What Is A Laser Stone Engraving Machine?
A laser stone engraving machine is a type of CO2 laser engraver used to engrave stone (including marble, granite, headstone, gravestone, tombstone, soapstone, ceramic tiles, and other types of stone). Stone laser engraving machine adopts a 4x8 full sheet worktable, which is convenient for engraving, and the engraving format is not limited. It can accurately splice and engrave graphics and can produce large-format graphics without considering the w8 of the object. The engraving frame can be adjusted up and down, which can meet the engraving of different thicknesses of stone.
Although stone engraving has a long history, the use of laser engraving stone is still an emerging industry, which is developing rapidly and in the ascendant. According to the analysis of professionals of laser engraving machines, this development trend is unstoppable. There are many industries suitable for laser engraving. Lasers can not only engrave relatively soft objects, such as wood, leather, fabric, and paper, but also hard objects, such as stone, glass, and acrylic.
Advantages of Industrial 4x8 Marble, Granite, Stone Laser Engraving Machine
With a unique design and excellent technique, the stone laser engraving machine is the most popular CNC laser equipment in stone engraving industries and many other hard materials engraving industries.
• Special design for stone, marble, granite, headstone, tombstone, gravestone, and other nonmetal materials.
• Red light pointer to make the laser visible, which can make the engraving work more precise.
• The laser engraver includes all the parts that make it work perfectly: laser tube, water pump, air pump, exhaust fan, wide pipe, linear rail, Lasercut5.3 software, and focus lens reflecting mirrors.
• Channel feeding: the feeding can be unlimited.
Technical Parameters of Industrial 4x8 Marble, Granite, Stone Laser Engraving Machine
| Model | STJ1325S |
| Working Area | 1300mm*2500mm (4x8 feet) |
| Laser Power | 60W/80W |
| Laser Type | Sealed CO2 Glass Laser Tube |
| Cooling Mode | Water Cooling and Protection System |
| Compatible Software | CorelDraw, Photoshop, AutoCAD |
| Position System | Red Light Pointer |
| Graphic Format Supported | PLT, DXF, BMP, AI, DST, JPG |
| Driving System | Stepper Motor |
| Working voltage | 220V, 50Hz or 110V, 60Hz |
Features of Industrial 4x8 Marble, Granite, Stone Laser Engraving Machine
• The professional laser stone engraving machine is equipped with an aluminum table, which can hold heavy-duty stone material.
• The laser engraving head can be customized with different lengths, which will solve the thickness problems successfully.
• Laser stone engraving machine can be equipped with a dual table for stone and for other materials cutting.
• The machine's body front is equipped with wheels, which can load big stones easily.
Industrial 4x8 Marble, Granite, Stone Laser Engraving Machine Details
Laser Stone Etching Machine Auxiliary Wheel
RD Controller for Laser Stone Etching Machine
CO2 Laser Tube
Length Adjustable Laser Head
Applications of Industrial 4x8 Marble, Granite, Stone Laser Engraving Machine
Applicable Materials
Non-metal materials such as stone, marble, granite, gravestone, headstone, tombstone, acrylic, glass, ceramics wood, bamboo, double color boards, paper and leather.
Applicable Industries
• Monument (tombstone/gravestone) industry.
• Model industry (construction models, aviation and navigation models, and wooden toys).
• Advertisement.
• Decoration.
• Arts and Crafts.
• Electronics.
Industrial 4x8 Laser Engraved Marble, Granite, Stone Projects
The Best Stones for Laser Engraving Machine
Personalized laser stone engravings are becoming more and more popular in today's society. The thick, hard, wear-resistant, durable, elegant, and luxurious characteristics of stone carvings are unique in the fields of personalized prizes, gifts, decorations, and other fields. There are many kinds of raw materials and rich resources for stone carvings. The texture, color, and texture of many varieties of stone are suitable for laser engraving with good results. Among them, there are 6 most common types of stone:
Slate Stone
It is another natural stone suitable for laser engraving. Compared with marble, the texture of slate is slightly softer and the surface is slightly rougher. However, because slate is derived from sedimentary stone, with fine texture and uniform color, laser engraving products are widely used in wall decoration, floor, and so on.
Marble
In personalized sculptures, marble is the most ideal raw material of choice. The texture of marble is good and the color is solemn. Whether it is dark black, jet black, dark green, rose, or gray and white, it gives people a very elegant beauty. Therefore, based on many traditional products, it has recently developed to engrave photos, images, and texts with laser technology, which is very popular.
Granite
The texture is very hard, wear-resistant, and durable, and is widely used in prizes, souvenirs, and buildings. Granite belongs to the limestone system, its obvious feature is that it has spots, the color gives people the appearance of "salt and pepper", and some also have the texture of marble. Granite can accept a variety of polishing and finishing treatments. Because of the many colors of granite, especially black and white granite is often used for laser engraving on text, images, etc., which is very attractive.
Sandstone
As the name suggests, sand is formed by the natural condensation of fine sand. The color of the sand is produced by the process of washing and grinding the minerals with the hard rock. Since the sandstone is a mixture of various specifications, the texture is relatively soft, and the effect of laser engraving is very good.
Tuff
This type of stone evolved from the slow precipitation of geothermal heat. The carbon dioxide bubbles "holes" produced by the thermal temperature of mineral-rich mineral water have a unique beauty, and the main color is dark brown. Or black. In addition, dark red and dark brown are also common, mostly used for floor and corner decoration.
Inland Pebbles (River Pebbles of River Rock)
River pebbles of river rock have been washed by water for many years at the bottom of the river bed, making them smooth, round, and bright. The ideal type of river rock is a flat, high-gloss black. The river stone laser engraving will gain a place in the fields of corporate gifts, park decoration, and so on.
