[fahque99]

Does anyone know of a small laser engraver that would engrave 0.005" deep into stainless nameplates?

I need that depth and about a 10" x 10" work area. Speed doesn't matter since production in low.

[Litografa]

Stainless steel means you need YAG for engraving, and YAG means $20 000 of landed cost
My advice use third party engraving or (if it's suitable according your technology) buy CO2 laser and engrave with paste. Engraved image will be black and slightly RAISED under surface.

[zax15uk]

Cost effective options are small CNC rotary with floating head, diamond scribe or as Litografa suggested the laser marking additive process using CO2.

Look for Cermark or Thermark and you'll get the tech details. There are other brands and options too, but their sites will let you see what kind of results are possible and how robust the marking is on stainless steel.

If you want fast laser marking, look for an Nd:YAG or Yb:YAG fiber laser with glavo system but expect to pay >$20k. I use Rofin heads and they work well and are ultra reliable (of course my systems cost $200k each).

Zax.