The Cheat Sheet: Recommended Guidelines
Still trying to decide? Use these simple rules of thumb to pick the right technology for your application.
✅ Choose Rotary Axis (Mechanical) If:
Full Circumference: You need to mark a logo, text, or pattern that wraps 360° around the object.
Long Cylinders:Â You are marking a long pipe or tube where the text runs along the length but spirals around the diameter.
Budget Priority:Â You have a standard 2D laser and just need to mark a few cups occasionally. Adding a rotary is cheaper than buying a 3D machine.
✅ Choose 3D Dynamic Focus (Optical) If:
Small/Partial Curves: The mark fits within a 60°–80° arc (e.g., a logo on the side of a bearing or mouse).
Stepped Surfaces:Â The part has different height levels (e.g., a staircase shape or a mold cavity).
Inclined/Sloped Surfaces: The surface is angled (e.g., a 45° ramp).
High Volume Production:Â You need to mark thousands of parts per day. The speed advantage of 3D (no mechanical movement) is unbeatable.