Home>Resources>Etching Vs. Engraving
In a world full of complexities and robust interchangeable terms, certain aspects of a given industry can often be intermingled. Etching vs. engraving is one of those examples. Both processes offer compatibility with a variety of metal surfaces and produce clear text and images that won’t wear away. The primary difference between the two, however, is the price.
Cost differences between chemical etching and engraving depend on a few primary factors:
- Material: Hard materials are more difficult to engrave, increasing the cost. We typically recommend etching for these projects.
- Character Size and Depth: The size and depth of text or a design determine the complexity of the process. The more complexity involved, the higher the cost.
- Production volume: If you only need a few labels, sometimes engraving is the more cost-effective option. For higher volume orders, etching is often less expensive.
We pride ourselves on being transparent in our pricing and helping you stay within your budget. Let’s say you want a stainless-steel label with small text, for example. Since this material is difficult to engrave, the process takes longer, adding to the project cost. In a situation like this, we would recommend chemical etching because we can achieve the same results faster and at a lower price.
Laser Etched Material
What is the Difference Between Etching and Engraving?
Although very similar in respect to end-results, the technological aspects of etching vs. engraving also share many bold dissimilarities. For example,laser engravingcuts a cavity through the material’s surface, leaving a cavity that reveals an image or writing at eye level that is noticeable to the touch as well.Laser etching, on the other hand, basically sweeps away a top layer of material without cutting into the metal and creating a crevice. Laser engraving is accomplished by using a high heat laser that causes the material surface to vaporize. In contrast, laser etching machines are less powerful and provide only a fraction of the cutting capabilities of a laser engraver.
Furthermore, etching and engraving are both methods of cutting lines into a hard surface, such as metal. The primary difference between them is that engraving is a physical process, and etching is a chemical process. An engraver uses sharp tools to cut lines directly into a surface, while an etcher burns lines into a surface with acid.
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Laser Etching vs Laser Engraving Hard Materials
A laser is a device that emits a beam of coherent light through an optical amplification process. There are many types of lasers, including gas lasers, fiber lasers, solid-state lasers, dye lasers, diode lasers, and excimer lasers. In manufacturing, lasers are used for cutting, engraving, drilling, and marking a broad range of materials.
Advantages of Engraving
There are numerous advantages of engraving that can take your project to the next level. Some of the more impactful advantages ofengraving include:
- The laser creates high heat during the engraving process, which essentially causes the material to vaporize.
- It’s a quick process, as the material is vaporized with each pulse.
- This creates a cavity in the surface that is noticeable to the eye and touch.
- To form deeper marks with the laser engraver, repeat with several passes.
- Provides durability, speed, cost efficiency & ultimate repeatability
Engraving depth can vary between 0.02″ in metals to 0.125″ in harder materials. You can engrave almost any type of material but are most commonly used formetal,plastics, wood, leather, glass, and acrylic.
Advantages of Etching
Etching, like engraving, aims to produce crevices and lines below the surface of the material. Laser etching, which is a subset of laser engraving, occurs when the heat from the beam causes the surface of the material to melt. The depth of a laser etch is usually no more than 0.001″. Etching is a more viable option for thin materials and small projects such as jewelry. The numerous advantages of this process include:
- Extremely precise
- Material savings
- High speed of realization
- Available for numerous materials
- Provides durability, speed, cost efficiency & ultimate repeatability
Contact Sine-tific Solutions Today for Etching or Engraving
Request a quotetoday for industrial engraving services or contact usfor more information. We’ll help you find the best solution for your custom project.
FAQs
The primary difference between them is that engraving is a physical process, and etching is a chemical process. An engraver uses sharp tools to cut lines directly into a surface, while an etcher burns lines into a surface with acid.
Which is better, etching or engraving? ›
Laser etching creates black and white marks and is the most efficient process to permanently mark most types of materials. Etching is faster than engraving because it requires less energy from the laser beam. You may need laser etching if: Your part is made of any metal, except stainless steel.
What are the two types of engraving? ›
There are different types of engravings including the following;
- Etching. Etching is a type of engraving that is used on crystal, stone, and glass. ...
- Rotary Engraving. Rotary Engraving is used on certain metals including gold, sterling silver, copper, and aluminium. ...
- Laser Engraving.
Etching uses chemicals to mark the material, while engraving physically cuts into a metal tag, leaving a deep indentation. Engraving and etching are two excellent processes for marking metal surfaces. They feature high customization and a level of detail.
What is the difference between laser and chemical etching? ›
Some circ*mstances make laser etching a better choice than chemical etching. Firstly and most importantly, if you need a large project done quickly, especially a project with many repeated tasks, choosing laser etching is a better decision. The speed of laser etching is a significant advantage over chemical etching.
What is the difference between chemical etching and engraving? ›
The primary difference between them is that engraving is a physical process, and etching is a chemical process. An engraver uses sharp tools to cut lines directly into a surface, while an etcher burns lines into a surface with acid.
What are the two main types of etching? ›
There are two basic etching technologies used today: wet and dry. Both utilize corrosion as the reactive force in the etching process – the difference is wet etching uses chemical solutions while dry etching uses gases.
How does chemical etching work? ›
Chemical etching is a method of engraving that uses a high-pressure high-temperature chemical spray to remove material to create a permanent etched image in metal. A mask or resist is applied to the surface of the material and is selectively removed, exposing the metal, to create the desired image.
How can you tell etching from engraving? ›
The former uses an acid solution (etching agent) to etch lines into a surface, often leaving behind intricate and detailed designs. On the other hand, Engraving cuts directly into the surface with the help of sharp tools. Silver is a very popular metal that is used for both these processes!
What are two techniques used in etching? ›
Since then many etching techniques have been developed, which are often used in conjunction with each other: soft-ground etching uses a non-drying resist or ground, to produce softer lines; spit bite involves painting or splashing acid onto the plate; open bite in which areas of the plate are exposed to acid with no ...
There is no point of contact with chemical metal etching such as heat, or hard tooling. The hardness, grain structure, and ductility of the metal are unaffected. This advantage is significant for the function of many industrial components that rely on precision, low tolerances, and high conductivity.
How accurate is chemical etching? ›
How accurate is chemical etching? Photochemical etching can achieve exceptional accuracy. The standard minimum etching tolerances stand at ±10% of the metal thickness or ±0.020 mm, whichever is greater.
What is chemical etching usually done with? ›
What chemical is used in etching? Most metals are etched using ferric chloride, a safe to use, recyclable etchant. Ferric chloride can be regenerated and reused. Other proprietary etchants such as nitric acid, are used for specialist metals and alloys.
What are the disadvantages of etching? ›
Wet Chemical Etching: Advantages: Cheap, almost no damage due to purely chemical nature, highly selective Disadvantages: poor anisotropy, poor process control (temperature sensitivity), poor particle control, high chemical disposal costs, difficult to use with small features (bubbles, etc...).
Why is engraving more expensive than etching? ›
Engraving involves physically removing material from the surface to create depth and texture. This process requires precision machinery and skilled craftsmanship to achieve intricate designs. Etching, on the other hand, typically involves using chemicals or lasers to create shallow marks on the surface of the material.
Why would a printmaker prefer etching over engraving? ›
Its great advantage was that, unlike engraving where the difficult technique for using the burin requires special skill in metalworking, the basic technique for creating the image on the plate in etching is relatively easy to learn for an artist trained in drawing.
Is laser etching better than hand engraving? ›
Laser engraving has faster turnaround times and is more cost-effective than hand engraving. Contrary to hand engraving, laser technology offers a versatile method for personalising jewellery crafted from materials such as tungsten, cobalt, and steel.
