Skip to content The technique of etching or engraving designs onto custom silicone products is known as silicone engraving. Silicone is a polymer that is widely utilized in many industries, such as consumer goods, automotive, and medical. It is versatile and flexible. Silicone manufacturers say silicone can be engraved for ornamental, identifying, or personalized purposes. It is used in both industry and medicine. Important medical information, such as allergies or medical disorders, can be quickly identified in an emergency by placing vital medical information on silicone bracelets or wristbands. In the industrial sector, silicone parts and components are used for marking and identification. In addition, names, logos, or artwork can be engraved on silicone phone cases, keychains, or promotional goods. Silicone engraving calls for the use of specialized tools, such as CNC machines or laser engravers. To create the required shape or pattern, these equipment use high-precision lasers or cutting tools to remove small layers of silicone from the surface.
An example of a silicon laser engraved product.
Silicone Engraving Materials
All of the equipment and supplies needed to engrave designs on custom silicone products are included in silicone engraving kits, which are complete sets. These kits, which include everything needed to create bespoke engravings on silicone objects, are designed to give individuals or small businesses an easy and affordable way to get started.
Engraving Tool: A portable engraving tool or other devices made especially for using silicone are included in the set. This instrument has interchangeable tips or bits to create a variety of effects, as well as customisable settings to manage the engraving’s width and depth.
Templates and Stencils: Frequently, custom silicone engraving kits come with pre-made templates or stencils that help with creating particular patterns or designs. With the aid of these templates, silicone product manufacturers say novices can begin engraving tasks and guarantee precise and reliable outcomes.
Protective Gear: When using engraving tools, safety is a major concern. To ensure safety when using the tools and handling any chemicals or dust, your custom silicone engraving kits must contain protection gear like masks, gloves, or safety goggles.
Chemical Etchant or Lubricant: Chemical etching technique packages need to have a chemical etchant or lubricant that is appropriate for silicone engraving, depending on the particular engraving technique you employ. These substances can help with etching or cutting and produce the best outcomes.
The majority of silicone engraving kits include an instruction booklet or guide that details how to use the supplies and tools included in the kit step-by-step. This is written by silicone manufacturers. These manuals provide information on troubleshooting as well as strategies and tactics for getting the best engraving results.
Steps for Silicone Laser Engraving
Prepare the Design: Using appropriate design tools, create or choose the design that will be engraved.
Prepare the silicone by inserting it firmly into the laser engraving device.
Establish Parameters: Depending on the type of silicone and the required engraving depth, adjust the laser settings.
Test Engrave: To make sure all the settings are right, test the final design on a small area before engraving it.
Start Engraving: Once the engraving process has begun, make sure the machine is precisely adhering to the design.
Examine and Clean: After engraving, thoroughly examine the outcome and remove any leftover material.
How Does Silicone Laser Engraving Work?
By vaporizing materials into fumes, laser engraving creates deep, lasting imprints. The material’s surface is stripped of layers by the laser beam, which then acts as a chisel to create incising markings. The high heat needed for vaporization is produced by the laser’s concentrated, high-energy strikes on certain regions.
Very streamlined…To generate a strong beam, light is repeatedly concentrated. The three main components of this process are direction, energy, and concentration. Laser engravers are made expressly to concentrate laser light in order to leave a predetermined engraving—typically an image or script—on wood, metal, glass, or other materials. The device cuts material to form the required design by removing the top layer by using concentrated heat produced by lasers. The device projects a laser beam onto an object’s surface by means of strong lasers and mirrors.
To make an impression, the light is calibrated with the proper power level and focal distance. If you apply too little force, the material won’t be cut; if you apply too much force, the object may burn through. Certain lasers are fixed on a track and move over the intended engraving area in a manner akin to inkjet printing on paper.
The ability to engrave larger regions is a benefit of this type of laser. A smaller surface area is the focus of other lasers, which are stationary. This type of laser’s advantage is that, at higher strengths, it tends to engrave more quickly. Unlike other engraving or marking technologies, which require the frequent replacement of bit heads or inks, laser engraving technology eliminates the need for inks and tool bits that come into contact with the engraved surface.
Further Explanation of the Word, Laser
In actuality, the term “laser” is an acronym for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” It functions somewhat like a chisel during engraving, permanently etching letters, numbers, or symbols into the substrate.
Frequently utilized materials for laser engraving include metal, wood, silicones, glass, stone, cloth, and tile. Laser engraving is a technique that leaves visible traces on a surface by selectively eliminating minute layers of material. The interactions between the laser and the material can vary depending on the materials.
The primary mode of action on harder surfaces is ablation, in which the laser’s focused beam removes small particles from the substrate. For example, silicone product manufacturers say engraving can go down to 100μm and deeper, while laser marking is usually shallower.
On custom silicone products, the method works well for marking logos, barcodes, serial numbers, and QR codes. In addition to laser etching, annealing, ablation, and other laser marking technologies, the procedure constitutes a collection of extremely dependable procedures for product decoration, traceability, and identification.
Advantages of Laser Engraving
- Because of its great precision, engravings with greater detail and smoother cuts are possible.
- There is an increase in production pace. Many different materials can be sliced without causing damage to them.
- When compared to CNC machines, this is a more cost-effective choice.
- Any vector programme, such as Adobe Illustrator (AI) or AutoCAD (DWG), is compatible with it.
- In contrast to sawdust, it produces no waste. With the appropriate tools, it’s quite safe to use.
Disadvantages of Silicone Laser Engraving
- Cutting through thicker materials is more challenging or calls for very slow rates.
- Glass and other higher-density materials are uncuttable.
- Any material that you wish to cut has its edges burned by it.
- Certain materials can emit harmful substances, such as plastic.
- Depending on the thickness and density of the material, production speeds aren’t always constant.
- Certain laser cutters use a lot of energy, which raises the price of production.
Few Safety Tips
Put safety first by using safety gear, particularly when operating a laser engraving equipment.
To make sure the engraving produces the intended effects, test it first on a small, discrete portion of the watch band.
Select a design depth and size that are adequate and won’t affect the watch band’s structural integrity.
Conclusion
Numerous businesses might benefit from the numerous customisation options provided by silicone engraving. Whether using chemical etching, laser engraving, pad printing, or manual engraving, knowing the techniques and selecting the best strategy can produce remarkable and customized effects on silicone surfaces. To get the greatest results, silicone manufacturers say to always put safety first and test your techniques before completing the final engraving.
