It depends on the result you’re looking for. Since each stone varies in quality, hardness, texture, and color you’re better off testing different stones and varying the laser power and speed settings.

Having said that, laser processing dark granite and marble are very popular as the etching produces a marked contrast against the dark substrate. Due to its fine texture, marble is used for lasering detailed photographs, images, logos, and fine text. Slate and ceramic also leave a clean contrasting finish.

You can further enhance the contrast by applying a color fill. However, a shallow etching typically produces the most clarity and most permanent mark.

APPLICATIONS FOR LASER ENGRAVING STONE

Laser marking memorial or tombstones often command top dollar. Most gravestones are made from granite due to durability but even sandstone, slate and natural flagstone have been used and when laser etched produce a unique contrasting finish. Customizing or personalizing brick, pebbles, tile, stone, or any other natural (organic) solid surface can and is used by companies, builders, architects, gardeners, retail shops, and DIY makers as a unique way to add perceived value to their art piece.

SETTINGS FOR CO2 LASER RASTERING STONE

We get a lot of questions about what power and speed settings are best for different materials – brick, stone, and tile included. The answer of course is relative to how much power and speed your laser has. We get a lot of questions about what power and speed settings are best for stone. That of course is relative to how much power and speed your laser has. With a Boss Laser 105 watt you can start at around 30% power at 500 mm/sec. You don’t want to engrave with much depth. The best clarity comes when you merely etch the stone surface.

Rocks and stones typically have a lot of surface variance making detailed image clarity very difficult. If this is the case keep your raster images between 240 and 350 dpi.