There's more to the surface appeal of engraving than just being able to etch logos and intricate designs or make shapes and letters. “Engravers allow sign makers to bring ADA and dimensional fabrication processes in-house, [meaning] they can control lead times, [ensure] quality, and reduce costs,” says Terri Bristow, marketing specialist at GravoTech Inc.
事实上，在标识产业中，雕刻技术也可以用于制作标识的形状或者是一些发光字，如果碰到一些较为复杂的设计，这种技术也可以派上用场。GravoTech公司的营销专家Terri Bristow说“雕刻技术使得标识制造商能够在室内就能够使用ADA技术以及对尺寸进行规范。这样的话，他们就能够控制交货时间、确保质量、降低成本。”
There are two types of engraving equipment used for sign making: computerized rotary and laser (CO2 and fiber).Rotary devices use fixtures, jigs, and various-sized tools to make deep markings on metal and non-metal materials (except softer, flexible materials). Bristow says rotary engravers are robust systems ideal for cutting dimensional letters, printed parts and shapes for P-O-P displays, routed HDU and wood, and aluminium and stainless steel arch elements.
通常有两种用于标识制作过程中的雕刻工具：自动旋转器以及激光系统 （二氧化碳和光纤）。Rotary的设备中含有卡具、夹具和不同尺寸的工具，用于根据介质的质地不同，来决定在上面雕刻的深度。Bristow说旋转雕刻机有非常强大的系统，适合切割对规格有着硬性要求的发光字、喷印部件的形状以及适合P-O-P展示器材的外形，同时它还同时它还拥有HED切割模式、木材以及铝和不锈钢拱形的材质。
Meanwhile the “non-contact” laser engraver uses heat from a laser beam to etch into or cut out pieces. Compared to rotary, lasers eliminate post-processing, require little to no maintenance, and provide faster processing speeds—all leading to increased efficiency.
同时，“非接触”的激光雕刻用热量形成激光束从而完成切割。相比于旋转切割机来讲，激光雕刻机不需要后期对产品的处理，并且不需要维修。同时提供更快的处理速度。
“Modern laser technology is more flexible and user-friendly than ever, which allows businesses to do more with an existing skill set,” says Meredith Newman, director of marketing at Trotec. “In addition, new, sophisticated Vision tech software can cut pre-printed materials more accurately and with greater precision.”
“现代激光技术要比以往更加得灵活和人性化，它允许的能力越来越大，可以做到的事情也越来越多，”Trotec公司的市场总监Meredith Newman说，“此外，先进的视觉技术软件何以帮助材料更准确地印制以及更精确地切割。”
Laser-friendly applications are virtually limitless: signage creation, inlay/marquetry work, dimensional letter cutting, wood engraving, customizing promotional products, memorial engraving. These systems can also produce high-resolution images that replace photo metal processes that can use dangerous chemicals.
激光系统能够应用于很多领域：标牌制作，嵌/镶嵌工作，三维切割，木版画，定制的促销礼品，纪念礼品雕刻。同时它也能制造出一些高清晰度的图像，从而替换使用危险化学品的金属工艺。
Here are tips designed to help you better understand how to purchase an engraver and get more production from them on your shop floor:Purchasing. According to Amy Dallman, marketing director at Epilog Laser, the two biggest things sign shops should consider when purchasing a laser engraving/cutting system are size and power.
文章中以下提到的部分是旨在帮助您更好地了解并选择适合自己的雕刻机。根据Epilog激光公司市场总监Amy Dallman的说法，企业在购买一台激光系统/切割机是，最先考虑的两个要素就是尺寸和功耗。
“If you envision moving into large-scale signage, obviously a bigger system will be in order,” she says. “If you anticipate larger production runs, a higher wattage system will be able to complete those jobs faster.”
“标牌地大量制作离不开大型的设备，所以如果你预计进行大批量生产，有较高的功率系统就能使这些工作完成地更快。”
Newman recommends that answering the following questions during the purchasing process can help you pick the right laser engraver to fill your needs:
在采购过程中，以下的建议能够帮助你挑选到更加合适的设备。
Can it process the materials you need to work with?
它是否可以处理你需要用的材料？
Can the bed size accommodate your projects?
尺寸需要多大？
How fast can it process? (“Remember, faster processing means increased efficiency,” she says.)
处理速度有多快？
How much workfloor space do you have to work with?
占地多少？
How versatile is the laser system?
这台激光系统是否适用于各种领域。
Does it fit in with your business goals?
它是否适用于您的业务目标？
Will it help you expand your capabilities?
它是否能提供你的产量？
Bristow stresses to check out the construction of the laser chassis to ensure the laser will be durable and accurate over the life cycle (about 45,000 usable hours for a high-quality laser source). “You should consider a consistent power output that allows a consistent cut over a larger surface area,” she says.
Bristow强调要检查激光机以确保激光是稳定和持久的（大约质量比较好的激光机可以用45000个小时）她说，“你应该用一个一致的输出功率，从而保证可以切割更大的物体。”
Dallman finds that, after the purchase, many of her company's customers advise other potential buyers to “get the biggest system they can afford.” The reason? “You may want to [acquire] a laser for a particular application, but once you have it, you then realize how much you can do with it!” she says.
Dallman发现，在购买产品后，大多数公司的顾客都会去建议其它的潜在买家去“尽可能买最好的激光系统”。因为在一开始购买的时候，出于对产品的不理解，买家往往只会购买单一功能的机器，但是随着对机器的熟悉，客户才发现激光系统能远超想象地满足很多需求。
Another consideration is software. Laser systems can work with either color or grey-scale vector or raster images, however some manufacturers can require you to work with proprietary software. This can take some time to adjust to if you're not familiar with it.
