47 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 261 - October / November 2025 endless.” So, what does Jater recommend from the Trotec range of solutions? The manufacturer has recently launched the Speedy 100 Cross, the first industrial grade diode laser on the market, which Jater says fits nicely in the metal marking world. “Historically, most metal marking lasers are galvo style machines, so they have a very small marking field but very highspeed marking,” he says, continuing: “The Speedy 100 Cross has a 609mm x 305mm marking area and much lower price tag, so has proved very popular since its launch a few months ago.” For further insight into metallic signage, see page 51 for a dedicated feature on this market. Accuracy and Rigidity Another company in this segment is LKH Tools, which recently showcased its new solutions to visitors at the first-ever edition of The Sign Show in September. Liam Hodson, tooling and machine consultant at LKH Tools, explains engraving fine details will always require good machine accuracy and rigidity, and therefore ensuring your equipment is up to scratch should be of paramount importance to signage companies operating in this market. “Machines which are worn will not only give poor results but also shorten the tool life,” Hodson explains, continuing: “Upgrading and maintaining the machine is just as important as the correct tool choice. “The harder the material is, the more rigid the machine needs to be. Vibration or excessive machine movement can damage the cutting edge and produce poor results. Attention should be paid to the correct settings and ensuring the correct engraving tool geometry is chosen. Engraving laminates such as Rowmark are of course much easier to engrave successfully than hardened steel for example and will require a machine suitable for the work along with the correct tool.” Hodson goes on to say how special coatings on the tool will also reduce heat and assist with a clean cut in metals. With this, he draws attention to engraving tools from Crown Norge, which have a super thin coating – only 0.5 micron thick – and will assist with extending the tool life in hard materials. Hodson expands: “These should be used in conjunction with coolant or lubricant especially on aluminium and stainless steel to ensure any heat is dissipated during the cutting process. The combination of the cutting angle, tip angle, and tip relief angle all play a crucial role in obtaining the best finish and tool life. “Crown Norge engraving tools have been developed over many years and are used in a variety of materials on many different machine types, from large heavy industrial engraving machines to lightweight desktop systems. This could be producing a stamp for The Royal Mint, an engraved plaque on the side of building, or a technical sign for oil rig applications.” On the subject of application type, Hodson opens up on the type of demand that LKH Tools has been seeing for its solutions in recent months. He says customers have been making use of its larger V-Tools for deeper engraving and carving of thicker materials. This, he says, could be in natural woods or plastics for larger carving effects. In addition, LKH Tools has witnessed more customers using its Micro Graver range for brass, aluminium, and composite materials for labelling or product identification purposes. As for future development within the engraving sector, Hodson says while engraving tool geometry has not really changed, coating technology has moved on quite some way from the gold-coloured TiN (Titanium Nitride) coating that was ETCHING AND ENGRAVING | ROB FLETCHER It is very easy to look at the specification sheet of machines and compare the headline statistics, but what is really important is how you want to use a machine Etching uses chemicals, lasers, or abrasive blasting to remove surface layers, while engraving uses a cutting tool or laser to carve into the material Factoid ▼Trotec offers a range of laser engraving solutions to the market
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