Laser Engraving On Acrylic: The Art Of Transparency

August 16, 2024

1. Can you laser engrave acrylic?

Yes, laser can engrave acrylic by emitting a focused beam of light and leaving unique results. It is usually a matte, white, or translucent texture that contrasts with the smooth, transparent areas of the acrylic that have not been engraved. This method enables you to create clear markings, text, patterns, and complex designs on acrylic, making it popular for signs, plaques, art pieces, and decorative items.

Advantages of laser engraving on acrylic

High Precision: Intricate and detailed designs.
Smooth, Clean Edges: No rough edges or residue.
Frosted Finish: A clear, frosted effect on the surface.
Versatile Applications: Suitable for signs, art, awards, etc.
Durable Markings: Long-lasting and resistant to wear.

2. Best acrylic for laser engraving - cast acrylic

Cast acrylic produces a frosted, white engraving that contrasts beautifully with the clear or colored background. This makes the engraved design stand out more clearly.

It is suitable for both engraving and cutting with diverse colors, offering clean edges and consistent results.

Cast acrylic is more durable and resistant to cracking during the engraving process compared to extruded acrylic.

Is extruded acrylic suitable for laser engraving?

When engraved, extruded acrylic tends to produce a smoother, more transparent finish rather than the frosted, white effect that cast acrylic offers. This can make the engraved designs less visible and less distinct. Additionally, extruded acrylic has a lower melting point, which can lead to more melting and less precise engravings.

While it can be used for laser cutting with good results, for engraving, especially where detail and contrast are important, cast acrylic is the preferred choice.

3. Lasers suitable for acrylic engraving

CO2 Lasers

CO2 lasers are the most commonly used for acrylic engraving due to their wavelength, which is well-absorbed by acrylic. They produce clear, precise engravings with a frosted white finish. CO2 lasers are versatile, offering the ability to both engrave and cut acrylic with smooth, clean edges.

Diode Lasers

While less powerful than CO2 lasers, diode lasers can engrave thinner acrylic sheets. However, they are less efficient for deeper cuts or thicker materials. Diode lasers are typically used for smaller, detailed engraving projects.

UV Lasers

UV lasers can be used for very fine and detailed engraving on acrylic, particularly for small text or intricate designs. They are not suitable for cutting but offer high precision for surface marking.

4. What can you create?

The transparent texture of acrylic and the frosted white finish after engraving are its unique features, making it ideal for creating many interesting products that have a striking visual impact.

Laser-engraved acrylic ornaments and decorations can feature intricate designs, making them perfect for personalized gifts or unique home decor.

Acrylic plaques and awards engraved with precise text and graphics provide a modern and elegant way to recognize achievements.

Laser engraving on acrylic transforms photos into striking, frosted images that capture details beautifully, ideal for commemorative displays.

Engraved acrylic panels combined with LED lighting create illuminated signs and decorative lights with a glowing effect that highlights the design.

More laser engraving acrylic projects on our website>>

How to prepare acrylic for laser engraving?

Clean the Acrylic

Ensure the acrylic sheet is clean and free from dust, fingerprints, or any debris. Wipe it down with a soft cloth to prevent any imperfections in the engraving.

Keep the Protective Film

Leave the protective film on the acrylic while engraving to prevent scratches. If your acrylic doesn’t have a protective film, you can apply masking tape to both sides.

Position the Acrylic on the Laser Bed

Place the acrylic sheet flat on the laser bed, ensuring it is secure and does not move during the engraving process. If necessary, use weights or clamps to hold it in place.

5. How to laser engrave acrylic?

Case study: Making an acrylic laser engraving award

Nothing explains better than hands-on practice. We’ve introduced important considerations for engraving acrylic through a real-world case of creating an acrylic medal. You can also follow along by opening your software like lightburn and laser machine. Try it out yourself!

Mirror the Image for Acrylic Engraving: Since engraving is usually done on the backside, mirroring may be necessary.

Confirm Unidirectional or Bidirectional Fill: Because the effects differ, with unidirectional fill providing better results but taking more time.

DPI Setting: Typically set to 300. The higher the DPI, the more lines there are, and the deeper the engraving will be.

Enable Strong Air Assist for Cutting: This reduces the risk of fire.

Advanced Options: Ensure the slope value is set to “0”.

Cutting settings

Engraving settings

Set the starting position to the midpoint for easier subsequent positioning and border tracing.

Click the “Send” button to send the file to the machine. Use a simple and easy-to-find name for the file. Click “Confirm” to complete the file preparation.

Place the material on the honeycomb board. Use the machine’s auto-focus feature or manually focus using the appropriate focusing tool.

Select the named file, check if the file pattern is complete, and once confirmed, it will be enlarged and displayed on the left side of the screen.

Use the border tracing feature to confirm the appropriate range and position. Ensure the engraving area is fully on the sample surface. Click the “Position” button, then click the “Start” button.

Engraving process

Cutting process

After processing, remove the kraft paper from the back of the acrylic sheet, rinse it with water, and wipe it clean.

How to engrave clean acrylic by reducing "frosting"?

During laser heating, acrylic vaporizes and recondenses on the material’s surface, creating a frosty, rough residue around engraved designs, cuts, or outlines, which affects the final appearance. This phenomenon is known as frosting. The following methods can help address this issue.

Engrave from bottom to top

This approach minimizes the amount of residue expelled from previously engraved areas, as these residues may redeposit on the warm material and become difficult to clean.

Apply dish soap to the surface

Dish soap acts as a flame retardant and can effectively prevent the acrylic surface from warping and producing frosty residues. Before engraving, evenly apply a thin layer of dish soap to the acrylic surface. Afterward, gently rinse off the excess soap to achieve a clean finish. It not only prevents surface warping but also helps keep the material clean. You can also apply this technique when engraving other plastic materials.

The left shows untreated, the right shows the surface protected with dish soap

6. Best laser engraver for acrylic

CO2 laser machines are undoubtedly the most effective laser engravers for acrylic. Diode lasers, with their lower power, have limited engraving efficiency and are only suitable for smaller projects. UV lasers can finely engrave acrylic but are not suitable for cutting. In contrast, CO2 lasers offer higher power and greater versatility, making them ideal for a wide range of acrylic engraving projects, regardless of size or creative requirements.

Thunder Bolt Laser Engraver

You need a high-performance CO2 laser machine to power your acrylic engraving business! Our Thunder Bolt laser machine is an excellent acrylic laser engraving machine. With speeds up to 1500mm/s, the desktop Thunder Bolt offers great value while allowing you to create finely engraved acrylic products.

The upgraded Thunder Bolt Pro, with speeds up to 2000mm/s, is larger in size, enabling you to work on bigger sheets while delivering exceptional precision in engraving. It’s a powerful tool for your laser business.

7. Parameters for laser engraving acrylic

Different parameters can produce varying results on laser engraving on acrylic. Using the Thunder Bolt machine as an example, we have set different parameters for engraving images, text, and labels for your reference.

Processing	Speed (mm/s)	Power(%)	Hatch type	DPI	Blow type
shallow carving (image)	500	15	Horizontal Double	300	weak
shallow carving (text)	500	18	Horizontal Double	300	weak
shallow carving (label)	500	20	Horizontal Double	300	weak