Ideal Substrates for CO2 Marking and Engraving

Numerous materials can be marked or engraved with CO₂ laser energy below 200 watts because there is enough laser energy for noticeable surface interaction but not enough energy to penetrate all the way through a material for cutting. Generally, if a material is inorganic and heat resistant (doesn’t melt or has a high melting point), it cannot be laser cut with a CO₂ laser rated under 200 watts.

The following materials are suitable for CO₂ laser marking and, in some cases, shallow engraving:

• Glass
• Ceramic
• Stone
• Steel and titanium (surface marking)

This information originally appears in a Universal Laser Systems blog post.