Several different industries may find they need etching and engraving equipment. Home improvement businesses may use engraving equipment to create stylistic patterns on wood finishing surfaces and glass. Jewelers may use metal engraving machines to record names, dates or other personal information on rings, necklaces and stones. Trophy makers use etching and engraving equipment to mark metal, glass and other surfaces for trophies, plaques and other awards.

Investigate the etching and engraving equipment basics to ensure you select the right type of tool. Some etching and engraving equipment can serve as all-purpose tools. Other types of etching and engraving equipment works best on a specific medium. Know the product you intend to produce before selecting your tools.

1. Check out laser etching and engraving equipment for efficiency and precision

2. Look for computerized engraving machines for fast and repeatable detail work

3. Identify etching and engraving equipment used on specific mediums.

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Investigate the advantages of laser etching and engraving equipment

Laser engraving equipment uses a beam of light as the engraving tool, so your engraving media does not get scratched or marred. Laser etching tools can engrave or etch very detailed lines and drawings. Laser etching equipment can complete a project very quickly, saving time and money.

I recommend: Epilog Laser manufacturers a line of laser engraving equipment for wood, plastic, glass and even fabric . Each Epilog laser differs in the maximum size of the item to be engraved. Laser Photonics makes several laser marking products, from a hand-held unit to large industrial-sized machines. Such a laser etching machine can mark bar-codes, labeling, serial numbers, logos and other marks to a variety of metallic and non-metallic surfaces.

Identify general purpose etching and engraving equipment

Several manufacturers produce a number of etching and engraving machines that serve multiple purposes. These machines vary in size, level of training needed, and type of material etched or engraved. Most general purpose machines handle glass, wood, metal, acrylic and other surfaces.

I recommend: GRS Tools manufactures a line of engraving machinery used in engraving, stone setting, wood carving, jewelry making and sculpture. The company also manufactures specialty tools, supplies and replacement parts for its equipment. Chemcut uses a chemical process in the design of its etching machinery. Create printed circuit boards, solar cells and other precision work with this type of etching equipment.

Decide if computerized etching and engraving equipment may provide advantages

If you anticipate engraving the same design over and over, computerized etching and engraving equipment may offer you the best choice. You can store your design in a computerized system without having start from the beginning each time. Computerized engraving machines also require little hands on use, lessening your chance of injury.

I recommend: Gravograph produces a variety of computerized etching and engraving equipment, and their commercial engraving equipment can engrave trophies and plaques for the award industry. Other machines engrave small objects such as badges. They also carry glass engraving equipment. A chart on the website helps you select the correct type of machine for your application. Vision Engraving and Routing Systems makes the Max Pro engraver, a computerized system that operates using several software packages. This system includes special holding fixtures for small engraving projects.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When searching for engraving and etching equipment, check available accessories for the machines. Some machines have attachments, fixtures and other hardware that allow more flexibility in etching and engraving surfaces. For example, some machines have an attachment for engraving rings. Others have special vises to hold small items such as pens or medallions. Other fixtures grip round items. These options will provide more versatility for your business.

Etching equipment is highly useful for the home or office to personalize important items, make nameplates and signs, and create permanent safety and hazard labels. Etching equipment also can be used in printmaking or glass art for aesthetic purposes.

Commercial engraving equipment comes in many varieties, including laser etching equipment and chemical etching equipment. You can easily find personal, hand-held engravers for home use, as well.

When shopping for an engraving machine, consider these points:

1. Decide the type of mechanism you will want to operate your etching equipment.
2. Explore special engraving options for glass or other art projects.
3. Shop locally and used to get the most options for engraving equipment.

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Pick how your etching equipment will make its mark

Etching machinery can create engraved marks in several ways. Most commercial engraving equipment uses either a chemical or laser etching machine. Laser engraving equipment typically is computer operated, allowing you to use computer fonts and other computerized functions to control the results of your laser etching equipment. Personal etching machines simply use tiny vibrations to make an impression.

I recommend: Chemical etching machines and laser etching machines are both typically very large and expensive. If you need a piece of commercial engraving equipment and don't have space limitations, either type of etching equipment will provide precise results. If you just need a small, portable personal engraver, order direct an inexpensive hand-held model.

Look for special interest engraving equipment

Chemical and laser engraving equipment are ideal for commercial use, but sandblasters and etching presses are the best bet for glass engraving and other art projects. Sandblasters come in a wide range of sizes and power outputs depending on the size of your project.

I recommend: Shop a wide range of sandblasters at Art on Glass for glass engraving equipment. If you're looking for etching equipment for an art school, it's a good idea to have both a sandblaster and an etching press to use with book arts and other fine arts projects.

Find expensive etching equipment on the cheap by shopping used

Large commercial engraving equipment frequently can be found for sale used or refurbished at a discounted price. Consider buying a machine that comes with local customer service and support as well.

I recommend: Shop for pre-owned laser engraving equipment or for refurbished etching machines as they're available. If you're interested in shopping more locally for commercial engraving equipment, search by state for a distributor near you.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't rely on a personal engraving tool if you have commercial engraving needs. Personal engraving tools are inexpensive and convenient, but when you need standard font engraving or have a large-scale etching project, a personal engraving tool is no substitute for the big machines. If you can't afford your own chemical or laser etching machine, look for engraving companies that will perform etching services for you with their commercial machines.

Several types of businesses can take advantage of etching and engraving equipment – craft shops can use an engraving machine to design woodworking projects. Jewelers can personalize jewelry with metal engraving machines or a laser etching machine. Glass shops and homebuilders can use glass engraving equipment to add sparkle to doors and windows. The awards and trophy industry uses glass engraving equipment, laser engraving equipment and metal engraving machines to create prizes for everything from sports to business achievements. Other business use engraving machinery to manufacture signs. The uses are endless and are all in high demand. No matter what happens with the economy, there’s always a need for signs on bathroom doors and granite engraving machinery for names on tombstones.

