What is the difference between laser annealing and engraving?

Annealing creates a color mark on metal surfaces through heat without removing material, ideal for permanent marks on stainless steel. Engraving removes material to create deep, tactile marks suitable for various materials.

How does marking depth affect processing time?

Deeper marks typically require more laser passes or slower speeds, which increases processing time. In this calculator, deeper depths reduce the modeled speed to reflect this effect. For production efficiency, use the minimum depth that still meets your durability requirements.

What laser power is recommended for marking?

Fiber lasers in the tens of watts range are commonly used for many metal marking applications, while higher-power systems are often chosen for deep engraving or higher throughput. Always follow your equipment suppliers recommendations and enter the actual power you use into the calculator.

How to price laser marking services?

Start by calculating your total hourly cost (depreciation, electricity, labor, overhead) and how many pieces you can process per hour. Then choose a profit margin, any setup fees, and any volume discounts that match your market and risk level. Use this calculator to see how those assumptions affect your price per piece and total quote.

What is fill density in laser marking?

Fill density refers to the number of marking lines per millimeter. Higher density creates darker, more solid marks but takes longer. Lower density is faster but may appear lighter. Adjust this value and re-run the calculator to see how it changes time and cost.

Laser Marking & Engraving Cost Calculator

Estimate costs for laser marking, engraving, and etching.⚠️ Estimates only - validate with test runs

Job Parameters

Ready to Calculate

Enter your job parameters and click "Calculate Cost" to see detailed time and cost analysis.

Optimization Tips

Speed Optimization

• Use minimum depth needed for durability
• Reduce fill density for faster marking
• Batch similar jobs to minimize setup
• Use higher power lasers for production

Cost Reduction

• Aim for high annual equipment utilization that matches your workload
• Use off-peak electricity rates
• Regular maintenance prevents downtime
• Train operators for faster setup

Quality Balance

• Test settings before production runs
• Match depth to application requirements
• Choose appropriate marking method
• Consider material reflectivity

Pricing Strategy

• Consider volume discounts for larger orders where appropriate
• Charge setup fees for small batches
• Premium pricing for rush jobs
• Bundle related marking services

Related Tools

Hourly Rate Calculator

Calculate true hourly operating costs

Processing Parameters

Comprehensive parameter tables

Power Consumption

Energy cost reference tables

When to use this laser marking calculator

✓ Best suited for:

Metal and coated-metal part marking (text, logos, IDs)
Standard fiber marking jobs with clear areas in mm²
Depths in roughly the 0.05–0.3 mm range
Comparing time and cost between different quality settings

✗ Not ideal for:

High-density QR codes or micro text
Photo engraving and grayscale images
Very deep engraving (>0.5 mm) on hard materials
Exotic materials (ceramics, some plastics) without test data

Important: These are estimates only

This calculator uses simplified speed tables for common fiber marking setups. Actual time depends on laser type, power, beam quality, material condition, and detailed artwork. Treat results as a starting point and validate with test runs on your own equipment before final quoting.

Very low fill densities can produce incomplete marks, and very deep or multi-pass jobs may require more conservative settings than this model assumes. See processing parameters reference for detailed settings guidance.

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