How to Laser-Engrave Sterling Silver

Some jewelry owners have special pieces of jewelry engraved to create personalized keepsakes. Jewelers use laser-engraving machines to etch the requested lettering and designs; the machines work by vaporizing the metal the jewelry is made of with a laser. Though a jeweler usually performs the engraving, it's easy enough for an apprentice to learn with a bit of practice.

Instructions

1

Determine the pattern to be engraved on the sterling silver jewelry.

2

Design the pattern using Computer-Aided Design software (such as AutoCAD). Ensure that the software is compatible with the laser-engraving machine.

3

Save the file as a Drawing Interchange Format or Drawing Exchange Format (DXF) compatible with the 2004 or earlier version of your Computer-Aided Design software.

4

Position the piece of jewelry in the laser-engraving machine. Secure it with the clamps and position the security devices as required by the machine; they may vary depending on the machine's model and make.

5

Configure and set up the machine with the desired file and settings. Select the appropriate material type -- in this case, sterling silver -- and size in the machine's technical settings.

6

Begin the engraving process by clicking the "Start" button on the machine. Watch the machine to ensure that all the settings selected -- such as size and lettering pattern -- are being followed. Ensure that material dislodged during the engraving process is being removed by the machine's extraction device.