Stamp Engraving Tips and Tricks

It is quick and easy to laser engrave stamp text plates. Below is a guide for engraving the perfect stamp in 3 steps, including tips on what to consider when laser processing rubber stamps.

3 steps to engraving the perfect stamp Tips for laser processing

3 steps to making the perfect stamp

Step 1: Draw the stamp layout in the graphics program

Create the layout the way you want it to be printed on the paper. No mirroring or inverting of the graphic in the graphics program is necessary when creating a stamp. Select the “Stamp” process type in the printer driver and the graphic is automatically mirrored or inverted for laser processing. Even the cutting line can be selected in the printer driver for automatic cutting so that it does not have to be specially drawn.

Step 2: Printer settings

Select the following settings in the printer driver:

Size: Enter the size of the stamp, or if a Trodat stamp is used, simply select it from the list
Materials: Rubber - here, we revert back to the tested laser parameters from our material database.
Process type: Stamp - the layout for the engraving is automatically mirrored and inverted
Resolution: 600 dpi or more
Cutting line: optimized - the cutting line is adapted to the layout and thus prevents an impression of the layout background
Raster algorithm: Black-white
Shoulders: Standard: medium

Step 3: Laser process

Start the laser process. When completed, clean the rubber stamp in the ultrasonic bath or with water and a brush before sticking the lasered rubber in the stamp.

Download: Instructions for stamp engraving

Things to consider when processing rubber stamps with a laser engraver

How deep does the engraving need to be to produce a clean impression?

The parameters for Trodat Aero rubber stamps are stored in the JobControl® material database where the engraving depth is set automatically. In order to get a good impression when using another rubber stamp, make sure that the engraving depths of stamps are about 1.1 mm.

What are shoulders?

To obtain a clean, detailed impression on paper, it is important to create "shoulders." Shoulders are used to give the letters and characters of a stamp text plate more stability at the base. Depending on the fineness of the stamp, the following shoulder settings can be selected in the JobControl® software:

Steep: suitable for large areas
Medium: well suited for standard text stamps
Flat: ideal for fine fonts

Why you should use an extraction system

When processing rubber stamps dust and odour is released, making it important to ensure that an efficient extraction system, equipped with a good proportion of activated carbon,is used for the removal of dust particles and odours. We also recommend engraving the stamp plate from the top down, so that the engraving quality is not affected by dust particles.

More about extraction systems

Which lens to use for making the text plate

For texts and images with delicate details, we recommend using the 1.5” lens.

More about lenses

How to maximize stamp engraving efficiency

Laser engraving rubber requires a relatively high power output to achieve a certain level of productivity. The more power the laser machine has, the faster the job is completed. In addition, there is a “link” function in the JobControl^® software. By activating this function, small connecting bridges are automatically set between the laser-engraved and cut text plates, which allows you to engrave and clean an entire DIN A4 stamp plate in one process, after which the individual text plates can simply be broken out, thus significantly increasing your output coompared to the process of creating individual stamp motifs.

More about laser engraving stamps

When compared with other available technologies, there are many unique and unbeatable advantages in using lasers for producing rubber stamps, such as engraving textplates for stamps, seal presses, signs, business cards and many other items.

Producing stamps with the laser engraving machine