ABS Plastic Engraving

ABS plastic has the capabilities to be engraved or marked. ABS plastic engraving is ideal for adding numerous types of content to ABS plastic parts and accessories. Non-contact marking is very fast as well as abrasion, heat and acid resistant, and many different plastics can be marked or engraved. Even extremely small ABS plastic parts can benefit from the engrave ABS plastic process.

Plastic Engraving

Why Should I Choose ABS Plastic for My Engraving Project?

There are several benefits to choosing ABS Plastic for your Engraving Project:

ABS Plastic is Durable

Once engraved, ABS plastic maintains its engraved markings well over time. The engraving is typically permanent and resistant to fading, scratching, or wearing off, making it suitable for long-lasting applications.

ABS Plastic is Versatile

ABS plastic is a versatile material that can be found in various colors and finishes. This allows for flexibility in design choices, as different colors and finishes can be selected to achieve specific aesthetic or functional requirements.

ABS Plastic is Lightweight

Choosing ABS plastic for an engraving project is advantageous due to its lightweight property, making it a preferred option for applications where weight is a concern, such as signage or portable electronic devices, without compromising on durability or quality of the engraving.

ABS Plastic has High Chemical Resistance

ABS plastic's excellent resistance to chemicals makes it an ideal choice for engraving projects where exposure to various chemicals is anticipated, ensuring the engraved markings remain intact and legible even in challenging environments.

ABS Plastic Engraving & Permanent Marking Applications 

ABS plastics are highly versatile and used for many different applications. ABS plastics can significantly broaden your product line and processing capabilities. Some of the more common applications for cutting plastic engraving and non-contact marking include: 

• Automotive parts
• Keyboards
• Tools and handles of tools
• Buttons and switches with day & night design
• Identification tags for animals
• Packaging
• Housings made of plastic
• Electric plugs
• Electronic components
• Printed circuit boards (PCB)

Differences Between ABS Plastic Engraving & Permanent Marking

Although these terms are often used interchangeably, there are differences between marking and engraving. Each type of process has its own applications and attributes that make it ideal for different jobs.

Permanent, Non-Contact Marking

Non-contact marking occurs when the high contrast laser beam interacts with the surface of the ABS plastic material, slightly altering its properties or appearance. The process of non-contact permanent laser marking includes:

• Laser engraved ABS plastic is primarily achieved by moving a low-powered beam slowly across the plastic material using a method called discoloration, which creates high-contrast marks without disrupting the material.
• Laser heating of the ABS plastic, which causes oxidation under the plastic’s surface.
• Low temperatures annealing of the plastic’s surface.

There are four common types of non-contact laser marking options including annealing, carbon migration, foaming, and coloration. In addition, permanent laser marking of ABS plastic is less common a practice when compared to laser engraving. Non-contact laser marking is ideal for barcodes, UID codes, QR codes, logos, and other identification needs.

Engraving ABS Plastic

If you are looking to engrave ABS plastic, we have the materials and resources that you need. Our ABS plastic engraving process utilizes a laser beam that physically removes the surface of the material to expose a cavity that reveals an image at eye level. The process of ABS plastic engraving includes:

• High contrast laser cutting plastic creates high heat during the engraving process, which causes the ABS plastic material to vaporize.
• The ABS plastic material is vaporized with each pulse, which provides the engraved area.
• The engraved cavity that is created on the surface is noticeable and eye-catching.
• If deeper marks are necessary, the laser engrave ABS plastic process can be repeated with several passes.

There are three main types of ABS plastic engraving processes that are available: etching, deep laser engraving and laser ablation. Laser engrave ABS plastic is perfect for parts that may experience a lot of wear. However, high contrast ABS plastic engraving is not ideal for marking safety-critical parts.