Design and Fabrication of Laser Engraving Machine

Abstract

Nowadays technology is increasing rapidly, because the implementation of CNC system in industries and educations is exponentially increasing but at high cost. The main aim of our project is to design and fabrication of laser engraving machine. The proposed setup has been applied to Glass Fibber Reinforced Plastic [GFRP] composites, plastics, wood, cardboard, etc.., to yield desired profile, contour, information and various drawing. Moreover, this setup has high precision and processing efficiency. This technique involves colour change of the surface due to thermal energy emerged by the laser beam. The simulation of this machine is done using Laser GRBL software.

Introduction

Laser engraving is a high-precision technique that uses a concentrated laser beam to burn or vaporize the surface of a material, creating a permanent engraved image or cut. It is commonly used on materials like wood, cardboard, plastic, and leather. The laser removes material to form a cavity, and multiple passes increase depth and contrast.

Key Concepts

• Laser Type: Semiconductor laser

• Working Principle: High heat from the laser vaporizes surface layers, leaving an engraved mark.

• Materials: Paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, leather, rubber

• Applications: Cutting and engraving logos, patterns, and designs.

Literature Review Highlights

• Lee et al. (2020): Open-source software (Laser GRBL, LightBurn) offers flexible, user-customizable engraving options.

• Powell (2017): Laser engraving is growing in industries like aerospace, automotive, and electronics due to precision needs.

• Zhang et al. (2016): CO? lasers are best for non-metallic materials; fiber lasers are more effective for metals.

• Steen & Mazumder (2010): Emphasized safety measures, such as shielding and fume extraction, especially for toxic materials like acrylic.

• Berns & Stinson (2004): Compared stepper motors (cost-effective but less precise) with servo motors (high precision but expensive); modern systems use linear rails and ball screws for improved accuracy.

Design Specifications

• Laser Source: Semiconductor laser

• Power: 1.6W, DC 12V, 3A

• Engraving Area: 170 × 200 mm

• Dimensions: 420 × 315 × 145 mm

• Laser Wavelength: 450-5 nm

• Supported File Formats: JPEG, JPG, PNG, BMP, SVG

• Software: Creality Laser, Laser GRBL, LightBurn

• Operating System: Windows XP and above

• Temp Range: 0? to 35?

Engraving Process Steps

1. Install and set up GRBL software.

2. Connect the engraver to the computer via USB and power it on.

3. Launch the software and select the image to be engraved.

4. The laser head moves left to right, burning the design based on image paths.

5. Depth and darkness are controlled by adjusting laser power and speed.

Conclusion

The laser engraving machine project successfully demonstrated the capabilities of laser technology in engraving different materials with precision and efficiency. Through systematic experimentation, the project identified the optimal settings for various materials, ensuring high-quality engravings with minimal errors

References

[1] Berns, M. W., & Stinson, D. (2004). Introduction to Laser Technology. Wiley-Interscience. [2] Zhang, Y., Wang, X., Liu, J., & Zhang, H. (2016). Optimization of laser engraving parameters for high-contrast marking on metals. Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 23, 327–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2016.06.003 [3] Lee, J., Park, J., & Kim, H. (2020). Intelligent control of laser engraving machines using computer vision and AI algorithms. International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 108(9), 2925–2937. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-020-05602-w [4] Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (2018). Laser Hazards in the Workplace. OSHA Technical Manual. https://www.osha.gov/otm/section-iii/chapter-6 [5] Steen, W. M., & Mazumder, J. (2010). Laser Material Processing (4th ed.). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-062-5 [6] Chryssolouris, G. (2006). Manufacturing Systems: Theory and Practice. Springer. [7] Powell, J. (2017). CO2 Laser Cutting. Springer. [8] Born, M., & Wolf, E. (1999). Principles of Optics (7th ed.). Cambridge University Press

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 T. Gopala Rao , N. Naveen , Y. Phaleendra Kumar , K. J. S. C. Bose, G. Gopalakrishna. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.