Wood in Retail Applications
Laser engravers are so accurate that they can even mark paper-thin, delicate wood sheets with accuracy and precision. Laser engraving wood with a CO2 laser takes advantage of the extremely high energy carried by the laser, which is essentially a concentrated beam of light. The energy from the laser heats the wood material rapidly, resulting in its almost instant vaporisation.
Since the energy of the laser is confined within its beam, the material surrounding the target areas remain unaffected and will show no visible scorches or burn marks. The ability of a wood engraving machine to handle complex contours have allowed designers to make wooden parts with highly complex geometries. The processes of laser engraving and laser cutting are highly customisable. The laser settings can be calibrated to produce engravings of different depths and contrasts. Similarly, the intensity of the laser can be reduced when working with a softwood like pine and balsa, with the higher intensity settings reserved for hardwoods like birch or walnut.
Laser cutting and engraving have made the production of furniture, inlays, and other interior decoration items much easier and faster.