Engraving wood, creating art: 1980.

Besides the widely recognized applications of laser technology in science, medicine and even entertainment, the concept is being accepted as a proven method in the wood products industry. A recent development in sawmills has been the use of laser scanning devices to measure and align boards to be sawn, optimizing yield and accuracy.

Another application involves the manufacturing of laser-beam-engraved wood products. For the past three years, Lasermation Inc., a Philadelphia, PA-based company, has been making unique wood art in the form of plaques, clocks, desk accessories and other items.

The intricate design patterns are achieved by programming the desired results into a computer, which is connected to the laser machine. Combining these two machines, the laser beam strikes the surface of the material, instantly raising the surface to the melting and vaporizing temperature, typically 3000F.

Tom Hurley, executive vice president of Lasermation, said that neither embossing nor routing would work as well because "if you crush it in, the fiber wouldn't take it and the wood wouldn't either. Also, the detail wouldn't be there. Michelangelo couldn't carve this detail."