Laser engraving is an ideal solution for creating products for industrial, commercial, and marketing purposes. Laser engraving machines are versatile, as they can precisely engrave items out of different materials in a short amount of time. However, did you know that the laser has no inherent heat? Did you know that a laser engraving machine is as easy to use as a computer printer? Read on to know more.
Some Intriguing Information about Lasers and Engraving
The following points will elaborate on some of the most interesting facts about lasers and laser engraving.
1. Einstein first Postulated the Laser:
When he was 16 years old, Einstein conducted a thought experiment, where he imagined that he was chasing a beam of light. This simple thought was an impetus that helped him to research, write, and publish his Theory of Relativity in 1916. The theory solved the conflict between electrodynamics and relativity by stating that the laws of physics are identical, and the speed of light in a vacuum is the same to all observers. He further went on to study the quantum nature of light and the photoelectric effect, for which he earned the Nobel Prize in Physics. This led to the foundation for the modern laser.
2. Laser is an Acronym:
Most of us consider the word ‘laser’ as just a word. In reality, it is an acronym for ‘Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’. This chosen acronym is ideal, as lasers control the manner in which energized atoms release photons.
3. Maser, The Predecessor of Laser:
Before lasers and laser machines were developed, scientists were using a different kind of radiation emitting device. It was called Maser, which is an acronym for ‘Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’. Masers were used in atomic clocks, and were also based on Albert Einstein’s proposition of stimulated emission.
4. Supporting Space Measurement:
In 1969, Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins took part in the Apollo 11 space mission to the moon. One of their assignments was to try and measure the distance between the Earth and the moon. They used laser ranging, a surveying technology that uses a laser light to measure the distance between two points or objects. The Apollo astronauts placed retroreflectors on the moon, which allowed lasers on Earth to measure the distance between the two planets. The result was a distance of about 385,000 kilometers. The astronauts’ results were accurate to about 3 centimeters.
5. Talk about Accuracy!
We have all heard that lasers are known for their engraving precision. But how precise is ‘precise’ exactly? Well, the accuracy of laser beams has been measured by scientists. They found that the precision of laser engraving can be more than a nanometer, which is a billionth of a meter! Now that’s accuracy!
6. Gillettes – The Best a Laser can Get:
During the 1970s, lasers were used mainly in laboratories. As different designs were being looked at, scientists wanted to test the strength of the lasers. Since they couldn’t bring in large quantities of metal into the labs, the scientists came up with a simple solution – using Gillette razor blades. They would place the razor blades in a row, and determine the strength of laser by seeing how many blades it could cut through. For this reason, the term for measuring a laser’s strength was called ‘Gillettes’.
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