? What do you need marked?

A part we machineMark it in the same order — the marking is planned against the datum the part was cut from.Machine and mark from one order →A part already madeSend us your finished parts. Marking is a subtractive operation, so it removes material rather than adding it.Check if your part qualifies →Comparing marking methodsLaser engraving against laser marking, etching and printed labels — the difference is whether the mark is cut in or burnt on.Compare the marking methods →

SURFACE FINISHING

Laser Engraving Service

CO2 laser Fiber laser Anodised aluminium Serial numbers & QR

A subtractive process that uses a focused laser beam to cut a permanent mark into a surface — graphics, text, serial numbers, barcodes and QR codes. Unlike a coating, it removes material instead of adding it, so the dimensional effect is far smaller than any plated or painted layer.

Get a quote Check if my part qualifies

±0.13 mmDimensional tolerance of the marking

0 – 0.2 mmLaser kerf — the depth of material removed

CO2 and fiberTwo laser technologies for different substrates

PermanentCut into the surface, not printed on it

Laser engraving head cutting a permanent mark into a metal part — Laser engraving cuts the mark into the surface, so it does not rub off, fade or peel the way a printed label does.

Sequence

Marking is last — but which last depends on the coating

If the part is coated as well as marked, the order of the two operations decides what the mark looks like. Get it wrong and the mark is either buried or burnt away.

STEP 1MachineMill, turn or fabricate to drawing

STEP 2DeburrA burr across the mark area shows in the finished mark

STEP 3Coat, if the part is coatedAnodize, plate or paint before marking where the mark should cut through

STEP 4Laser engraveYou are here — kerf 0–0.2 mm

STEP 5InspectLegibility, contrast, position against datum

The order matters more than it looks. Engraving after anodizing cuts through the anodized layer and reveals the metal colour underneath — that is how you get a high-contrast mark on anodised aluminium. Engrave first and the anodizing buries it. See materials and mark colour.

Laser beam marking a metal plate, with a QR code and barcode already marked beside it — Marking a QR code and a barcode into a metal plate — the mark is cut, not printed.

Close-up of a finished laser engraving mark showing the cut depth and contrast — Up close: the kerf is 0–0.2 mm deep, so the mark cannot rub off or peel.

Fit check

Can we mark your part? Three things decide it

Substrate, mark area and geometry. The third one is the one that catches people out.

Substrate and mark colour

Metal — black or dark marks
Acrylic — frosty white finish; wood and leather — darker
Glass — frosted appearance; anodised aluminium — mark cuts through to the metal colour below

The colour of the mark is set by the substrate, not by an ink you choose. See the full table.

Size and mark area

Marking tolerance is ±0.13 mm — position it against a datum, not a free edge
Kerf is 0–0.2 mm, so the mark is a shallow cut rather than a deep feature
Maximum part size for the marking bed: To confirm

Give us the dimension from a datum to the mark, not just the text to be marked.

Geometry

Flat faces mark most predictably — curved and cylindrical surfaces need focus correction
Deep recesses may be out of the laser's focal range
Matte and dark substrates give lower contrast than polished metal

Tell us the surface orientation of the mark area — see design constraints.

Specifications

Laser engraving: ±0.13 mm positioning across a 0 – 0.2 mm kerf

These figures come from our published service description for this process.

Dimensional tolerance

±0.13 mmPosition of the mark relative to the datum you specify.

Laser kerf

0 – 0.2 mmDepth of material removed by the cut.

Technologies

CO2 and fiberTwo laser types, chosen to suit the substrate and the mark.

Mark type

SubtractiveMaterial is removed, not deposited — the mark cannot peel off.

Mark colour

Set by substrateBlack on metal, frosted on glass, metal-showing on anodised aluminium.

Max part size · lead time

To confirmBed size and schedule.

Reading the tolerance correctly: ±0.13 mm is the positioning tolerance of the mark, and 0–0.2 mm is the depth of the cut. Neither is a coating thickness — marking removes material where a coating adds it.

Mark depth

What engraving takes off — and why it matters where that mark sits

Engraving is subtractive. It removes a shallow layer, which is an order of magnitude less than any coating process adds.

Comparison	Dimension change	Where that is acceptable	Where it is not
Laser engraving	0 – 0.2 mm removed	Any surface where a shallow mark is wanted — flat, non-functional faces.	Sealing faces, bearing surfaces, and anywhere a crack could initiate.
Laser engraving	±0.13 mm positioning	Features located from a datum you specify.	Marks positioned from a raw edge or from a feature that moves between parts.
For contrast — a coating	Adds material	Shown for scale: plating adds roughly what engraving removes, in the opposite direction.	—

Kerf and tolerance as published. Engraving removes up to 0.2 mm; a plated or painted layer adds its thickness instead. The two are not interchangeable on a critical fit.

