Laser Engraving 3D-Printed Parts

The rise of 3D printing has been great for consumers looking for unique items, exact replicas of hard-to-find parts and products, and specialized goods. But it’s also been a boon to manufacturers, as 3D printers give them new ways to design and make their wares, and also lets them offer new services to their clients.

But 3D-printed parts can be enhanced even further with the use of laser engraving systems. By incorporating both 3D printers and laser engravers into your operations, you can maximize your output and benefit from the most up-to-date technology.

3D Printing Materials

3D printing can use an array of materials depending upon the system being worked with and its capabilities. Though plastic is more common and publicized, metals in powdered form and even specialized ceramics can be used in 3D printing applications as well. Some examples include:

TYKMA Electrox laser engraving systems are able to work with a wide range of plastics, metals, and other materials. If you have questions about a specific material you’re using for 3D printing and want to confirm with us that our systems can mark it, be sure to reach out to our team for support!

Key Benefits of Using Laser Engraving Systems on 3D-Printed Products

• Part traceability – Laser engraving excels at streamlining manufacturing operations by helping companies to properly track and organize their parts. Serial numbers, data codes, bar codes, product IDs, and more can all be easily engraved onto parts.
• Branding – There are a lot of 3D printing operations out there, so you’ll want to be able to distinguish yourself through brands and logos, even if these marks are found in discreet places on a product.
• Anti-counterfeiting – Customers want to know that the parts and products they’re receiving are genuine and not knockoffs or poor imitations. Putting laser engraved information on the components you supply helps bridge that gap and increase confidence in your company.
• Graphics – While company names and logos can be engraved onto parts, it doesn’t stop there, as the sky is really the limit with laser engraving. You can also incorporate any graphics, designs, artwork, pictures, or anything else required for an application.
• Personalization – Some businesses regularly offer customization and personalization services to their customers, and some customers simply expect such services for certain fields. With laser engraving, you can mark names, slogans, quotes, dates, and anything else needed to make a product distinct and desirable.

Along with all of these application possibilities, laser engraving is also fast, reliable, and repeatable, providing permanent marks that will never fade, crack, or wear down. These attributes make laser engraving far and away the superior option among marking methods, as we’ve outlined in our lengthy marking blog post.

Enhance Your 3D Prints with Cerakote

Cerakote ceramic coatings are recognized as the leading finish for 3D printing and additive manufacturing. These coatings are regularly applied to plastics and metals, supplying increased protection, better color consistency, and a range of finish varieties – more than 150!

Some of the other attributes Cerakote highlights for their coatings include their scratch resistance, hydrophobic properties, UV and chemical protection, non-stick properties, and more. You can view the range of materials their coatings are suited for on their site.

TYKMA Electrox is a proud partner of Cerakote, and businesses who 3D print items and protect them with Cerakote will often then use our laser engraving systems to mark logos, personal messages, tracking information, and much more. This workflow – from 3D printing to Cerakote coatings to high-quality laser engravings – is the ideal way to get the most out of your products and ensure you’re supplying only the best to your customers.

Be sure to check out our many laser engraving systems and accessories so you can modernize your operations and put the finishing touches on 3D-printed products!

Contact Us

The TYKMA Electrox team is standing by to help you select the best laser engraver for your applications and to answer any questions you have. Get in touch with us today!

About the Author

Gerald Fry

Marketing Manager

I am a dedicated full-stack marketer and manager at TYKMA Electrox with 13 years of hands-on experience in various marketing disciplines within the industrial laser manufacturing sector. I excel in driving brand awareness and engagement through my proficiency in photography, video production, graphic design, social… Read Full Bio →