# Cutting vs Engraving on Metal — What's the Difference? | Craftarea > Source: https://www.craftarea.ge/en/metalze-chra/chra-tu-gravireba-gansxvaveba > Format: text/markdown variant of the HTML page at the same URL > Site: Craftarea — Printing and advertising production in Tbilisi: business cards, stickers, signs, branded clothing and corporate gifts. Discuss your project with Craftarea. # Cutting vs engraving on metal — the difference and how to choose Short answer Cutting passes through the metal to create a contour or hole; engraving marks text, a logo or another image on the surface. Put the two operations on separate layers in the file. Agree the processing method, engraving depth, tolerance and quantity before ordering. Cutting and engraving produce different results. Cutting passes through the metal to separate a shape, hole or contour. Engraving works on the surface to add text, a logo, serial number or QR code. Marking is a broader term and does not always involve material removal. Combining cutting and engraving in one setup depends on equipment, material and fixturing; confirm this capability before ordering. [Get a quote](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/contact)[Metal cutting](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/metalze-chra) ## Key facts Cutting result Through the full thickness — confirm feasibility before ordering Engraving depth Depth depends on material and method Cutting positional tolerance Tolerance by specification Cut and engrave together Separate layers; agree whether one setup is feasible Typical engraving use 4 cases: logo, text, serial number, QR code Typical cutting use 4 cases: contour, hole, letters, pattern Minimum order Confirm quantity before ordering Quote turnaround Timing by agreement ## What's the technical difference between cutting and engraving? Cutting passes through the full metal thickness to create a contour or hole. Engraving removes surface material to leave an image; marking is broader and can also involve a colour change. These operations may require different lasers, settings or fixturing, so one-machine processing is not assumed. Assess engraving depth, readability and effects on strength for the part’s intended use. - Cutting = full separation or opening through the material's thickness - Engraving — surface material removal to a specified depth - Marking — a broader term, not always a synonym for engraving ## When should you choose cutting, and when engraving? The rule is simple. If the part needs a new shape, that's cutting. If the part needs information on it, that's engraving. Choose cutting for signage letters, a panel pattern, mounting holes, a keychain outline — anywhere a new piece has to come out of the sheet. Choose engraving when the part already exists or is a plain flat piece and only needs a name, logo, serial number, date, or QR code added. Often you need both: a door plate is cut to size first, then engraved with the apartment number; a name keychain is cut to shape first, then engraved with the name. In that case, order both as one job. ## Can cutting and engraving be done on one part at the same time? Prepare cut contours and engraved elements on separate layers in one vector file. Whether both can run in one setup must be confirmed for the equipment and material. Examples include a shaped award with a name, a door plate with a number, or a business card with an outline and text. When nesting several parts on a sheet, agree spacing and each part’s markings. ## Why is engraving sometimes the better choice? Highly reflective and thin metals — copper, brass, 0.5-1mm aluminum — are more predictable to engrave than to cut with fine detail: beam reflection affects cut precision and edge quality far more than it affects surface marking. So on small decorative items — medals, badges, metal business cards — the usual approach is to cut a simple outer shape from a more stable material such as stainless steel, then engrave all the fine detail. The result is more repeatable than trying to cut the same pattern through a thin, reflective sheet. ## How different is the price between cutting and engraving? They are calculated by different formulas. Cutting price is driven by total cut length, material thickness, and the number of holes; engraving price by the area covered and how detailed the artwork is. In practice, engraving short text and a small logo is faster and cheaper than cutting a complex contour on a part of the same size, though the final ratio always depends on the specific file and the batch size. Confirm the minimum quantity before ordering. ## Cutting vs engraving on metal — comparison | Parameter | Cutting | Engraving | | --- | --- | --- | | Result | Part is separated or opened — new shape, hole, contour | A mark stays on the surface, part stays whole | | Depth into material | Full thickness; confirm feasibility | Surface treatment; depth depends on method | | Precision | Tolerance by specification | Assess detail size and readability with a sample | | Typical use | Shapes, holes, contours, letters, patterns | Logos, text, serial numbers, QR codes | | Effect on strength | Changes the part's shape and weight | Depends on depth and the part’s intended use | | File preparation | Closed contours, on their own layer | Text or logo on its own layer | | Minimum order | Confirm quantity before ordering | Confirm quantity before ordering | ## How It Works 1. 1 ### Decide whether you need a shape or a marking If the part needs a new contour or a hole, that's cutting. If the part already exists and only needs a logo, name, or number, that's engraving. Needing both is perfectly normal. 2. 2 ### Choose material and thickness Specify metal grade, thickness and surface. Cutting feasibility and engraving appearance vary by material; agree a sample before ordering where needed. 3. 3 ### Prepare a vector file with separate layers Put the cut contour and the engraved element on separate layers. Contours must be closed, and text should be converted to outlines. 4. 4 ### Agree the two operations Send the file to info@craftbox.ge. Identify cut contours and engraving requirements separately; confirm feasibility, any sample and the complete timeline before ordering. ## Frequently Asked Questions Does engraving weaken a metal part? The effect depends on engraving depth, part thickness and loading. For a functional or load-bearing part, assess permissible depth and strength requirements before ordering. Can I bring a part that's already cut just to have it engraved? Send a photo, dimensions, material and surface information for the existing part. Confirm fixturing and engraving feasibility before ordering; if both cutting and engraving are needed, mark both requirements in one drawing. Are engraving and marking the same thing? Marking is a broad term that may involve changing surface colour or properties; engraving generally involves material removal. Specify the desired appearance and depth before ordering. Which takes longer — cutting or engraving? Time depends on cut length, engraved area and depth, material and quantity. The complete schedule also includes file preparation and fixturing; confirm it before ordering. Can several parts be cut and engraved on one sheet? Several parts may be nested on one sheet depending on the process and geometry. Agree spacing, each marking and whether cutting and engraving can use one setup before ordering. Does engraving show up the same on every metal? No. Matte and brushed surfaces such as stainless steel give a high-contrast, easy-to-read mark, while polished or mirror surfaces show noticeably lower contrast. A test sample can be requested to see the exact result first. Do you offer deep, machined engraving? Deep engraving and laser surface marking require different processes. Specify depth, material and part dimensions; confirm method, equipment capability and provider before ordering. Does engraving need extra finishing afterward? Usually not — an engraved surface is ready straight off the machine, with no sanding or paint needed. Cut parts sometimes need edge cleanup, which is confirmed up front when the order is placed. ## Related Services [Metal Cutting — Full Service](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/metalze-chra)[Custom Metal Gifts — Keychains, Medals, Awards](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/metalze-chra/litonis-sachukrebi-lazerit)[Metal Nameplates and Door/Number Plates](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/metalze-chra/litonis-tablichka-da-nomris-dapa)[Engraving on Metal](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/lazer/gravireba-metalze)[Laser Engraving — Full Service](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/lazer/lazeruli-gravireba)[Laser Cutting and Engraving Combined](https://www.craftarea.ge/en/lazer/lazeruli-chra-da-gravireba) ## Ready to order? Send your artwork, quantity and preferred deadline — we will confirm pricing and production details after reviewing the project. 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