Novanta Laser Systems: A Quality Inspector’s Take on Marking Wood, Food, and Stainless Steel

Not All Laser Jobs Are the Same—Here’s How I’d Approach Yours

I review about 200+ unique laser-processed items every year at our facility—everything from prototype runs to full production batches. One thing I’ve learned: there’s no single “best” Novanta laser setup. The right choice depends entirely on what you’re making and who’s receiving it.

This was accurate as of early 2024. Laser tech and materials science evolve fast, so verify current specs before committing to a purchase.

Here’s how I break down the three most common requests we get: laser cut wood earrings, laser engraving food, and marking stainless steel.

Scenario A: Laser Cutting Wood Earrings

The goal: clean edges, no burn marks, batch consistency

For earrings, the tolerances are tight—you’re dealing with sub-millimeter precision on thin materials (1/8” to 1/4” plywood or hardwood). And frankly, the customer is going to inspect every piece. My experience is based on about 150 earring orders with mid-range designs. If you’re working with luxury or ultra-detailed pieces, your results may differ.

For Novanta’s CO2 laser line (typically 40W to 80W): this is your sweet spot. CO2 lasers handle wood beautifully. The key spec you want to enforce: cutting speed and power balance. I’ve rejected batches where the vendor ran at 90% power and slow speed to ‘save time’—the result was charred, smoky edges. On a 500-earring run, that ruined about 60 pieces (12% rejection rate).

What I’d specify in your requirement: “Maximum permissible edge discoloration: less than 0.5mm from cut line. No visible soot on surface.” (Note to self: this should be in every contract.)

One thing that surprised me: we tested a Novanta unit with an air assist option on a batch of birch plywood. The difference was night and day—edges came out almost sanded. But I still kick myself for not testing it earlier on maple. Maple is denser; the air assist alone wasn’t enough. We had to dial down the speed by 15%.

Scenario B: Laser Engraving Food

The goal: food-safe, consistent marking, no residue

This one’s tricky. My experience is based on about 40 food-engraving projects with cookies, fruits, and cheese. I can’t speak to how this applies to high-volume commercial bakeries—that’s a different beast.

For Novanta’s CO2 laser (30W to 60W range): CO2 wavelengths (10.6 µm) are absorbed by organic materials, making them the go-to for food marking. But here’s the catch: too much power and you get caramelization (for carbs) or scorching (for proteins). Too little power and the mark is invisible.

What we found after a frustrating round of testing (ugh, I hate wasted batches):
– Cookies: 15–20% power, 200 mm/s, one pass. That gave a golden-brown mark without burning.
– Hard cheese (like cheddar): 10–15% power, 150 mm/s. Higher power melted the surface.
– Fruits (apples, oranges): 8–12% power, 300 mm/s. Anything slower and the moisture vaporized, leaving a soggy spot.

The most frustrating part: even with a Novanta unit that had safety interlocks (industrial-grade, thankfully), we had to verify that the ink or coating (if any) was food-grade. The laser only interacts with the surface, but if there’s a treated layer, all bets are off. I’d strongly recommend specifying “no non-food-safe coatings” in your material requirements.

Scenario C: Can You Laser Engrave Stainainless Steel?

Yes, but only with the right laser source

Stainless steel is a common request. The answer: fiber laser (1 µm wavelength) or a pulsed CO2 with marking compound. A standard continuous-wave CO2 laser will barely scratch it. I learned this the hard way in 2022 when a vendor tried to mark 316 stainless steel plates with a 60W CO2 unit. The mark was virtually invisible. That cost us a $22,000 redo and delayed launch by two weeks.

For Novanta’s fiber laser line (20W to 50W): this is the right choice. Fiber lasers create a reliable, high-contrast mark on stainless steel—either by annealing (discoloring the surface) or by removing a coating. The key spec: “Mark contrast: Delta E ≥ 15 against background, tested with consistent lighting.”

But here’s the nuance: on mirror-polished stainless steel, even a fiber laser can struggle. We had to adjust the focus to create a slight texture for the mark to hold. Normal tolerance for focal depth is ±0.1mm; we loosened it to ±0.3mm for that batch, and it worked.

One more thing—I ran a blind test with our design team: same part, fiber laser (annealing) vs. CO2 with marking compound. The fiber laser version was identified as “more professional” by 82% of participants without knowing the difference. The cost increase per part was $0.15. On a 5,000-unit run, that’s $750 for measurably better brand perception. In my book, that’s a no-brainer for customer-facing parts.

How to Determine Which Scenario You're In

Here’s a quick checklist I use when evaluating a new request:

1. What material is it? Wood and food → CO2 laser. Stainless steel → fiber laser. If you’re unsure, check the Novanta material compatibility chart.
2. What is the end use? Consumer-facing products (earrings, food) require tighter surface quality specs. Industrial parts (stainless steel tools) can tolerate more variation.
3. What is your volume? Low-run prototypes (50 units) let you experiment. High-volume orders (5,000+) need locked-down specifications.
4. Do you have a brand reputation to protect? If your client is a luxury brand, invest in the higher-quality solution (fiber laser for metal, air assist for wood).

I hope this helps you make a decision that balances quality, cost, and brand impact. If you’re still unsure, start with a small test batch—it’s cheaper than a redo. (I really should have followed my own advice on that stainless steel job.)