Laser Etching Vinyl Records

While laser etching has taken the technology into new realms the age old craft of chemical etching is a more complex and sensitive process not dissimilar to exposing a photographic film.

Laser etching vinyl records.

Laser engraving on vinyl. The laser cutter cannot make such precise cuts because the width of the beam is too large so the grooves on my records are about 1 2 orders of magnitude larger in every dimension than these grooves. The dark objects in the grooves are tiny particles of dust. It would have been cheaper to buy a 400 vinyl cutter or even a 2000 graphtec than to sacrifice a 30 000 laser engraver.

This is a close up image of a vinyl record taken with an electron microscope. It seems like a great idea especially if you choose an image that fits the record you are cutting. In 2016 austrian company rebeat patented a new method for producing vinyl records through laser engraving and with a recent increase in their funding they are now hoping to bring the records to market in 2019. It also fits the recycle upcycle trends.

I decided to give it a try. Although polyvinyl chloride pvc can in fact be cut with laser the thermal process produces hydrochloric acid and toxic fumes. The machine exhaust ducting fan and vent area were all in similar condition. Like coloured vinyl etched records are among the most collectable and visually exciting you can get your hands on.