For  metal deep engraving and carving, you are primarily looking at Fiber Lasers and, for the very deepest applications, Pulsed Fiber Lasers or even MOPA Lasers. The power range you'll need depends heavily on the specific definition of "deep," the metal type, and your desired speed.Here’s a detailed breakdown:Quick Answer: The Power RangeFor what is commercially and practically considered "deep engraving" on metals, you will typically need a laser in the range of 100W to 500W.50W - 100W Fiber Laser: Good for light to medium-depth engraving (up to ~0.5mm). It can achieve "deep" marks with multiple passes, but it will be slower.100W - 200W Fiber Laser: This is the sweet spot for most industrial deep engraving applications. It can efficiently achieve depths of 0.5mm to 1.5mm with a good balance of speed and quality.300W - 500W+ Fiber Laser: Used for high-speed, high-volume deep engraving (1mm to 3mm+) and for carving harder metals like tool steel or carbide. This is industrial-grade equipment.Key Factors Beyond Just WattsIt's crucial to understand that wattage (average power) is only part of the story. For deep engraving, these parameters are equally, if not more, important:1. Peak Power vs. Average PowerAverage Power (Watts): This is the continuous power output you see advertised (e.g., 100W).Peak Power (Kilowatts): This is the maximum power of each individual laser pulse. A 100W pulsed fiber laser can have a peak power of 10kW or more.Why it matters: Deep engraving is an ablation process—you are violently vaporizing metal. A high peak power is like hitting the metal with a sledgehammer with each pulse, which is far more effective for removing material than a continuous but weaker push. A pulsed laser is essential for this.2. Pulse Duration and Frequency (MOPA Lasers)A standard Fiber Laser has a fixed pulse width. A MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier) laser allows you to precisely control the duration (nanoseconds to microseconds) and frequency of the pulses.Why it matters: Shorter pulses with very high peak power are excellent for clean, precise ablation with minimal heat-affected zone (HAZ). Longer pulses can be used for more melting-based processes. For deep, clean carving, a MOPA laser offers superior control and is often the preferred choice over a standard Q-Switched Fiber Laser.3. Type of MetalAluminum, Steel, Iron: Engrave well with a 100W-200W fiber laser.Stainless Steel: Requires more power than mild steel. A 100W+ laser is recommended for deep marks.Tungsten, Carbide, Hardened Tool Steel: These are very difficult to engrave. You will need higher power (200W+) and, critically, high peak power to effectively ablate the material.4. Number of PassesDepth can be achieved by making multiple passes over the same area. A lower-power machine (e.g., 50W) can achieve significant depth, but it will be extremely slow compared to a 200W machine that can do it in one or two passes.Practical Scenarios and Recommended PowerScenarioDesired DepthRecommended Laser Type & PowerReasonSerial Numbers, VIN Plates0.2mm - 0.5mm50W - 100W Fiber LaserThis is the most common range for permanent, human-readable marks. Fast and cost-effective.Industrial Tool Marking0.5mm - 1.0mm100W - 200W Fiber LaserProvides excellent depth for wear resistance on tools, molds, and heavy machinery parts.Deep Carving for Aesthetics1.0mm - 2.0mm+200W - 500W Pulsed Fiber/MOPAHigh power and high peak power are needed to quickly remove large volumes of material without excessive heat buildup.Creating Molds & Textures0.1mm - 1.5mm100W - 300W MOPA LaserThe precise control of a MOPA laser is ideal for creating fine textures and controlled depths on mold surfaces.What About CO2 Lasers?While powerful CO2 lasers (e.g., 60W-150W) exist, they are generally not suitable for  metal deep engraving. The wavelength of a CO2 laser (10.6 µm) is primarily absorbed by organic materials and plastics. It reflects off bare metal unless a special marking compound (like Cermark) is used, which only creates a surface-level mark, not a deep engraving.Summary and Final RecommendationFor true, efficient  metal deep carving and engraving, a 100W to 200W Pulsed Fiber Laser is the most common and recommended starting point.If your budget allows and you need the ultimate control for the cleanest and deepest marks on a variety of metals, invest in a 100W-200W MOPA laser.Do not focus on wattage alone. When talking to manufacturers or suppliers, ask about the peak power, pulse width flexibility, and request a sample engraving on your specific material to test the depth, speed, and quality.In short: Aim for a 100W+ Fiber or MOPA laser for serious  metal deep engraving work.

