Engrave and inspect a bare, known laser-compatible wooden insert before a resin artist begins the pour. The order matters: once the insert is embedded or coated, its surface and material identity have changed. Keep every resin product, uncured mixture and unknown coating away from the laser. This is a handoff between two makers, so agree on the orientation and visible face before either person starts.
OMTech's laser and resin project guide describes a sequence of planning the mark, processing the wood, cleaning it and only then pouring resin. Its CO2 machine examples are not TYVOK P2 settings. The useful lesson for a small P2 insert is the sequence and a physical approval sample.
Mark the face that will remain visible
A resin artist may position the wood under a clear layer, beside a colored river, or in a shallow recess. Ask for a sketch showing the final viewing direction. Put a small pencil arrow on the unmarked reverse for the handoff, then remove that temporary cue after assembly. If the artwork includes a date, name or tiny emblem, proof it at the insert's actual size. A large screen preview cannot tell you whether a letter remains readable through the final placement.
| Before the laser | What to hand over |
|---|---|
| Bare wood species and coating status confirmed | Supplier identification for the insert |
| Visible face and top edge agreed | One physical marked sample |
| Name and spelling approved | A copy of the approved artwork |
| Soot cleaned from the mark | A dry, inspected insert ready for the resin maker |
The resin maker decides how to seal, bond and pour the material according to that product's instructions. The laser sample proves the engraving, not future adhesion, optical clarity or food-contact suitability. If a customer asks for a cutting board, handle its food-use requirements separately rather than treating the decorative insert as certification.
Fit the insert to the P2 workflow
The TYVOK P2 is a compact blue-diode galvo machine. Use only a small bare wood insert that fits the selected live configuration and can be safely held flat. Frame it, test a spare from the same material, supervise the mark with suitable extraction, and inspect the actual piece. Do not try to mark an already poured unknown resin surface with this workflow.
When several pieces are commissioned, compare a sample from the next wood lot before repeating the mark. Another small-object lesson is to decide where a pen name remains visible after assembly: the final viewing state matters more than an isolated flat proof.
Can I engrave after the resin has cured?
Do not assume so. A cured resin is a different material from the approved bare wood insert; obtain its exact composition and manufacturer guidance before considering any laser process. This guide's wood-first sequence avoids that unknown exposure.
Should the resin maker receive the original file or the marked piece?
Send the inspected physical piece and an approval image with orientation. Share editable artwork only when the project agreement calls for it; the finished mark is the acceptance sample for the laser step.
