Jacqui, Jandra, Jenny, Joanne, Sarah
Customer support
Phone: +61-1300-TROTEC
E-Mail: australia@troteclaser.com
Contact form Laser Engraving
Laminates
Advertising Signs, Door Signs, Information Signs, Dataplates, Nameplates & Control Panels
"What are laminates?"
‘Laminates’ are a name for sheets of 2- or 3-ply plastic. They are made from a core layer of modified acrylic, coated with a very thin top layer. The engraving process reveals the colour of that core material underneath.
Laminates are well suited for interior and exterior applications, making them a very popular material for laser processing. Available in many colours and textures, laminates are typically used for signage, dataplates, labels, signboards, nameplates and industrial marking.
Impressions
Application Examples for Laminates
Laser processing creates durable markings that can make your final product interesting and impressive. Anything is possible – from a simple rectangular shield, to a series of complex contours. Production becomes easy with a Trotec laser engraving machine.
- Door Signs
- Dataplates
- Nameplates
- Advertising Signs
- Object Sign-Postings
- Labels
- Switchboards
“Why should I buy a Trotec machine for laser engraving laminates?”
The laser beam is quickly becoming the universal tool for quick and easy materials processing. There are no grinding costs, which are common for milling cutters and drills, so laser engraving and cutting is cost-effective and highly profitable. During processes like mechanical engraving, materials are usually clamped in place. This is unnecessary when using a non-contact, laser engraving system. Save yourself some money and maybe even limit the risk of damage to your materials.
Function & Advantages of Laser Technology
Effective, Cost-Efficient Engraving
- Complex contours, markings and unusual shapes can easily be produced
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Speedy series: The fastest laser engravers available on the market, with a maximum processing speed of 3.55m/sec and an acceleration of 5g
Non-Contact Processing
- There is no need to fix or clamp your materials to the laser bed, saving you time and money
- Material will not warp or damage
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Multifunctional table concept for easy handling
High-Quality Digital Manufacturing
- Designs can be created in your preferred graphics program and sent to the laser via the ‘print’ command
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- JobControl® laser software: Simply, efficient, intuitive
Fine Tools
- Small fonts and fine details can be engraved quickly and easily
- You only need to use one tool for all your tasks
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Ideal optics and optimal beam performance
No Tool Wear
- The laser beam will not wear out over time
- There are no costs for replacing old, worn-out tools
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- CeramiCore laser sources have a particularly long service life
- Minimal servicing requirements and minimum downtime
"The sales people and support staff at Trotec have been amazing for us and very helpful. Their patience and knowledge is outstanding. Trotec has made a huge and positive impact on our business, opening up so many more new and exciting opportunities for us."- Chrissy Bourn - Owner of Trophy Express -
"I've found TroLase to be a fantastic product! I find the heat of the laser doesn't warp the surrounding sheet like you get with other brands. Also the colours engrave a lot better, for example the black in the White/Black sheets, it actually comes out black. I've used several other brands and the black comes out a grey colour. Not great when you're expecting jet black. But TroLase comes out black! I would recommend TroLase because it's a great product that does what you expect it (and need it) to do. There's nothing worse than handing over a finished product that you're not proud of to a customer that you're hoping to get more work out of in the future, and the materials you use play a massive part in the finished product. Using TroLase gives me confidence that the customer is going to get what they are expecting and I am going to be happy to put my name to the job."- Jeffrey Tennant - WA Engraving -
Trotec product recommendation
Tips for Engraving Laminates:
“Can any type of laminate be used for laser engraving?”
There are many flexible and rigid laminates, all suited for either laser engraving or milling. We don’t advise using the milling-only laminates in the laser engraver – instead, visit our materials website to look at laser-friendly laminates.
“What should I consider when laminate engraving?”
When engraving laminates, we recommend using the vacuum table. It sucks the material and attaches it to the table during the engraving process. The thinner the topcoat on the laminate is, the faster the layer can be ablated. Using the vacuum table will ensure your material will not move around during processing – you’ll have the best possible results every time!
“Laminates – engraving from bottom to top?”
Always ensure that you engrave laminates from the bottom and work your way up. This way, dust will be extracted upwards, leaving the top layer unharmed. In JobControl® under “Platte” [Plate] → “Platte einstellen” [Set plate] you can specify which edge to start the laser engraving process.
“Defocus to avoid the formation of grooves...”
From time to time, slight grooves may appear while you are engraving. A Z-offset of 0.5-2mm will help to stop these grooves from forming, allowing you to produce smooth, clean results.
“Why am I having problems with dark laminate sheets with bright topcoats?”
Sometimes, cutting a dark laminate with a bright topcoat can damage the coloured layer and any engravings you may have completed there. This is because the laser’s power can occasionally be too powerful for the laminate. We recommend engraving the desired motif first, and then applying masking tape on top of it. This will protect the brightly coloured material while your cut the laminate, and you can even pull the remaining dust off with the tape once the job is complete.