Mark sitting on a sealing face or a bearing surface? Tell us and we will move it — or mark a different face.

Get a quote

CO2 or fiber

Which laser suits your substrate

We run both CO2 and fiber technology. The substrate and the mark you want decide which one is used.

Fiber laser

For metal

The route for marking metals and anodised aluminium. Produces the black or dark marks listed for metal substrates, and cuts through an anodized layer to expose the metal colour beneath.

Best for: steel, stainless, anodized aluminium, metal serial numbers

Not for: organic substrates like wood, leather and most clear acrylics.

CO2 laser

For organics

The route for acrylic, wood, leather, glass and coated surfaces. Produces the frosty white mark on acrylic and the frosted appearance on glass.

Best for: acrylic, wood, leather, glass, painted surfaces

Not for: bare metal — a CO2 beam is reflected rather than absorbed.

Not sure which laser your substrate needs? Tell us the material and what the mark has to do — traceable serial, logo, or high-contrast text.

Get a quote

Pick or avoid

When laser engraving is the right call — and when it is not

Pick laser engraving when

The mark has to be permanent — serial numbers, lot codes, QR or barcodes for traceability.
The part is metal, acrylic, wood, leather, glass or anodised aluminium.
The mark has to survive handling, cleaning and the part's own service life.
You need high-contrast marking on anodised aluminium — engraving exposes the metal colour underneath.
You want a mark that does not add a layer or a label that could fall off.

Avoid laser engraving when

The mark sits on a sealing face, bearing surface or fatigue-critical area — engraving removes material and creates a stress riser.
You need a coloured mark — the colour is set by the substrate, not by the process.
The substrate is a material that will not mark consistently — see materials.
The surface is highly polished and any mark would be unacceptable aesthetically — see polishing first.

Need a mark plus a colour finish? Send the drawing and we will sequence the two operations so neither ruins the other.

Get a quote

Design constraints

Where the mark should and should not go

Three variables: where you put the mark, which surface it sits on, and the order against any coating.

Mark location

Position the mark against a datum, not freehand on a face. The tolerance is ±0.13 mm from whatever reference you give us — and a raw edge is a poor reference.

No-go surfaces

Do not put a mark on a sealing face, a bearing surface, an o-ring groove or a fatigue-critical section. Engraving removes material and creates a stress riser.

Surface orientation

Flat faces mark most predictably. Curved and cylindrical surfaces need focus correction, and deep recesses may fall outside the focal range.

Order against coating

Engrave after anodizing to cut through to the metal colour beneath. Engraving before anodizing buries the mark under the new oxide layer.

Contrast

Mark colour is set by the substrate: black on metal, frosted on glass, darker on wood and leather, frosty white on acrylic. Matte and dark substrates give lower contrast.

Data format

Send the mark as vector art or a font file, plus the exact text and any serial-number format. A screenshot cannot be reproduced accurately.

Drawing notes

What to write on the drawing so the mark lands in the right place

The location and the data format are the two things that decide whether the mark comes back right.

1.  LASER ENGRAVE THE FOLLOWING:    - PART NUMBER: ____________    - SERIAL NUMBER: ____________  (FORMAT: ____________)    - QR / DATAMATRIX: SEE ATTACHED FILE2.  MARK POSITION: ____________ mm FROM DATUM ____    (SEE VIEW A. FLAT FACE REQUIRED.)3.  MARK TO BE LEGIBLE AFTER FINISHING OPERATIONS.    ENGRAVE AFTER ANODIZING / PLATING.  (delete if not applicable)4.  DO NOT MARK SEALING FACES, BEARING SURFACES OR    O-RING GROOVES.5.  TEXT HEIGHT: ____ mm.  FONT: ____________    SUPPLY VECTOR FILE FOR LOGOS.

Examples only. A mark without a datum and a text height cannot be reproduced to +/-0.13 mm — those two lines are the ones that matter.

Materials

What mark you get, by substrate

The colour of the mark is set by the material and the laser, not by an ink. This table is the published result for each substrate.

