Laser Engraving Glossary

Laser Engraving Glossary - Lazer - Laser Engraving List of Terms 

Resolution (DPI): Resolution is the measurement of an image's quality. Resolution is expressed in dots per inch (DPI) and depends upon the number of lines or inches that can fit in every inch of movement. The greater the resolution, the more refined the detail  will be and thus a better, more clear picture.  The standard resolution for most engraving work is from 400 to 600 DPI. The Pinnacle™ laser systems can engrave from a range of 200 to 1016 DPI.

Engraver Power: Engraver power is the amount of laser intensity that's focused to the surface of the material. Higher amounts of power will result in deeper cuts or engravings when compared to a weaker engraver moving at the same speed. The intensity can also have relevance on the speed. A more potent laser can travel at a faster speed and also produce the same results as a moderate laser traveling at a much slower pace. A stronger laser can cut through thicker materials. The Pinnacle laser engravers range from 12 watts to a powerful 100 watts.

Engraver Speed: This is the rate at which the engraving head moves, stated as inches per second (IPS). The higher the speed, the faster the engraver completes its job. Speed is also relative to the depth of the cut. Slower movement will result in deeper cuts or engravings when compared to an engraver with the same power level moving at a faster pace. The laser engravers at Pinnacle can have astonishing speeds - up to 42 ips, while maintaining excellent quality.

Raster Engraving: Raster engraving is like the old fashioned version of printing that is applied with a laser. Acting with the style of a dot matrix, the laser head travels up one line and down the next producing series of or sequences of dots. And these lines create high detailed engravings which are ideal for clip art, text, and images that have been scanned in. 

Vector Cutting and Engraving: Vector cutting and engraving is much quicker than raster engraving.  Vector cutting and/or engraving follows an outline. A constant beam allows for completely cutting through materials such as wood or acrylic, or for quickly engraving patterns or designs on a variety of surfaces.

3D-Engraving: 3D-engraving is making use of an engraver to create objects that appear to be three dimensional. Portraits can be scanned in and create wonderful engraved images that protrude from the backgrounds. Another  for 3D-engraving is the creation of nameplates. By removing the backgrounds, the letters remain raised from the surface. This has much more detail than casting does and creates smoother results.