its impact on the engraving result. For new materials, start with a higher processing speed and a lower laser power to ensure that the laser is not too aggressive in processing the material.
Tips for Setting Engraving Speed
Understand the relationship between speed and effect
the faster the speed, the shallower the engraving effect and the higher the efficiency; the slower the speed, the deeper the engraving effect and the lower the efficiency. Therefore, if you pursue efficiency, you can increase the speed appropriately, but if you need a deeper engraving effect, you need to reduce the speed.
Material characteristics and speed adjustment
For flammable, fusible, and easily charred materials, you can use high speed with high power or slow speed with low power to engrave in order to reduce material loss and meet customer needs.
Balance between power and speed
When the engraving speed is fast, power is one of the keys. When the power is low, pay attention to the thickness of the material and achieve the penetration effect through multiple back and forth engraving; when the power is high, it is recommended to blow air cooling according to the material characteristics to avoid charring and melting of the object.
Import parameters from the database
Most laser engraving machine software will provide preset parameter settings, and you can select the appropriate parameters according to the material type. If you need a darker color or a deeper engraving effect, you can increase the laser power appropriately.
Fine-tune parameters
During the test, it is recommended to adjust only one parameter at a time, such as laser power or processing speed, and adjust it by 5-10% to observe the impact of different parameters on the engraving effect.
Use grayscale matrix
The grayscale matrix can be used to quickly and easily select the laser processing parameters corresponding to the desired laser engraving effect.
Laser cutting template
For new materials, you can start with a higher processing speed and lower laser power to ensure that the laser processing effect on the material is not too strong.
Speed optimization and effect optimization
In the laser processing parameter setting, the “speed optimization” parameter setting is suitable for fast laser processing applications that need to save time but do not require high processing details; while the “effect optimization” parameter setting is suitable for laser engraving applications with fine details or small text and high contrast effects.
Optimization of the control system
For the traditional laser engraving control system, the small line segment high-speed processing part can be optimized, and a continuous small line segment high-speed processing method based on the non-uniform B-spline curve interpolation algorithm and the S-curve acceleration and deceleration algorithm with speed look-ahead function is proposed, which effectively enhances the operation speed and interpolation accuracy of the entire system.
The Relationship Between Engraving Speed and Machine Performance
Production efficiency
High speed can bring high production efficiency, but it may also affect the depth and details of engraving. Therefore, machine performance needs to balance speed and engraving quality to ensure that while improving efficiency, the quality of the product is not sacrificed.
Engraving depth
For a specific laser intensity, the slower the speed, the greater the depth of cutting or engraving. This means that the machine needs to be able to accurately control the movement speed of the laser head to achieve engraving effects of different depths.
Machine strength and spot size
The performance of an engraving machine is mainly determined by the engraving speed, engraving intensity and spot size. The beam spot size can be adjusted by lenses with different focal lengths. Small spot lenses are suitable for high-resolution engraving, while large spot lenses are suitable for lower-resolution engraving, but are the best choice for vector cutting.
Motion control system
Advanced motion control systems allow users to still get ultra-fine engraving quality when engraving at high speed. This shows that machine performance depends not only on hardware, but also on the optimization of the control software.
Balance between laser power and speed
Laser engraving machines require a perfect balance of speed and power to complete their work. If the connection between the speed and power of the cutting machine is not maintained, the engraving may be completely ruined. This requires the machine to have precise speed and power adjustment capabilities.
Material and thickness
High laser power is suitable for cutting thicker materials or achieving faster cutting speeds, while low laser power requires slower speeds to cleanly cut thin materials. Machine performance needs to be able to adapt to the needs of different materials and thicknesses.
Technological progress
With the continuous innovation and optimization of laser devices, new stimulated radiation light sources and corresponding processes, laser manufacturing technology has penetrated into many high-tech fields and industries, and has begun to replace or transform some traditional processing industries. This shows that the improvement of machine performance is closely related to technological progress.
