#laserengravingonstainlesssteel

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Is Laser Engraving suitable for engraving Stainless Steel?

Generally, annealing is preferred because of the several benefits it offers. Some of them include:Stainless steel is a material that's commonly found anywhere - its strength and versatility makes it an ideal choice for the making of a wide range of appliances. Generally, stainless steel is used in the manufacturing of medical equipment, automation parts, etc. that need some kind of serial number marking on them to differentiate them.

Naturally, the preferred method for incorporating this type of identification mark is laser engraving. But the question is this - is laser engraving suitable for engraving stainless steel? Read ahead to know the answer!

Engraving and Stainless Steel - A Good Match or Not?

To answer the question, yes, engraving can be used to mark stainless steel. But, there is a very important point you need to keep in mind before you jump in and start the process of laser engraving on your stainless steel appliances:

The process of laser engraving removes the protective layer off the stainless steel, making it vulnerable to moisture and leading to the formation of rust. And understandably, rusting defeats the purpose of stainless steel in itself. So how to rectify this?

This is why deep engraving or annealing is used while engraving stainless steel appliances.

Deep Engraving Deep engraving is a process where you apply a high power beam to remove some of the material. The speed of the beam is reduced so as to achieve maximum effect. After multiple cycles of repeating the process, you'll be able to produce a clear-cut engraving.

Annealing

In annealing, the metal is melted but the upper chromium oxide layer of the stainless steel remains intact. This way, the engraving is done quite well while simultaneously avoiding peeling off the layer of protection. This process involves the application of a low power beam for a long period and there is no removal of material.

Generally, annealing is preferred because of the several benefits it offers. Some of them include:

Permanent and high contrast marks 

Precise and detailed markings

Low maintenance

So, yes while laser engraving can be applied for stainless steel, it is imperative which method you apply in order to keep the appliance safe from corrosion.