FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Laser Engraving & Cutting

2D & 3D Crystal Cubes

CNC Machining

3D Printing


FAQs: Services

CNC Machining Services — Precision cutting and shaping for wood and plastic materials.

Laser Engraving Services — High‑detail engraving on metals, glass, wood, acrylic, and more.

CO₂ Laser Cutting — Clean, accurate cutting for non‑metal materials like wood, acrylic, plastics, rubber, and paper.

2D / 3D Crystal Subsurface Engraving — Stunning, high‑clarity images and designs etched inside K9 crystal blocks.

3D Printing Services — From hobby‑grade filaments to engineering‑grade materials for functional parts.

CAD Design & Modeling — Creation of production‑ready CAD files for manufacturing, prototyping, and custom fabrication.

(Full Materials Listing Below)

We do not CNC machine metals.

Our CNC systems are optimized for wood and plastics (Full List Below “Materials We CNC Cut”)

Specifications of our machine:  (Full List Below “CNC Machining Capacity”)

We do not laser cut metals

Our cutting services are for non-metal materials  (Full List Below “Materials We Laser Cut”)

2D & 3D crystal subsurface engraving is completed in house. This advanced process allows photos, portraits, logos, models, and award designs to appear suspended within the crystal, creating a bright, detailed, floating 3D effect with absolutely no surface damage. We carry multiple crystal shapes and sizes in stock, and in many cases we can complete crystal engraving the same day, depending on artwork readiness and availability. You simply provide the photo, logo, or details, and we take care of the rest. Every subsurface crystal we produce comes with a custom in‑house supporting base, ensuring a clean, professional display right out of the box.

Single Print Specifications – 325 × 320 × 325 mm

(Full List Below “Materials We 3D Print”)

FAQs: Materials

We Can Engrave Almost Anything

We can engrave almost anything on nearly any type of surface, as long as the material is laser-safe. If you are unsure about a material, we can review it and confirm compatibility.

Metals

  • Stainless steel
  • Aluminum
  • Copper
  • Steel
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Titanium
  • Tungsten
  • Bare metals
  • Powder-coated metals
  • Tools, knives, tags, plates
  • Most precious and specialty metals

Metal engraving produces clean, permanent, high-contrast results suitable for identification, branding, and personalization.

Wood

  • Hardwoods
  • Softwoods
  • Plywood
  • MDF
  • Veneers
  • Bamboo
  • Finished wood
  • Unfinished wood

Wood engraves with natural contrast and exceptional clarity.

Plastics & Acrylic

  • Lamacoid
  • ABS
  • Polycarbonate
  • PETG
  • Plexiglass / PMMA
  • Acrylic sheets
  • Acrylic awards
  • Delrin / acetal
  • UHMW (results vary by type)

Plastics produce smooth, sharp engraving results.

Glass & Crystal

  • Drinking glasses
  • Bottles
  • Jars
  • Flat glass
  • Curved glass
  • Crystal awards
  • K9 crystal blocks

We engrave almost any type of glass. Both surface engraving and detailed 2D/3D subsurface engraving inside crystal are available.

Leather

  • Full-grain leather
  • Top-grain leather
  • Veg-tan leather
  • Chrome-tan leather
  • Sheet leather
  • Wallets, belts, patches, bags, and more

Leather engraves with a rich, branded finish.

Synthetic Leather

  • PU leather
  • Faux leather
  • Vegan leather patches
  • Custom synthetic leather labels
  • Small-quantity specialty runs available

Synthetic leather engraves cleanly and is ideal for patches, labels, apparel accents, and promotional products.

Stone & Marble

  • Slate
  • Granite
  • Marble
  • Travertine
  • Common stone
  • Onyx
  • Other natural or polished stone types

Stone engraving produces a light, textured contrast suitable for décor, awards, memorials, and signage.

Tumblers & Drinkware

  • Stainless steel tumblers
  • Powder-coated cups
  • Travel mugs
  • Water bottles
  • Yeti and Stanley-style cups

Engraving removes the coating to reveal clean, permanent artwork that will not fade.