STJ1325S is mainly used for heavy stone with large format engraving, if your stone is small, we also have STJ9060 and STJ1390 for option:
Things To Consider
If you are involved in this industry, it is necessary to learn and master some identification and processing knowledge and techniques to achieve professional-level results. The 1st thing to consider is the texture of the stone. Color and size should also be considered when using laser engraving techniques. Whether the engraving effect is good or not depends on the correct adjustment and control of the power and speed of the laser system. Among them, a common problem is that the motor power is too high during engraving, which is easy to cause a blurred appearance and can not achieve the ideal color. This method is called the direct engraving method, that is, the method of changing the color of the photos, patterns to be engraved are directly projected onto the stone.
Aside from direct engraving, added color may be placed on stone engravings. Penetration of the color is caused mostly by pore penetration by emission and polishing caused by lasers. The most common popular colors of added color for carved stone products are gold, silver, and copper. The product with nice effect, added color is as light as ink writes. After the color has been cast, it's then buffed and polished to create a real showpiece. With a laser engraver to permanently engrave scanned valuable photos and pictures onto the stone, a forever keepsake. It's the quickest-growing sector of the laser engraving market and is gaining ever more widespread acceptance.
How to Choose the Best Laser Engraving Machine for Stone?
To choose the best laser engraving machine for stone, precision, power, and compatibility must be considered very carefully. There is a machine for every need, so it is important to evaluate the most important parameters in order to make the most efficient and durable decision. Read the following for the guide steps that are essential.
• Identify the Kind of Stone: The reaction of granite, marble, slate, and quartz to laser engraving differs. So, harder stones require a higher power laser while softer stones can be engraved with moderate power. Knowing your material will help in choosing the optimal machine.
• Select the Appropriate Laser Type: CO2 lasers ranging from 40W-150W are good for engraving softer stones, but their capability to carve deep is limited. Fiber lasers have power ranging from 20W-100W and are optimal for metal but poor when it comes to deeply engraving stones. The application of stones using diode lasers is not imaginable due to their weakness. For fine detail, UV lasers are preferable but can be costly. Deep and lasting engravings are made with high-power CO2 lasers (100W and above) which remain unsurpassed.
• Think about the Laser Wattage and Power: The minimum requirement for stone engraving is an 80W CO2 laser, but for nuances, an even higher 100W is recommended. For mass production, 150W and above guarantees high speed of operation and depth of cuts with a stone laser machine.
• Verify Engraving Bed Size: The choice of engraving bed size should match the dimensions of large stone slabs by selecting machines with either 600x900mm or 1300x900mm beds. A laser system with a 400x600mm bed should be used to engrave detailed small workpieces.
• Assess Cooling & Ventilation Systems: The process of cutting stone releases heat and creates dust due to which proper ventilation and cooling systems need to be evaluated. Proper water cooling systems with chiller systems and ventilation through exhaust fans enhance laser machine performance while extending their lifespan.
• Evaluate Software Compatibility & Features: Review the software compatibility along with features especially LightBurn, RDWorks, and EZCAD which provide user-friendly design control. Select devices with adjustable power capabilities and automatic focus and rotary interface components for broad usage options.
• Balance Budget and After-Sales Support: Your budget should match the quality of your purchase along with your retention services. Customers should opt for brands that offer dependable products and warranties technical support and replacement parts to maximize equipment longevity.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Engraving Stone with a Laser Machine
Users who operate laser machines toward stone engraving tasks demand high precision although mistakes during the process from experienced users can diminish the quality of end products. The following list shows the leading pitfalls which should be disregarded.
Incorrect Laser Power and Speed Settings
The stone surface can suffer from burning through excessive power usage and useless engravings occur when using insufficient power. To achieve clear and deep engravings test various rates of power with speed for finding the optimal setting. A proper calibration of settings to match the stone material hardness will produce reliable engraving outcomes.
Not Testing on a Sample Piece
Running tests beforehand prevents costly material mistakes because skipping these tests creates possible errors. The testing of a single piece using your equipment provides an opportunity to set the correct parameters which protects against mishaps in your final project. Testing allows professionals to identify unwanted surface cracks and imperfections which enable them to avoid starting a job until these issues are resolved.
Poor Focus Adjustment
Improper settings result in unclear as well as irregular engravings. The focus should be verified twice to achieve exact and detailed engraving results when working on complex designs. Correct adjustment of the focus lens improves engraving visibility by increasing the strength contrast and depth effect.
Ignoring Material Variations
Stones react differently to the processes of laser engraving. Investigation of physical characteristics in each stone material will enable you to optimize the laser settings for successful outcomes. The attempted depth of engraving determines the appropriate power setting for soft marble stones requires different settings compared to granite and quartz stones.
Inadequate Cooling and Ventilation
Stone engraving produces heat along with dust particles that create problems in quality outcomes and threaten the laser lens integrity. A suitable exhaust system removes stone dust particles which extends the operational life of your machine. The laser path will become inconsistent when dust builds up because there is no proper ventilation system.
Using Low-Resolution Designs
Even when using low-quality image files and vector designs with jagged edges the engravings will not obtain optimal quality. Images that get converted to high-definition black-and-white files deliver more precise engraving outcomes. The result of using vector graphics with defined outlines produces both clear borders and precise detailed engraved outputs.
Neglecting Regular Maintenance
Engravings lose effectiveness and quality due when lenses or mirrors become contaminated or ventilation systems get blocked. The machine performs decisively and creates dependable outcomes when operators maintain it by regular inspections and cleaning practices. Your laser engraver benefits from increased lifespan together with heat preservation through routine upkeep procedures.
