Since laser engravers have come into existence, they have made it possible to engrave any material with its personalized designs. Almost everyone today has some piece of decoration or pieces of jewelry that have been laser engraved. Laser engraving on materials has become a common practice these days. However, the question is, how long does laser engraving last. 

Is laser engraving permanent? The answer is Yes. Laser engraving leaves a deep mark on the given item because it takes a lot of energy targeted at a small area. This energy makes the engraving permanent by melting, heating, burning, and vaporizing the material’s topmost layer. Engravings last for a long time. However, depending on the type of material, what engraving item was used, and how often the material was polished. 

Let us answer a few more questions related to laser engraving. 

What is laser engraving? How does it work?

First things first, laser engraving is a marking process that vaporizes the materials to leave incredible, deep, and permanent marks. It uses a beam of concentrated light that removes the top layer of the material, thus hitting the targeted areas with extremely high energy levels. 

What factors does the permanence of laser engraving depend on?

The durability of laser engraving depends upon the following factors.

Material

There is a long list of materials on which laser engraving can be done, and they directly affect how long the laser engraving will last on different materials. For example, laser engraving on soft metals like gold and silver will wear off faster than tungsten, a hard metal. 

Depth

The deeper the laser engraving, the more permanent it will be. The depth of the engraving also depends on its material and the customer’s requirement. Going too deep may destroy the material from inside. For instance, acrylic materials can handle a depth up to 0.25 mm, while with wood, you can do as deep as 0.5 mm.  

Polishing And Cleaning

The number of times an engraved item goes for polishing or cleaning also affects its longevity. Therefore, there are two ways to save your laser engraving for a more extended period. First, do not send your jewelry for frequent polishing and only do it when it is really necessary. Second, do not use abrasive polish. Only non-abrasive polish should be used so that no damage is caused to the laser engraving.

For more myths and facts about laser engraving, watch this video:

Does laser engraving wear off?

As we mentioned earlier, the durability of laser engraving depends on the type of material you are working on. However, there are a few mistakes that you might make that can make your laser engraving wear off faster than others. Have a look.

• Burning the fabric: You need to ensure the type of fabric that can withstand temperature while engraving. For example, denim and canvas can bear the highest laser engraving temperatures. 
• Wrong acrylic: Your engraving would not give you satisfactory results if you use the wrong acrylics. There are two types of acrylics, casting and extruded. Make sure you use the right one for different types of engraving.
• Dirty laser machine: You should regularly clean your laser engraving machine to get better results than a dirty one. If you notice debris on your device, clean it properly; otherwise, the results can be compromised.