Anodized Aluminum
☀ UV Stable
⬡ Chemical Resistant
Overview
Aluminum with anodized color coating. Laser vaporizes the dye layer leaving a bright permanent mark on the underlying aluminum. Engraving only - diode and CO2 both work. Cannot cut aluminum with these lasers.
Properties
Difficulty
intermediate
Flexibility
rigid
Enclosure
no
Dry Storage
no
Pros
- Beautiful contrast when engraved (white mark on colored background)
- Durable and permanent marks
- Professional appearance
- Wide color selection
- Corrosion resistant
- Lightweight metal
Cons
- Cannot be cut by diode or CO2 laser
- Requires marking spray for bare aluminum
- Anodized layer thickness varies
- Dark colors show less contrast
Best For
- Dog tags
- business card holders
- tool marking
- bottle openers
- anodized equipment panels
Avoid For
- Bare (non-anodized) aluminum
- cutting aluminum
- any operation expecting to pierce the metal
Storage
No special requirements.
Laser Compatibility
Fiber laser or high-power diode can mark anodized layer without cutting. CO2 marks only with spray coating. Diode 20W+: 500mm/s 100% for clean marks. Engrave removes anodized color revealing bare aluminum — excellent contrast.
Brands
YETI (cups)Stanleygeneric anodized blanks from Amazon