In simple terms, laser power density (also called irradiance) is the amount of laser energy delivered to a specific area per unit of time. It's typically measured in Watts per square centimeter (W/cm²) or, for pulsed lasers, Joules per square centimeter (J/cm²).The effect of laser power density on rust removal is not linear; it follows a threshold-based behavior. Here’s a breakdown of its effects, from too low to too high.1. Too Low Power Density: Ineffective RemovalWhat Happens: The energy delivered to the surface is insufficient to break the chemical bonds of the rust (iron oxide) or to cause the rapid thermal expansion needed for ablation.The Result:The laser may only heat the rust, potentially baking it onto the surface and making it harder to remove later.There is little to no visible cleaning effect. The rust remains largely intact.The process is inefficient, wasting time and energy.2. Optimal Power Density: Efficient Ablation (The "Sweet Spot")This is the target zone for effective laser cleaning. The mechanism here is ablation.What Happens: The laser energy is absorbed by the rust layer but not significantly by the underlying base metal (due to different absorption spectra). This causes two primary actions:Thermal Decomposition: The rust (FeO, Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄) rapidly heats up and decomposes back into elemental iron and oxygen.Vaporization and Plasma Expansion: The intense, localized heating causes any moisture or contaminants to instantly vaporize. The rust particles themselves are violently ejected from the surface. For very short pulses, this creates a mini shockwave that lifts the rust off without transferring heat to the substrate.The Result:Effective Cleaning: Rust is completely removed, revealing the clean metal underneath.Minimal Thermal Damage: The underlying metal remains cool and undamaged because the laser pulse is shorter than the time required for heat to diffuse into the substrate (the thermal diffusion time).Self-Limiting Process: The process often stops automatically once the rust is gone because the clean metal reflects the laser light rather than absorbing it. This prevents over-cleaning.3. Too High Power Density: Substrate DamageWhen the power density exceeds the ablation threshold of the base metal, problems occur.What Happens: The energy is so high that it doesn't just remove the rust; it also ablates the underlying metal.The Result:Surface Damage: The metal surface can be etched, melted, or pitted, changing its texture and potentially creating stress concentrators.Color Change (Heat Tinting): The excessive heat can cause oxidation, leading to colorful heat tints (blue, purple, yellow) on the freshly cleaned surface.Material Removal: You are effectively engraving or cutting into the base metal, which is undesirable for cleaning.Increased Plasma Shielding: A dense plasma plume can form above the surface, which absorbs or scatters the incoming laser beam, reducing cleaning efficiency and potentially causing process instability.Summary Table: The Effect of Laser Power DensityPower Density LevelEffect on RustEffect on Base MetalOverall ResultToo LowHeated but not removed.No effect.Ineffective. Rust remains.OptimalRapidly vaporized and ablated.No damage; remains cool and clean.Perfect Cleaning. Efficient and selective.Too HighRemoved violently.Melted, etched, or oxidized.Damage. Surface is altered and weakened.Practical Implications and Interaction with Other ParametersPower density doesn't work in isolation. It is calculated as:Power Density = (Laser Power) / (Spot Size Area)or for pulsed lasers:Fluence (J/cm²) = (Pulse Energy) / (Spot Size Area)Therefore, you can adjust the power density by changing:Laser Power/Energy: The most direct control.Spot Size: A smaller spot size dramatically increases power density. This is controlled by the focusing lens and the working distance.Scanning Speed / Pulse Repetition Rate: A slower speed or higher overlap between pulses increases the effective energy delivered to a specific point, mimicking a higher power density.Finding the "Sweet Spot" requires balancing these parameters. The ideal power density depends on:Rust Thickness and Composition: Thicker, more tenacious rust may require a slightly higher power density.Type of Base Metal: Steel, aluminum, and copper have different ablation thresholds and thermal conductivities.Laser Wavelength: Certain wavelengths (e.g., 1064 nm from Nd:YAG lasers) are more readily absorbed by rust than by clean metal, which is why they are so effective for this application.ConclusionLaser power density is the master variable that dictates the mechanism and success of laser rust removal. Operating within the optimal window is essential. It enables the precise, selective ablation of rust without damaging the valuable substrate, which is the key advantage of laser cleaning over traditional methods like sandblasting or chemical treatments.

