Metal laser engraving vaporizes the metal surface with a focused infrared laser beam leaving an indent you can feel, 0.005-0.020″ (0.13-0.51mm) deep. Metal sublimates – transitioning from solid directly to vapor – because the beam applies more peak energy per pulse than the vaporization heat requirement of the metal. What you get is a mark both tactile and durable, surviving abrasion, sandblasting, and chemical attack. This approach works on stainless steel, carbon steel, titanium, aluminum, and brass, scaling from complex jewelry engraving to machinist-deep MIL-spec serial numbers. There are three to commonly confused terms when talking about the laser-based processes for marking on metal, and