Marking, decoration & colour · finish comparison
Mechanical Engraving vs Vibro Engraving
Mechanical Engraving and Vibro Engraving are both marking & decoration finishes; vibro engraving is the lower-cost option ($).
Mechanical Engraving
Marking & decoration · $$ · instant quote
Mechanical engraving cuts text, symbols, serials, or decorative lines into a surface with a rotating or dragging tool.
Vibro Engraving
Marking & decoration · $ · instant quote
Vibro engraving uses a rapidly oscillating point to hand-scribe letters, numbers, and lines into a surface.
When to choose which
Choose Mechanical engraving
Choose Mechanical engraving when for controlled cosmetic grooves.
- Creates a permanent recessed mark
- Supports variable serial numbers under CNC control
- Typical shallow depth is 50–500 µm
Choose Vibro engraving
Vibro engraving is the pick when its strengths below matter more than Mechanical engraving's.
- Very low setup for one-off identification
- Portable for large or assembled equipment
- Creates a 20–200 µm permanent scribed groove
What the numbers say
- Vibro engraving is the lower-cost option ($).
- Vibro engraving is the thinner coating (20–200 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Mechanical engraving | Vibro engraving |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 0 Minimal | 0 Minimal |
| Surface hardness / wear | — — | — — |
| Cosmetic quality | 58 Good | 15 Low |
| Lubricity | 10 Minimal | 10 Minimal |
| Cost | 32 $$ | 8 $ |
Key numbers
| Property | Mechanical engraving | Vibro engraving |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 50–500 µm | 20–200 µm |
| Electrical | Unchanged | Unchanged |
| Colours | substrate colour, optional paint fill | substrate colour |
| Relative cost | Standard ($$) | Budget ($) |
| Added lead time | 2–5 working days | 1–2 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | Yes | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Mechanical engraving | Vibro engraving |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Yes | Yes |
| Brass | Yes | Yes |
| Copper Alloy | Yes | Yes |
| Polymer | Yes | Limited |
| Stainless Steel | Yes | Yes |
| Steel | Yes | Yes |
| Titanium | Yes | With care |
| Magnesium Alloy | With care | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
| Ceramic | Limited | No |
| Glass | Limited | No |
Mechanical engraving vs Vibro engraving — frequently asked
What is the difference between Mechanical engraving and Vibro engraving?
Mechanical Engraving and Vibro Engraving are both marking & decoration finishes; vibro engraving is the lower-cost option ($). Vibro engraving is the thinner coating (20–200 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
When should I use Mechanical engraving instead of Vibro engraving?
Choose Mechanical engraving when for controlled cosmetic grooves.
Is Mechanical engraving or Vibro engraving cheaper?
Vibro engraving is the lower-cost finish ($ against $$ for Mechanical engraving) 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.