The growing engraving industry is inseparable from the continuous development of modern engraving technology. In today's new era, do you know what advanced engraving techniques are available? This blog post will answer your questions in detail.
Fully automatic CNC engraving
In order to facilitate the mass production and batch production of specific design crafts by metal engraving accessories manufacturers, fully automatic engraving machines have emerged. Currently CNC engraving machines are the most widely used modern engraving technology.
Working principle: first in the computer modeling, enter the precise engraving path coding program, so that the robotic arm to accurately identify the instructions for accurate cutting or engraving.
Applicable materials: wood, acrylic, metal, marble, plastic, etc.
Advantages: high precision, high efficiency, can be mass production
Commonly used in: handicrafts, furniture patterns, relief decoration, tombstone lettering, building components
Laser engraving
Laser engraving uses a high-energy laser beam to ablate the surface of the material to realize the pattern or text engraving.
Principle: rapid movement of the laser → ablation of the material → formation of engraved patterns
Applicable materials: metal, leather, wood, glass, plastic, fabrics
Advantages: no contact with the material, suitable for fine patterns, fast engraving speed
Commonly used in: personalized gifts, jewelry processing, industrial marking, electronic parts marking
3D Printing Engraving
3D printing is not really a “reduced material carving”, but additive manufacturing, but now widely used in sculpture, art installations, carving model production.
Principle: computer modeling → layer-by-layer stacked printing → molding
Advantages: Can create very complex shapes, suitable for creative arts and architectural design.
Commonly used materials: PLA, resin, metal powder, ceramic materials.
Commonly used: preliminary molds for sculptures, small art exhibits, architectural installation models, etc.
Plasma Engraving
Plasma engraving utilizes high-temperature plasma to cut and ablate materials, and is mostly used for metal engraving.
Advantages: strong penetration, suitable for thick and heavy metal materials.
Disadvantages: higher precision requirements than laser engraving.
Commonly used in: large metal decoration, steel plate engraving art, urban sculpture
Waterjet Engraving
High-pressure water flow mixed with abrasive material to cut the material, can also realize the relief engraving.
Advantages: no thermal influence, suitable for brittle or composite materials
Applicable materials: glass, marble, ceramics, composite panels, etc.
Commonly used in: tile art parquet, building facade decoration
Robot modeling sculpture
Nowadays, many artists use digital sculpture software (e.g. ZBrush, Blender) for designing, and the design pattern will be handed over to six-axis robots or intelligent carving robotic arms for precision carving after completion. Commonly used in modern art sculpture, film and television props, large-scale exhibition installation production.
Suitable for carvers who like to carve different types of creations.
Pneumatic engraving machine engraving
The use of pneumatic engraving machine for engraving is widely used in wood carving, jewelry engraving, stone carving and other hand-carved industry of modern engraving technology.
Working principle: the configuration of the air compressor for air compression to generate strong power, driven by the connection of the pneumatic engraving pen to produce high speed, can easily leave engraving traces on the engraving material.
Advantages: simple operation, easy to modify, save time and effort, do not destroy the handmade design.
Commonly used for: advanced jewelry design, home crafts production and simple wood carving creation. It is the most suitable modern carving technique for beginners to try.
Micro-carving
Small high speed carving pen and stereo microscope combination, can help the carver to complete the micro-carving carving this coefficient of difficulty is not low modern carving technology.
Working principle: the carving material will be placed in the stereo microscope to enlarge the carving surface, the area can be enlarged to ten to fifteen times, and then use the most fine carving head in the carving position to determine the creation.
Advantages: labor-saving, high precision, a variety of heads can be replaced.
Applicable objects: the third stage of polishing, carving complex patterns or hollow details. Best for master carvers to show off their superior carving skills.
Final Thoughts
Modern carving techniques rely more and more on technological means, but do not conflict with traditional carving tools (e.g. files, needlepoint pens, texture boards), but can be used in synergy.