High-Volume Production Capacity

We can batch-engrave up to 180 tumblers in a single day, making us an excellent choice for corporate branding, events, promotions, and repeat production orders.

Other Laser-Safe Materials

  • Rubber
  • Ceramics
  • Cork
  • Canvas
  • Cotton
  • Denim
  • Felt
  • EVA foam
  • Craft foam
  • Cardboard
  • Paperboard
  • Composite materials
  • Many other laser-safe surfaces

When in doubt, ask us — we will review the item to confirm engravability.

  • Wood (hardwoods & softwoods)
  • Plywood
  • MDF
  • Acrylic
  • Cardboard
  • Paper
  • Leather
  • Fabric (cotton, felt, polyester)
  • EVA foam
  • Rubber (laser‑safe, non‑PVC)
  • Cork

Woods 

Hardwoods

  • Maple
  • Oak
  • Walnut
  • Cherry
  • Hickory
  • Ash
  • Alder
  • Mahogany
  • Basswood
  • Birch
  • Beech
  • Teak
  • Poplar
  • Aspen
  • Elm
  • Sycamore

Softwoods

  • Pine
  • Cedar
  • Spruce
  • Fir
  • Hemlock
  • Redwood

Engineered Woods

  • Birch plywood
  • Baltic birch plywood
  • MDF (medium-density fiberboard)
  • Veneered plywood
  • Particle board

Plastics

  • Acrylic (cast & extruded)
  • Polycarbonate
  • HDPE
  • PVC (rigid sheets)
  • Delrin / Acetal
  • ABS
  • UHMW
  • PETG
  • Polypropylene

 

Standard 3D Printing Filaments

  • PLA
  • PETG
  • TPU (flexible)
  • ABS
  • ASA
  • PET

Support Materials

  • PVA
  • BVOH

Engineering‑Grade Filaments

  • PC (Polycarbonate)
  • PA (Nylon)
  • PPS
  • PPA‑CF / PPA‑GF (fiber‑reinforced nylons)

Fiber‑Reinforced Filaments

  • Carbon Fiber Reinforced PLA
  • Carbon Fiber Reinforced PETG
  • Carbon Fiber Reinforced PA
  • Carbon Fiber Reinforced PET
  • Carbon Fiber Reinforced PC
  • Carbon Fiber Reinforced ABS
  • Carbon Fiber Reinforced ASA
  • Glass Fiber Reinforced PA
  • Glass Fiber Reinforced PET
  • Glass Fiber Reinforced PC
  • Glass Fiber Reinforced ABS
  • Glass Fiber Reinforced ASA
  • PPS‑CF / PPS‑GF

FAQs: Capabilities & Specs

Cutting Size (4×4 Capacity): Supports material sizes up to 48″ × 48″, ideal for precision CNC machining of wood and plastics.

Maximum Cut Area: Full 4′ × 4′ machining workspace, allowing efficient processing of sheet goods and custom components.

Machining Tolerance: Designed to maintain high accuracy with a machining tolerance of ±0.03″, ensuring clean, repeatable cuts.

Material Hold‑Down: Multi‑zone vacuum table with integrated T‑slots provides secure, stable clamping for consistent machining quality.

High‑Power Spindle: 12 HP air‑cooled spindle (8,000–24,000 RPM) for fast, smooth, and precise cutting performance.

Automatic Tool Changer: 8‑position ATC (Automatic Tool Changer) improves workflow speed and reduces setup time for multi‑tool jobs.

Servo Motor Precision: Servo‑driven motion system delivers smooth, accurate toolpaths for reliable, high‑quality machining.

 Pneumatic Rollers: Provides strong downward pressure to prevent material shifting during cutting operations.

Laser engraving and cutting varies depending on the technology used in‑house from small trinket sizes to full 4′ x 8′ sheets.

