Anyone needing a nameplate quickly arrives at the fibre laser — the machine that anneals metal directly. We do not have one. We still engrave stainless steel, steel and brass, and permanently at that. The route there is called marking spray.
Why bare metal does not work
A CO2 laser works at 10.6 micrometres, a diode laser at 450 nanometres. Bare metal surfaces reflect both wavelengths almost completely — no energy arrives that could change anything. What does arrive is thrown back uncontrolled. That is why bare metal is on our do-not-cut list.
What the spray does
Marking spray (trade names CerMark, Thermark) is a suspension of metal oxides. It is applied thinly to the clean, degreased workpiece and left to dry. The laser then puts in enough local heat for the oxides to bond with the metal surface — they do not sit on top, they are fired in. The remaining, unexposed part is simply washed off afterwards.
What is left is a matt black mark with high contrast. It is rub-proof, solvent-resistant and survives cleaning agents — we have parts in service that have been handled daily for years.
Where it pays off — and where it does not
It pays off for nameplates, serial numbers, QR and Data Matrix codes, tool marking and warning labels — everywhere a sticker would peel off. It does not pay off for large areas: the spray is consumed, and on a full-surface engraving that adds up.
The simpler route: anodised aluminium
If you are free to choose the material, take anodised aluminium. The anodised layer is a dyed oxide layer, and the laser simply removes it — the bright base metal appears underneath. No spray, no application, no washing off, one operation. The contrast is excellent, and it is the reason most industrial nameplates are made of exactly this material.
The same goes for painted metals: the laser takes the paint away and the base metal shows through. Tool cases, insulated mugs and coated signs work this way with no preparation at all.
What to bring
- The workpiece — clean and grease-free, or we clean it beforehand
- The motif as a vector (SVG, DXF, AI, EPS) or as a raster image at 300 dpi
- The material declaration: stainless steel, steel, brass and aluminium behave differently
The full material list per machine is on the laser engraving page.