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Many friends who want to buy an engraving machine are confused about this. In fact, the generalized CNC engraving machine includes a laser engraving machine, which can be equipped with a laser head for engraving. The laser engraving machine can also be a CNC engraving machine. Therefore, the two intersect, there is an intersection relationship, but there are also many differences.

What is Laser engravers ?

Metal engraving machineare the best systems to engrave MDF, acrylic, paper, fabric, leather and much more.  The machine uses the laser as an engraving tool and Co2 as a laser source, to produce a permanent, crisp and a highly detailed mark without actually touching the material.  As compared to the traditional methods, laser engraving is a fast process enabling the user to engrave even the most complex designs with so much ease!

What is CNC Engraving?

Engraving is a cutting technique or process of carving a design into a hard surface, to decorate or label on the objects made of different materials, typically using a set of hand engraving tools in the past, but CNC engraving is also available now. wood engraving router uses computer-controlled machines, which often applies the milling paths generated by CAD-CAM software based on the design drawing. Compared to manual engraving machines, CNC engraving machines, which reduces errors and improves speed, have the capability to do various sophisticated precision engraving, whether for practical or artistic purposes.

The differences are as follows:

Different working principles

Laser engraving machine is a kind of equipment that uses the heat energy of laser to engrave materials. The laser light is emitted by a laser and is focused into a high-power density laser beam through the optical path system. The light energy of the laser beam causes chemical and physical changes in the surface material to engrave traces, or light energy burns off part of the material to display patterns and texts that need to be etched.

CNC engraving machine relies on a high-speed rotating engraving head driven by an electric spindle. Through the tool configured according to the processing material, the processing material fixed on the host table can be cut, and various flat or three-dimensional patterns designed by the computer can be carved. The embossed graphics and text can realize automatic engraving operation.

the mechanical structure is different

Laser engraving machines can be divided into different types of special machines according to their specific uses. The structure of these dedicated machines is roughly the same. For example: the laser source emits the laser, the numerical control system controls the stepping motor, and the focus is moved on the X, Y, and Z axes of the machine tool through optical elements such as the laser head, reflector, and lens, thereby ablating the material for engraving.

The structure of CNC engraving machine is relatively simple. It is controlled by a computer numerical control system, so that the engraving machine automatically selects the appropriate engraving tool to engrave on the X, Y, and Z axes of the machine tool.

In addition, the cutter of the laser engraving machine is a complete set of optical components. The tools of the CNC engraving machine are engraving tools of various entities.

the processing accuracy is different

The diameter of the laser beam is only 0.01mm. The laser beam can carry out smooth and bright engraving and cutting in narrow and delicate parts. However, the CNC tool is not very helpful, because the diameter of the CNC tool is 20 times larger than the laser beam, so the processing accuracy of the CNC engraving machine is not as good as the laser engraving machine.

Different processing efficiency

The laser speed is fast, the laser is 2.5 times the speed of the CNC engraving machine. Because laser engraving and polishing can be done at one time, CNC needs to be done in two parts. Moreover, the energy consumption of laser engraving machine is less than that of CNC engraving machine.

Other differences

Laser engraving machine is noiseless, pollution-free and efficient; CNC engraving machine is relatively noisy and pollutes the environment.