Marking, decoration & colour · finish comparison
Laser Marking vs Vibro Engraving
Laser Marking and Vibro Engraving are both marking & decoration finishes; vibro engraving is the lower-cost option ($).
Laser Marking
Marking & decoration · $ · instant quote
Laser marking uses focused fiber, CO2, or UV energy to create permanent text, logos, serials, UDI, and machine-readable codes.
Vibro Engraving
Marking & decoration · $ · instant quote
Vibro engraving uses a rapidly oscillating point to hand-scribe letters, numbers, and lines into a surface.
When to choose which
Choose Laser mark
Choose Laser mark when for production-quality variable data.
- Creates variable serials and UDI without a physical printing tool
- Supports about 0.10 mm minimum line width
- Annealed colour-change marks add no depth; shallow engraving is typically 5–50 µm
Choose Vibro engraving
Vibro engraving is the pick when its strengths below matter more than Laser mark's.
- Very low setup for one-off identification
- Portable for large or assembled equipment
- Creates a 20–200 µm permanent scribed groove
What the numbers say
- Vibro engraving is the lower-cost option ($).
- Laser mark is the thinner coating (0–50 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Laser mark | Vibro engraving |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 0 Minimal | 0 Minimal |
| Surface hardness / wear | — — | — — |
| Cosmetic quality | 70 Very good | 15 Low |
| Lubricity | 10 Minimal | 10 Minimal |
| Cost | 18 $ | 8 $ |
Key numbers
| Property | Laser mark | Vibro engraving |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 0–50 µm | 20–200 µm |
| Electrical | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Colours | black, white, grey, substrate contrast, limited colour effects on selected materials | substrate colour |
| Relative cost | Budget ($) | Budget ($) |
| Added lead time | 1–3 working days | 1–2 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | Yes | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Laser mark | Vibro engraving |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Yes | Yes |
| Brass | Yes | Yes |
| Copper Alloy | With care | Yes |
| Stainless Steel | Yes | Yes |
| Steel | Yes | Yes |
| Titanium | Yes | With care |
| Ceramic | With care | No |
| Glass | With care | No |
| Magnesium Alloy | With care | With care |
| Polymer | With care | Limited |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
Specifications and drawing call-outs
Laser mark
- MIL-STD-130 — Identification Marking of U.S. Military Property
LASER MARK PER MIL-STD-130, DATA MATRIX ECC200, 6 × 6 MM, 0.10 MM MIN CELL, CONTRAST ≥ 30 %, GRADE 2.5 MIN PER ISO 15415
Vibro engraving
No governing public specification — called out by name and thickness.
VIBRO-ENGRAVE REPAIR SERIAL NO. PER MIL-STD-130, 3 MM CHARACTER HEIGHT, 0.05–0.15 MM DEEP, LOCATION AS SHOWN
Laser mark vs Vibro engraving — frequently asked
What is the difference between Laser mark and Vibro engraving?
Laser Marking and Vibro Engraving are both marking & decoration finishes; vibro engraving is the lower-cost option ($). Laser mark is the thinner coating (0–50 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
When should I use Laser mark instead of Vibro engraving?
Choose Laser mark when for production-quality variable data.
Is Laser mark or Vibro engraving cheaper?
Vibro engraving is the lower-cost finish ($ against $ for Laser mark) among the finishes FabDigit quotes. Both are priced per part with a lot minimum; the exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.