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Are laser marking and engraving the same thing?

Often, laser marking and engraving are used interchangeably, but they refer to two different processes.

 

Both imprint an indelible mark on a material with a laser beam, but engraving vaporizes it, while marking melts it. 

Handheld Laser Engraver / marker

Handheld Laser Engraver/marker

Battery Powered Handheld Laser Engraver/marker

Magnetic bracket Handheld Laser Engraver/marker

Slide extension Handheld Laser Engraver/marker

MOPA stands for Master Oscillator Power Amplifier. These lasers use a master oscillator to generate the initial beam, which is then amplified through multiple power stages.

Non-MOPA lasers, (Q-switch, Gain-Switched,..), on the other hand, rely on a slower and less tunable laser sources to precisely steer the laser beam for marking or engraving