Laser cleaning machine It can efficiently remove paint from metal surfaces, and is one of the preferred solutions for metal surface paint removal, especially suitable for scenarios with high requirements for cleaning accuracy and substrate protection.1. Working principle: non-contact "precise peeling"Laser cleaning machines focus on the paint layer on the metal surface by emitting pulsed lasers with high energy density:The laser energy is quickly absorbed by the paint (organic coating) and instantly converted into heat energy, causing the paint layer to undergo vaporization, pyrolysis or thermal shock peeling (avoid direct burning of the substrate);The paint layer forms gases or debris in a very short time (microseconds/nanoseconds) and breaks away from the metal surface with the shock wave generated by the laser.Metal substrates (such as steel, aluminum, copper, etc.) have extremely low absorption rates for specific wavelength lasers, and the laser action time is short, which will not cause excessive heating, deformation or damage to the substrate (provided so).parameterreasonable setting).2. Core advantages: more practical than traditional paint stripping methodsCompared with traditional methods such as chemical paint stripping (pickling, alkali washing), mechanical polishing (sandpaper, wire brushes), and high-pressure water guns, the advantages of laser paint stripping are outstanding:Contrast dimensionsLaser cleaning machineTraditional paint stripping methodSubstrate protectionNo contact, no wear, no damage to the metal bodyThe chemical method is easy to corrode the substrate, and the mechanical method is easy to scratch the surfaceCleaning effectIt can accurately peel off the paint layer, without residue and secondary pollutionChemical methods may leave residual agents, and mechanical methods are easy to leave scratchesEnvironmental friendlinessNo chemical waste liquid, no dust (can be matched with vacuum suction device), low carbon and environmental protectionThe chemical method produces toxic waste liquid, and the mechanical method produces a large amount of dustEfficiency and flexibilityPulse operation, fast speed; It can be adapted to complex shapes (such as welds, grooves, curved surfaces), and can be handheld/automatedlow efficiency, difficult to clean complex surfaces in placeFollow-upAfter cleaning, there is no residue on the surface, and subsequent processes such as spraying and welding can be carried out directlyAdditional cleaning and drying are required to remove residual agents or dust3. Applicable scenarios: "all-rounder" of metal paint strippingIndustrial manufacturing: refurbishment of old paint for mechanical parts, equipment shells, steel structures (bridges, plant supports), automobile/ship parts;Precision machining field: high-precision paint removal of aerospace parts and electronic components (substrate accuracy needs to be protected);Cultural relics restoration field: depainting of metal cultural relics and metal components of monuments (to avoid chemical/mechanical damage);Routine maintenance areas: paint cleaning of metal guardrails, pipes, molds.4. Precautions: Ensure the paint stripping effect and safetyParameter matching: Adjust the laser power, pulse frequency, and scanning speed according to the metal material (steel, aluminum, copper, etc.) and paint thickness (single layer/multi-layer) - to avoid oxidation of the substrate caused by too high power, or too low power to completely remove the paint;Safety protection: Laser protective goggles should be worn during operation (to prevent laser damage to the eyes), and a smoke purifier (to treat trace exhaust gas generated by paint vaporization);Special case: If there are multiple layers of paint + rust on the metal surface, the laser can simultaneously realize "paint removal + rust removal" without step-by-step operation;Limitations: Heavy paint layers over 5mm thick require multiple scans (slightly less efficient than mechanical sanding), but the overall cleaning effect and substrate protection are still better.summaryThe laser cleaning machine is an "efficient, environmentally friendly, and accurate" solution for metal surface paint removal, which can not only completely remove paint layers (including single-layer paint, multi-layer paint, and aging paint), but also protect the metal substrate to the greatest extent, especially suitable for scenarios with high requirements for cleaning quality and environmental protection, and has been widely used in industrial production, maintenance and renovation, and other fields.