Laser engraving produces crisp, highly detailed results for fine text, intricate artwork, logos, and photo‑style engravings on suitable surfaces.   Engraving sizes can be as small as 0.75mm.

Mopa-Fiber Laser

High‑contrast engraving on metals such as stainless steel and aluminum. Ideal for tags, tools, plates, and durable identification.

UV Laser

Low‑heat marking for plastics, electronics, and glass. Perfect for fine detail on sensitive or heat‑reactive materials.

CO2 Laser

Engraves and cuts non‑metals like wood, acrylic, leather, rubber, and cardboard. Great for signage, décor, templates, and production cutting.

Green Laser

Creates precise 2D/3D subsurface engravings inside K9 crystal, making images and logos appear suspended within the block.

FAQs: Files & Design

We offer CAD design and can convert sketches or ideas into production‑ready drawings for machining, engraving, or 3D printing.

Common formats include DXF, SVG, AI, EPS, PDF (vector for engraving/cutting) and STL (for 3D printing). For images, any standard file format will work such as JPG, GIF, BMP, and more. If you’re unsure, send what you have — we’ll advise.

  • Vector artwork: DXF / SVG / AI / EPS / PDF (outline/convert fonts to curves).
  • Dimensions: Include exact sizes, units, and material thickness.
  • Images: Any standard format works (JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP). Provide the highest resolution you have for best results.
  • Tolerances & finishes: Note critical dimensions, alignment, orientation, paint/contrast fill, or masking if required.
  • For 3D printing: STL files are preferred. Include intended scale, orientation, and any strength or layer‑height requirements.

Many materials naturally develop their own color when engraved. For example, clear acrylic typically engraves to a clean white finish. Wood, plastics, glass, and other materials each produce their own unique tone or contrast when lasered. Some metals can also achieve a full color spectrum when engraved using specialized settings. If you’re aiming for a specific appearance, we can explain how each material will react and what finish you can expect.

FAQs: Ordering & Turnaround

We’re known for fast, reliable turnaround. We often complete smaller projects the same day, and we offer the fastest turnaround time in Calgary (subject to schedule and material availability). Complex or high‑volume jobs may take longer — share your timeline and we’ll recommend the best path.

Lead times depend on material, complexity, and volume. Many jobs complete in days, and rush/same‑day may be available. For a quote, send your files, material, size, quantity, and due date — we’ll respond quickly with options and the fastest path.

Yes — everything from single custom items to large industrial/corporate runs with repeatable quality.

We handle one‑offs as well as large production runs. There is no minimum order amount, but depending on setup/time, a minimum shop charge may apply. We’ll outline any minimums or setup fees clearly in your quote.

Email support@mancavemachining.com or call (403) 619‑1852 with your files, quantities, material, and deadline — or use our Contact/Quote form. We’ll respond quickly and help map the best path.

FAQs: Policies, Safety & Reviews

We support local Calgary hand‑off/pickup and shipping for out‑of‑area jobs. Provide your address and timeline during quoting for the best method.

Yes — most customer‑supplied items are fine, and if you can source material cheap – we welcome that.

Note that some finishes/coatings react differently; we’ll assess risk before proceeding and recommend test marks where possible.

We do not CNC machine metals and do not laser‑cut metals. We also avoid materials that emit hazardous fumes when lasered (e.g., certain vinyls/PVC). Share your material at intake — we’ll confirm safety and compatibility.

On request, we can provide digital proofs and recommend test marks for unknown or sensitive materials. Sample/test fees may apply depending on complexity and material.

Yes, we can securely retain job files for easy reorders upon request. If you prefer not to retain files, let us know and we’ll follow your preference.

Customers highlight our responsiveness, quality, and fast turnaround — especially on short‑notice jobs.

For safety and quality: no PVC/vinyl or unknown composites that release harmful fumes; no pressurized containers or batteries; metals are engraved only (no metal cutting) and CNC is for wood & plastics only.

When in doubt, ask us to review your material.