Substrate	Mark result	Laser	Notes
Metal	Black or dark marks	Fiber	Typical for serial numbers, part numbers and QR codes.
Anodized aluminium	Mark exposes the metal colour beneath	Fiber	Engraving removes the anodized layer. This is how high-contrast marks are made on anodised parts — so engrave after anodizing.
Acrylic	Frosty white finish	CO2	A bright, high-contrast mark on clear and coloured acrylic.
Glass	Frosted appearance	CO2	Frosted, permanent mark without ink or labels.
Wood	Darker	CO2	The mark darkens with the burn — contrast depends on the species and grain.
Leather	Darker	CO2	Common for personalisation and branding.
Not listed	Ask first	—	Some coatings and plastics blister or discolour. Send a sample and we will test it.

Marking a material that is not on this list? Send a sample part and we will run a test mark before quoting the batch.

Get a quote

Applications

Where laser engraving is used

The common thread is a mark that has to still be there years later, on a part that gets handled.

Branding and identification

Logos, ratings and certification marks cut into the part, where a printed label would be rubbed off or counterfeited.

Laser engraved anodized aluminium showing the bare metal colour through the anodized layer

QR and datamatrix codes

Machine-readable codes for tracking and traceability, engraved after anodizing so they stay legible.

QA and documentation

What you get back with the parts

Purchasing usually needs paper as well as parts. Here is what we can issue today and what is still being confirmed.

Available

Legibility and position

Mark checked for legibility and position against the specified datum.

Available

Kerf and tolerance

Cut depth within 0–0.2 mm and position within ±0.13 mm of the datum.

To confirm

First-article sample

A marked sample part for approval before the batch runs.

To confirm

Serial number record

A log of the serial numbers marked per batch.

Laser marking guides and comparisons

Longer answers on the questions this page only has room to state.

Laser marking: processes, types and applications

How marking differs from engraving and etching, and where each is used.

Laser etching vs engraving

Depth, contrast and durability — the three things that separate the two.

Laser engraving for metal parts

Marking metals specifically: contrast, depth and what to specify.

Laser engraving stainless steel

Why stainless marks differently from carbon steel, and what to expect.

Anodizing service

The coating that laser marking is usually paired with on aluminium parts.

All surface finishing options

Compare all 20 finishes by roughness, thickness, corrosion and cost.

FAQ

Laser engraving FAQ: the questions engineers ask us

Does engraving change my part dimensions?

Yes, but far less than any coating. Engraving removes a kerf of 0–0.2 mm at the mark only, and the mark is positioned to ±0.13 mm. Compare that with a plated or painted layer that adds its thickness across the whole surface.

When should I engrave relative to anodizing?

After. Engraving cuts through the anodized layer and exposes the metal colour underneath, which is how you get a high-contrast mark on anodised aluminium. Engrave before anodizing and the new oxide layer buries the mark.

Can I get a coloured mark?

No — the mark colour is set by the substrate, not by the process. Metal gives black or dark marks, acrylic a frosty white, glass a frosted appearance, and wood and leather darken. Anodised aluminium shows the metal colour where the oxide is cut away.

Which materials can you mark?

Metal, anodized aluminium, acrylic, wood, leather and glass. If your material is not on the list, send a sample — some coatings and plastics blister or discolour under the beam.

Can you mark a curved or cylindrical surface?

It can be done, but flat faces mark most predictably. Curved surfaces need focus correction and deep recesses may fall outside the focal range. Tell us the surface orientation of the mark area.

Is the mark permanent?

Yes. Engraving is subtractive — the mark is cut into the material rather than printed on top of it, so it does not peel, rub off or fade the way a label or printed mark does.

Can you mark a serial number that changes per part?

Yes — send the serial format and the per-part data. Marking sits within ±0.13 mm of the datum regardless of the text content. A serial-number log per batch is being confirmed.

Should I put a part number on a sealing face?

No. Engraving removes material and creates a stress riser, so keep marks off sealing faces, bearing surfaces, o-ring grooves and fatigue-critical sections. See design constraints.

Get your laser engraving quote

Upload the drawing with the mark content, the datum dimension and a vector file for any logo or code. Tell us the substrate so we can pick the laser.

Get a quote Machine and mark in one order

What to send us

Drawing — 2D and 3D files, with the mark position dimensioned from a datum.
Mark content — exact text, part number, serial format, or the logo as a vector file.
Substrate — the material, so we can choose CO2 or fiber.
Text height and font — a mark without a height cannot be reproduced to ±0.13 mm.
Quantity — number of units, and whether the serial numbers change per part.
Coating order — if the part is also anodized, plated or painted, tell us the sequence.

All uploads are secure and confidential. Engineers review and reply with a quotation and lead time.