另一个需要考虑的因素是软件系统。激光系统可以应用于彩色、灰度矢量或光栅图像工作，然而大部分的制造商则一直在使用特定的软件进行工作。而这需要一些时间来慢慢适应。
An open architecture design program, however, allows operators to utilize nearly any vector-based graphic design software. “This can dramatically reduce the learning curve many users experience with their first system,” says Dallman.
激光雕刻系统使用开放的结构设计方案，能够允许使用任何关于矢量的图形设计软件。Dallman认为这可以大大降低用户学习的难度，而且并不需要有太多的操作经验。
Dallman also recommends learning basic design skills, such as CorelDRAW. “Doing so greatly reduces your learning curve if you're able to hit the ground running, regardless of the software you select,” she says.
Dallman还建议应该学习一些基本的设计技巧，比如CorelDraw，而这样做可以大大降低学习的时间，从而应用自如。
Bristow adds that sign makers can save money by getting control software for both rotary and laser engravers. “Not only does this reduce the learning curve, but it also allows you to be able to process the same job by using both technologies,” she says.
Bristow补充说，标识制造商可以通过购买控制软件以及激光雕刻机节省成本，这不仅降低了对新设备的学习时间，而且还能够用两种技术处理同一件产品。
Since rotary involves knife blades, these can leave marks on the cutting path—especially when it comes to applications involving acrylics. “A laser eliminates the need to flame- or diamond-polish the pieces after they're cut,” says Newman.
由于旋转切割机中有刀片，所以它们会留下切割痕迹，尤其是在亚克力板上。Newman则认为使用激光系统就不用在切割完成后，还需要用火或者是金刚石来打磨。
The exception with lasers is materials that contain chlorine, fluorine, or bromine, as well as PVC vinyls. “When laser cut/engraved, these materials release a gas that's corrosive to the laser system and harmful to the laser operator,” says Dallman.
激光系统也有不能处理的材料，比如含有氯，氟，或溴，以及聚氯乙烯乙烯基的材料，这些材料释放的腐蚀性，对激光系统及是有害的。
Also keep in mind that using a laser to produce a mark on bare metal will require the use of a special metal marking chemical that, when lasered, produces a black mark. You'll need to factor in extra time in the process since this chemical must be applied, allowed to dry, then engraved and cleaned off.
当然还要记得，如果用激光系统对稀有金属进行雕刻的话，就必须要用一种特殊的金属进行标记，这种金属在被激光雕刻之时，会产生黑色的记号。你需要更多的时间来处理，而这种物质必须晾干后再对其进行雕刻后立即应用。
Operation. Dallman wholeheartedly advises laser engravers to experiment and have fun. “Even if you have only one application in mind, test out new materials, take on side-jobs that may not be directly related with your business, or start doing your own applications that were previously outsourced (creating name badges, engraving photographs, creating your own in-house signage, etc.),” she says.
Dallman建议在操作激光雕刻机时，还应该先实验性地操作。她说，“即使你可能只需要制造一种产品，但也应该尝试一些新的材质，或者一些新的作业方式。甚至，你还应该尝试把原来外包的给别的公司的产品，用来自己尝试着做（比如员工胸牌、自己的照片、公司内部的标识。
Bristow adds, “Keep in mind that electricians and plumbers consume a high number of engraved tags for electrical boxes, valves, and control panels.”The most ordinary item can look spectacular when it's customized. “It's almost surprising how much people are willing to pay for a unique item specific only to them—a favorite quote, their initials, etc.,” says Dallman.
Bristow补充说，“请记住，电工和管道工会使用大量的用在电箱、阀门和控制面板上的标签。”，一件普通的产品经过定制化的制作之后，就足以脱胎换骨。“事实上，有很多人愿意为那些只为他们定制的产品买单——可能是一句名言，或者是他们名字的缩写。”
Dallman further suggests including laser-engraved or laser-cut samples with quotes and setting up engraved/cut pieces in your showroom. “If possible, keep the laser in view so customers coming in can actually see it in action,” she says.
Dallman进一步建议，那些激光雕刻系统或激光切割系统制作出来的，并且要在你的展厅中展示制作过程的样品，要保持激光在可视范围，使顾客一踏入展厅，就能看到它是如何工作的。
Maintenance. Bristow says that, for rotary engravers, repair costs and equipment value can be controlled by frequent cleaning of the machine and the area around it. “Make sure you lubricate moving parts (spindles and lead screws),” she advises. “And always consult the owner's manual before working on your machine. One quick read could save you hundreds of dollars from a mistake.”
布里斯托说，对于旋转雕刻机来说，如果能经常地对机器进行清洁，以及保证它使用环境的安全，则机器的真正价值就能够完全发挥出来。“确保给部件润滑（主轴和丝杠），而且在机器工作前，要仔细阅读用户手册，在使用过程中减少损失、节省经费。”
Although one of the major benefits of laser engraving is reduced maintenance worries, regular preventative maintenance still remains a must. “It's essential to keep the inside of the laser clean and maintain optics,” concludes Bristow.
虽然激光雕刻解可以降低维护的成本，但是仍需要定期地维护和保养，才能保证设备的长期使用。布里斯托总结，“保证激光设备内部的清洁以及光学设备的稳定是极为重要的。”
