The easiest way to think about a LASER is to think of it as a light source, like a light bulb.  However, a light bulb will emit energy out all around it.  A laser, on the other hand, puts energy out of a tube, usually 1/2" diameter.  The process is similar to using a magnifying glass in the sun.  The energy is collected from a larger area and focused onto a fine Spot Size, where the energy is the most concentrated. Move the magnifying glass up and down and you lose concentration of the energy to burn or vaporize a leaf or a piece of paper.

Lasers were first born in laboratories where scientists discovered that, by creating a light source, through a variety of methods, and focusing the energy, one could produce a medium powerful enough to affect certain materials. They named these first light sources Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation or LASER. 

It didn't take long for industry to begin to notice, so out of the labs and onto the Early laser pioneers experimented with several types of methods of generating the light source, thus creating several types of lasers. For the engraving industry, CO2 lasers, named for the gasses used to created the light source, are the tool of choice.

Like light bulbs, lasers are rated by Wattage.  Simply put, the higher the wattage, the more powerful the tool.  Engraving lasers generally range in Power from 10 - 100 watts.

Using a laser to engrave is a fairly simple process. The laser emits the Beam of light.  The beam goes though a corner bock and is turned by a mirror and out to a focusing assembly which focuses the beam down to the material, where it actually vaporizes the material.  Features such as power, Speed, and Resolution are easily controlled by the operator via the machine or the pc.

Today's equipment has evolved greatly from the early systems which were large, cumbersome, and expensive.  By combining laser technology with computer technology, manufacturers have built them to be safe and easy to learn, operate and maintain.  Laser engraving has now been around for over 20 years and the real benefit to engravers has been its' great versatility. With price tags that have fallen dramatically over the years, lasers have definitely taken their place as a unique and viable tool for the engraving industry.