Safe Operation and Speed Setting
Safety operating procedures
Personal protection
Operators must wear personal protective equipment that meets the requirements, including goggles, protective clothing, etc. During operation, loose clothing, accessories or long hair are not allowed.
Equipment inspection
Before starting the machine, it is necessary to check whether the water level in the water tank meets the requirements to ensure that the machine is well lubricated, especially the linear track. At the same time, check the equipment, circuits, waterways and other facilities to ensure the normal operation of the equipment.
Operating environment
The engraving machine should be placed on a solid and stable workbench to ensure stability and safety. The workplace should be kept clean, tidy and well ventilated. Dangerous goods such as flammable or explosive substances are not allowed to be around the laser engraving machine.
Equipment monitoring
The equipment must be monitored by professionals during operation so that abnormal situations can be handled promptly and appropriately.
Emergency handling
When an abnormality is found or when parameters need to be changed, please press the “Pause/Continue” button. After the processing is completed, press the “Pause/Continue” button again to continue working; or press the “Reset” button in the pause state, the cutter head returns to zero, and then press the “Pause/Continue” button.
Speed setting tips
Relationship between speed and effect
The slower the speed, the greater the engraving power ratio setting, and the deeper the engraving depth; conversely, the faster the speed, the same engraving power, and the shallower the engraving depth.
Material and speed matching
Different materials require different speed settings. For example, when cutting basswood, the speed can be set to 180mm/min or 300mm/min, while the speed can be set to 12000mm/min when engraving.
Power and speed balance
Laser power and processing speed are the two most important parameters in the material processing parameter database, and need to be adjusted according to material and effect requirements.
Test running
Performing a small test engraving on an inconspicuous area or scrap material to verify settings can help avoid costly mistakes and ensure optimal results.
Speed adjustment
You can adjust the speed using the engraver panel or the print driver on your computer. Adjustments are in 1% increments from 1% to 100%.
Speed effect on cut depth
For a given laser strength, the slower the speed, the deeper the cut or engraving.
Industry-standard Requirements for Engraving Speed
Engraving speed range
Different models of laser engraving machines have different engraving speed ranges. For example, the engraving speed of some laser engraving machines can reach 0-72 meters/minute, and the speed can be adjusted steplessly.
The relationship between engraving speed and power
The engraving speed is directly related to the laser power, and the depth of cutting or engraving can be controlled by adjusting the engraving speed. For a specific laser intensity, the slower the speed, the greater the depth of cutting or engraving.
Performance indicators
The performance indicators of laser engraving machines include key parameters such as engraving speed, engraving intensity, and spot size. The engraving speed is usually measured in inches per second (IPS), and high speed can improve production efficiency.
Engraving speed of specific materials
The engraving speed of laser engraving machines is also different for different materials. For example, the engraving speed of acrylic materials can be set to 500mm/s, while the engraving speed of leather materials can be set to 500mm/s.
Maximum processing size and speed
Some laser engraving machine models, such as JN6040, have a maximum processing size of 600mm x 400mm and a working speed of mm/s.
Engraving scanning speed
The engraving scanning speed of some laser engraving machines can reach 0-60000 mm/min, while the cutting speed can reach 0-30000 mm/min.
Speed adjustment
Users can adjust the speed using the engraving machine panel or the computer operating software. The adjustment range is 1% within the range of 1% to 100%.
Conclusion
Through the discussion in this article, we can see that the engraving speed of the laser engraving machine is a complex and subtle parameter, which is closely related to the material characteristics, machine performance and processing requirements. Correctly setting the engraving speed can not only improve production efficiency, but also ensure the engraving quality and reduce material waste. With the continuous advancement of technology, the performance and application scope of laser engraving machines are also constantly expanding, but the precise control of the engraving speed is always the key to achieve the best processing effect. Hope that this article can provide you with practical guidance and inspiration to help you master the world of laser engraving and create more exquisite works.