Wow! I can't believe 7 years have passed since I made this video and posted it to Youtube.
I made this video for a friend of mine who sells promotional products at http://www.tgaa.ca in an effort to show people how laser engraving is actually done. I had no idea myself and was eager to make the video for him so that I could see it for myself. It is much less complicated than I had imagined. In essence, the laser printer is much like a regular ink-jet printer, except that instead of ink streaming from the machine, it shoots out a laser beam that etches the material to be printed upon. The strength of the laser beam can be adjusted for printing on different materials much like the ink printer can be adjusted for the type of paper used. A computer file is used to guide the laser the same way an ink printer is guided by a computer file!
Now we even have 3D printers that can print physical objects! Very exciting stuff.
I just love technology!