Laser Engraving Silicone: Step-By-Step Guide

Silicone is a synthetic rubber with some magical properties. It’s biocompatible, thermally stable, shock resistant, and impressively elastic. That’s why you’ll find a touch of silicone everywhere, from baby products and fitness bands to tech accessories and kitchenware.

Laser engraving takes silicone to the next level. Want a monogrammed phone case, a branded silicone wristband, or personalized baking mats? Laser engraving makes it possible. And unlike prints, these engravings are durable and won’t fade or wash off over time.

Excited to learn about laser engraving silicone? This guide breaks down the engraving process step-by-step. We’ll walk you through the right engraving tools, and engraving techniques and share project ideas to try once you learn silicone engraving.

How Does Laser Engraving Silicone Work?

Silicone is a very soft, elastic, and thermally insulating material. Engraving isn’t that hard even with mechanical tools however, considering its delicacy one has to be very careful while engraving.

Laser engraving presents a simpler and more precise solution. A focused laser beam vaporizes the silicone, leaving behind a permanent mark. The power of the laser determines the depth of the engraving—the higher the power, the deeper the mark. The best part: the process is fully automated. A digital design is uploaded, parameters are set, and the laser head follows the design with precision.

Best Silicone Engraving Machine

Desktop laser engravers are commonly available in three variants: diode, CO2, and fiber. CO2 and diode are usually preferred for engraving silicone. Although fiber laser can engrave too, it’s more commonly used for business. For beginners and DIYers, diode lasers are the most affordable option.

xTool F1: The Best Portable Laser Engraver for Silicone

Silicone products are usually small accessories like watch bands, phone covers, tags, or kitchenware items. Because of their compact size, you don’t necessarily need a large desktop engraver to work on them. In such cases, a portable laser engraver like the xTool F1 is an excellent choice.

The xTool F1 is compact and portable, designed for convenience. It weighs just 4.6 kg and comes with a handle on the top, which makes it easy to carry. So, whether you’re working in a studio or onsite, F1 is there for you. 

Despite its small size, it packs two powerful laser modules: a 10W diode laser module, perfect for engraving common materials like wood, silicone, leather, glass, and rock, and a 2W 1064nm IR module, which specializes in engraving metals and plastics.

F1 is equipped with cutting-edge galvo-laser technology that allows it to offer industry-level speed and precision. It can engrave materials at an impressive speed of 4000mm/s with a motion accuracy of 0.00199mm. 

For workspace versatility, the xTool F1 offers a 115*115mm work bed, expandable to 400mm with an extension. The machine’s bed can also accommodate xTool rotary attachment, a separate accessory that enables engraving on cylindrical objects like bottles and mugs.

The xTool F1 comes fully assembled right out of the box. Simply connect it to your PC, upload your design, and start engraving. All in all, it’s a convenient tool for anyone looking to engrave silicone and customize other DIY projects with precision.

How to Engrave Silicone?

The process here is explained for a silicone watch band, engraved with xTool F1. The steps will stay similar for other silicone projects.

Step 1: Prepare the Design

If you’re a designer, you can create your design in graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator. Make sure to keep in view the dimensions of the band before design. You don’t have to be very precise, as size adjustments can be made in XCS.

©KarleyHall – YouTube

Another option for those with a non-design background is the AI Make. It’s one of the top image generation software for generating images (patterns and texts) for engraving. You just have to explain the design idea in text (prompt), and it creates a unique silhouette in seconds. 

Step 2: Import and Set up XCS

Open xTool Creative Space and import the saved design. Rotate and align the design as needed. 180° rotation might be required to ensure proper orientation.

Engraving parameters can be set up at this setup, or you do it after focusing the laser. For this project, the engraving parameters were:

Power: 80% | Speed: 200 mm/s | Passes: 3 | Lines per cm: 120 | Bidirectional engraving

Step 3: Place the Band and Focus 

Place the silicone watch band flat onto the cutting platform in the laser bed. Ensure it is properly aligned in the center.

Turn on the laser to display the blue and red beams. Rotate the focus dial until the two beams overlap and create a purple dot. 

Step 4: Framing and Engraving

xTool has a framing option that provides you with a quick review of the laser outline. Set the framing to rectangular mode and see if the outline surrounds the band completely. Adjust and resize the design in real-time if the outline falls outside.

After alignment, close the cover, click “Process” in the software, and hit “Start.” Then press the start button on the xTool F1 machine to begin engraving.

Step 5: Cleanup Post Engraving 

After engraving, the watch band will have a black soot layer on the surface. Clean the watch band using soap, water, and a soft toothbrush to gently scrub off the soot without damaging the engraving.

For enhanced visibility, you can color the engraving with an oil-based paint pen, though lighter silicone colors may not show contrast well. 

In this case, since the band has a singular color, the engraving may not feel that prominent, requiring paint. Another option is using color-filled silicone bands, which show a contrast when engraved. 

Silicone Engraving Projects

Now that you’ve learned the basic know-how of the silicone engraving process, let’s show you some interesting projects that xTool users have created with silicone. 

Customized Rainbow Silicone Watch Band

Get Design and Tutorial at Design Find

Watch bands, particularly those made of silicone, can be stylized via engraving. To create colorful bands like these, use specialized watch bands with laserable rainbow layers. When you engrave and clean the bands, the underlying vibrant colors get exposed, giving a stunning and colorful finish.

Custom Stamp

Get Design and Tutorial at Design Find

You can also create silicone stamps to add a professional or personal touch to crafts, packaging, or branding. All you need is a blank silicone stamp pad and a laser engraver to etch your desired design. Once engraved, the stamp can be used for ink impressions on paper and fabric.

Engraved Silicone Tumbler

Get Design and Tutorial at Design Find

Got a glass tumbler with a silicone outer covering? It’s a perfect canvas for engraving! All you need is an extra rotary attachment, like the xTool RA2 Pro, to securely hold the tumbler. From there, the engraving process is exactly the same: just set up your design and let the laser do the rest. Such customized tumblers are great for gifting.

Engraved Silicone Pet Tag

Get Design and Tutorial at Design Find

Pet tags are one of the best-selling items in online stores, and soft silicone is currently a favorite material. You can get plain silicone tags and engrave them with pet names, addresses, or contact details.

Engraved Phone Cover

©passioneplotter via Design Find

Do you love soft silicone phone cases? Laser engraving lets you customize them with stunning and intricate designs. Like watch bands, specialized phone cases with rainbow-filled layers are also available. Once engraved, these layers are revealed, creating a colorful contrast against the surface.

FAQs of Engraving Silicone

Can you laser engrave silicone?

Yes, silicone can be easily engraved with a laser. CO2 and diode lasers both can efficiently do the job. The former is more powerful while the latter is more affordable.

How to clean silicone after laser engraving?

Simply clean the engraved silicone with mild soap, water, and a soft brush or cloth. This removes the black soot without damaging the design.

Can you laser engrave a silicone phone case?

Lasers can definitely engrave silicone phone cases. In fact, specialized silicone cases with rainbow or colored layers are available. When engraved, these layers get exposed, creating a beautiful contrast.

What’s the laser engraving settings for silicone?

Settings depend on the design depth and laser type. For example, when engraving a silicone watch band with a diode laser, as in xTool F1, we used Power: 80%, Speed: 200 mm/s, and Passes: 3.

Conclusion

Laser engraving silicone is simple and easy with the right set of tools and materials. Besides laser engravers, xTool Material store has other silicone supplies like phone cases, rubber, stamps, pet tags, and more. Grab these high-quality items, customize them, and create products to sell or enjoy for yourself!