Getting a trophy is always a fun experience. Trophies are a symbol of hard work, dedication and achievement. Creating a custom trophy is a great way to add that personal touch to any occasion. While making one by hand is very difficult, with the help of a laser machine from Full Spectrum Laser, making a one of a kind trophy is possible. This article will discuss the ways in which trophies are made in CO2, FIber, and UV machines and the materials used in each one.
Getting Started: Materials
If your goal is to engrave a blank trophy or make one from scratch, it’s important to know the type of material you plan to use and if they are compatible with your machine. We will cover the different types of material best suited for each machine.
CO2 machines:
CO2 machines are capable of engraving coated metal, however engraving bare metals requires the use of a some form of laser marking spray, we have a list of sprays sold in Amazon here . These products however can be costly for most hobbyists, if you're using a CO2 machine, then you will most likely be making your trophy out of wood, acrylic, or rowmark acrylic.
What is Rowmark? Rowmark is a special type of acrylic consisting of different colored layers. These acrylic sheets are useful when making signs or trophies as engraving the Rowmark will expose the other layer, removing the need to paint the engraving after. We used Rowmark on a few of our projects, see our Stanley Cup short here for a quick look.
Fiber,UV & MOPA Galvos:
Galvos are known for their ability to engrave metals and plastics but they are also capable of cutting thin pieces of materials making them a more well-rounded choice. The metals our machines can engrave are aluminum, brass, copper, nickel, and stainless steel. Galvos are capable of engraving designs down to the nanometer, making it now possible to engrave an image directly into the material.
UV Galvos stand apart from the Fiber and MOPA one due to their compatibility with glass. UVs make it possible to engrave on or inside of glass, letting us take the trophy making another step further. If you are interested in engraving the inside of the glass we have special, subsurface lenses available. Glass trophies are an excellent way to set yourself apart from the competition. Many individuals are scared of working with glass due to how fragile it is. Those that do use them and are able to work with the material are viewed as a more experienced company.
Making Your Design:
Now that you have chosen your material, you can work on your design. We recommend using a graphics design software like Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator to create your design. Make sure to save the file so that it’s compatible with the laser’ software. The best way to do that is to make sure the file is saved as an SVG or PDF file.
Using your Laser:
Place your material into the machine's workspace and prepare your preferred settings. We recommend looking at the material settings list found in your manual or in the Help Center. The Help Center has the material list saved by CO2 machines and by Galvo machines. If your material is not present on the list we recommend performing a material test. The Material Tests, found here, can be used to check the appropriate setting for both raster and vector jobs.
Finish & Assemble the Trophy:
After you have engraved or cut out your pieces it is time to assemble and apply any finish you desire. Assembly steps will depend on the material used but some of the assembly methods may be: gluing, welding, drilling or acrylic bond application.
Creating a custom trophy is easier than ever thanks to our laser machines. We explored the materials used with CO2, Fiber, MOPA, and UV laser machines and the process taken when making a trophy. Armed with a Full Spectrum Laser machine, you’ll be making unique, high quality trophies. Embark on your trophy making journey now by purchasing a Full Spectrum laser here.