Like other machinery, engraving and etching equipment improves with time. Technological changes make the equipment more precise and capable of more detail. Other enhancements and the passage of time make engraving and etching equipment more affordable, particularly for the small business owner.

To stay in touch with etching and engraving equipment news and trends:

1. Take advantage of laser engraving equipment forums to share ideas and get feedback on the latest laser etching machine and engraving machinery.

2. Promote your business at commercial engraving equipment trade shows, while checking out the latest industry innovations.

3. Subscribe to etching and engraving equipment news and trends trade journals and magazines.

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Find sources of etching and engraving equipment news

Print and online magazines and newsletters provide good sources of information for the etching and engraving equipment industry. These publications also provide information about manufacturers and distributors of etching and engraving equipment.

I recommend: National Business Media publishes the Awards & Engraving Magazine, a trade magazine for the awards, engraving and recognition professional. The magazine offers tips on engraving and helps the reader keep up with industry trends. Register for an online subscription to Industrial Laser Solutions. Epilog Laser has links to several publications that might be of interest. Taking advantage of your industry-specific magazines allows readers to learn about new equipment, processes and suppliers within the commercial engraving equipment industry.

Investigate engraving equipment and etching forums to stay current on industry news

Various online engineering message boards and forums can provide postings about this industry. Etching and engraving equipment companies also input information relevant to changes in the industry. Stay informed of hints and tips for using this type of equipment and using it safely.

I recommend: Consider paying the annual fee to join engravingetc, an online forum and resource center for the awards and engraving industry. Register for the World of Engraving forum for a free opportunity to network with others in the awards and engraving business. Consider joining Laserists.com forum with free registration to gain access to the entire website. Subscribe to Engravers Journal online magazine delivery or view back issues covering topics relevant to your business.

Keep up with trade shows that feature etching and engraving equipment news and trends

Manufacturers continually develop new laser etching tools and engraving machinery. Make sure your company retains that competitive edge by buying the best equipment you can to fit your budget and your clientele. If you etch or engrave a particular media or consider yourself an all-purpose shop, new technology becomes available on a regular basis, and trade shows are an excellent source for lead generation.

I recommend: Plan to attend the Awards and Engraving trade shows sponsored annually by National Business Media, publishers of Awards and Engraving magazine. Join the Awards and Recognition Association if the focus of your engraving business is the manufacture and/or engraving of awards and trophies. The association sponsors a tradeshow, which is an excellent venue for promoting your engraving equipment business, while learning about that new computerized engraving machine that will allow your business to grow.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The beam of light from laser etching equipment can damage your eyes. Ensure you don protective goggles before beginning your etching project.
• •  Attend trade shows devoted to the engraving equipment industry to see the latest developments, make contacts and network to create more business. Most trade shows offer educational opportunities - take advantage of them.

For businesses that do engraving on wedding, graduation and other personalized gifts, it's important to know the key terms used regarding etching and engraving equipment. There are many kinds of equipment and techniques used to create beautiful designs on glass, acrylic, steel and other surfaces, and your customers are going to expect you to be knowledgeable about all of them. Many people ask engravers to mark items with serial numbers for theft prevention. Take the time to learn the key terms for etching and engraving equipment, as well as the processes involved in using them, to increase your proficiency, profits and customer satisfaction.

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Diamond points

Diamond points are small, hard points made of diamond that are used to engrave glass. They come in many different sizes for wide or more intricate designs.

I recommend: Learn more about diamond points at Granite City Tool.

Resists and abrasives

Resists are surfaces used as guides to do etching. They are either pre-cut or handmade. Abrasives are harder than glass, which makes them ideal for glass etching. Sand can be used as an abrasive but is deemed dangerous to breathe so today silicon carbide is used to safely etch glass.

I recommend: Visit Etch Master to learn about resists and abrasives.

Stenciling

Stenciling is the art of using laser designs from drawings or photographs to engrave on surfaces. Stencils can be customized to suit your business requirements. There are also software programs that make this process easier so you can create beautiful engraved designs on personalized gifts or promotional items for your customers.

I recommend: Learn about the process of photo image stenciling and the tools required to do it at SCM Sandblasting.

Etching, engraving and sandblasting pens

An etching pen marks stainless steel, ceramics and glass objects. Engraving pens use diamond points to cut into surfaces as you write to create decorative writing on objects like vases, gifts and jewelry. Sandblasting pens create designs, messages and monograms on glass, marble and many other surfaces.

I recommend: Read about etching pens at New Age Testing Instruments and then learn about engraving pens at Silver Gallery. Vapson Jewelry Equipments offers information about sandblasting pens.

Engraving machines

Engraving machines are available for light duty, heavy duty and professional jobs. Light-duty engraving machines create badges, signs, awards and personalized gifts or apparel. Heavy-duty engraving machines are great for engraving pet tags, curved jewelry, lighters, small metal objects and award plates, while professional engraving machines are ideal for engraving materials such as plastic, acrylic, aluminum, brass and wood and for creating corporate or family crests, personalized awards and promotional items.

I recommend: Use the information at Engraving Machines Plus to learn about light-duty, heavy-duty and professional engraving machines.

Laser engraving

Laser engraving includes using lasers to mark, engrave and etch objects made of a variety of materials, including wood, acrylic, marble and glass. The difference between laser engraving and other kinds of engraving is that it doesn't use tool bits that wear out with use. These machines can be complicated to use, but the results are worth the effort.

I recommend: Read about laser-engraving machines at Epilog Laser.