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Contact form Laser engraving laminates
For advertising signs, door signs, information signs, dataplates, nameplates
Laminates
Laminates are a material suitable for a number of applications, but are especially popular for laser engraving, as they are well suited for both interior and exterior applications and available in many colours and with many effects. Laser engraving and cutting laminates is used to create signage, including dataplates, signboards, nameplates or industrial markings.
What are laminates?
Laminates are 2 or 3 ply plastics. They are made of a core layer of modified acrylic, which has been coated with a thin top layer. The engraving process reveals the colour of the core material.
Examples
Application examples for laminates
With a laser you can create long-lasting markings and engravings. Unusual shapes make your final product stand out and are finished to a high quality. From a simple rectangular shield to complex contours and signs, a single piece or a small series, with a Trotec laser system everything is possible.
- Door signs
- Dataplates
- Nameplates
- Advertising signs
- Object signpostings
- Labels
- Switchboards
Why should I buy a laser for engraving laminates?
Laser engraving machines offer a universal tool for material processing. With the laser beam there is no need for tool or grinding costs as with milling cutters or drills. During processes such as mechanical engraving, materials must often be clamped in place or fixed with a vacuum. Clamping is not necessary when laser processing, saving you time and money.
Function and advantages of laser technology
Efficient and cost-effective engraving
- Complex contours and markings with unusual shapes can be implemented efficiently
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Speedy series: The fastest laser engravers available on the market with a maximum processing speed of 3.55 m/sec and an acceleration of 5g
Non-contact processing
- No time-consuming fixating of materials in comparison to other processing methods
- No warping of the material
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Multifunctional table concept for easy handling
Simple high-quality digital manufacturing
- Designs are created in your usual graphics program and sent to the printer via the printer command
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- JobControl® laser software: Simply intuitive. Work efficiently.
Fine tools
- Small fonts and finest details can be engraved easily
- One tool for all tasks
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- High quality optics and best beam quality
No tool wear
- No wear of the laser beam due to material processing
- No costs for new tools
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- CeramiCore laser sources with a particularly long service life
"The purchase of our Trotec Laser has allowed us to take control over the production of our own tattoo guns which are branded on the laser, improving quality. The versatility also allows us to create our own signage and gift range."- Richard Beston, owner of - TripleSix Studios (Sunderland, UK) -
"Trotec were faster, have an ideal bed size and give us more flexibility. The laser has improved our efficiency immensely, increasing our productivity at least 300%, possibly even 400%!"- Craig Davies, manufacturing engineer at - Hawker Siddeley Switchgear (Birmingham, UK) -
"The size of the company internationally and locally reassured us about the support that would be available once we had the machine and we were right! Trotec helped guide us through the transition to the new software, and have been there to help every step of the way."- Tom Fleet, research engineer at - Michell Instruments (Ely, UK) -
Tips for engraving laminates
Can any type of laminate be used for laser engraving?
There are various laminates that are suitable only for laser engraving or only for milling. Only laminates suitable for this purpose may be used for laminate engraving with laser. Trotec offers a broad range of laser and engraving materials.
What should be kept in mind when it comes to laminate engraving?
For laminate engraving, the use of a vacuum table is recommended, which fixates the laminate on the table during the engraving process. The thinner the topcoat of the laminate, the faster this layer can be ablated.
Laminates – engraving from bottom to top
Engrave laminates from the bottom up, so dust is extracted upwards and the top layer is not discolored. In JobControl® under “Platte” [Plate] → “Platte einstellen” [Set plate] you can specify the edge where the laser should start the engraving.
Defocus to avoid formation of grooves
Sometimes engraving appears to produce slight grooves. A Z-offset of 0.5 to 2 mm avoids formation of grooves and allows you to achieve smooth and clean results.
Dark laminate with bright topcoat
Do you know this problem? You engrave the bright top layer of a dark laminate, then you cut the workpiece, and the cutting soils the remaining bright top layer. Our tip: Engrave the desired motif and then apply masking tape; this protects the light-colored material during the cutting process, and you can simply pull off the resulting dust along with the tape.