Laser element marking is huge in numerous industries due to the high need for part traceability, branding, and other motives. it’s far an intensive marking gadget with several approaches and marking technology leading to many questions about how to use the manner to improve pleasant, reduce counterfeiting, and extra.
mastering approximately the right laser marking technology may be difficult for the ones without information on laser marking. There are five foremost laser marking era, each with its specific attributes. consequently, there are many matters to remember while selecting the most effective generation. this text will supply a short overview of laser marking technologies and the way you could pick out the proper one to your mission.
The 5 Laser Marking generation
There are 5 one-of-a-kind laser marking technology. beneath is a quick creation to what they entail, their variations, particular functions, advantages, and downsides.
· CO2 Laser generation
The CO2 laser technology is an easy-to-use generation best for creating lengthy-lasting and 86f68e4d402306ad3cd330d005134dac engravings on thick natural substances (larger than 5mm). Machines the use of the era usually have sealed-tube laser marking systems with galvo-advised beams of approximately 10,600nm that deliver a non-contrast mark. therefore, it’s far the right option to replace other marking technology like dot pen and inkjet when running with non-metals.
The CO2 laser markers are the oldest laser technology, and they do not require an awful lot protection. consequently, they’ve lowers expenses. additionally they have fast processing, which improves their productivity. they’re applicable in marking polyvinyl chloride (%) pipes, cellular communique gadgets, building materials, and food and pharmaceutical packaging.
backside line: CO2 lasers produce 86f68e4d402306ad3cd330d005134dac marks on rubber, wood, cardboard, plastics, glass, and product packaging. they are a value-powerful alternative for marking the date, codes, serial numbers, and other product identity.
· Fiber Lasers technology
Fiber laser era is suitable for engraving substances like metals, rubbers, and plastics because of its high wavelength (780nm to 2200nm). The excessive wavelength makes it a suitable technology for everlasting and difficult to eliminate markings. moreover, the markings are of exquisite exceptional. therefore, laser engraving, cutting, and annealing are quality with fiber lasers.
Fiber lasers own a completely negligible focal diameter. This makes them amazing, specifically for permanently marking identity numbers, barcodes, and linear barcodes on metal.
bottom line: The technology is suitable for portraits, identity numbers, 2nd data matrix, and barcode marking on one-of-a-kind substances. those consist of metals, ceramics, and plastics.
· Diode-Pumped Laser era
Diode-pumped laser equipment technology is appropriate for marking plastic or anodized aluminum or developing a contrasting mark on a product. This laser produces short pulses with about three times the regular fiber lasers. therefore, the resulting marks are clean and fragile with negligible outside floor damage.
Diode-pumped laser era is the most suitable while applications want sufficient peak energy, along with deep engraving and high throughput. The laser may either engrave or cut. common materials well suited with the method encompass wood, aluminum, cardboard, marble, metal, glass, and stone. you may additionally use it with some commonplace classes of plastics
bottom line: Diode-pumped lasers produce sharpened, high assessment markings for easier studying on scanners or barcodes, along improved process traceability.
· green Laser era
inexperienced Laser Marking technology is a cold laser era designed to mark merchandise with enormously reflective surfaces together with silicon wafers. green laser markers function in the green near-IR seen light spectrum (at 532 nm) and power degrees of 5-10 watts generating excessive precision markings. due to the wavelength, there is a extra heat absorption, making marking greater effective.
backside line: green laser markers have an accuracy of up to ten µm. they’re appropriate for marking tender plastics, PCB boards, and integrated Circuit Chips
· UV Laser era
Ultraviolet (UV) is a band of the electromagnetic spectrum having a wavelength of 10 nm to four hundred nm. UV laser markers are bloodless and perfect for marking thermolabile merchandise. They produce a 355 UV laser wavelength appropriate for marking merchandise made from materials such as plastics, ceramics, and glass with out the want for components.
bottom line: UV laser markers produce 86f68e4d402306ad3cd330d005134dac beams, making them best for marking micro-mark electronics, circuit boards, and microchips. they may be additionally the right markers for particular medical device marking
the way to select the proper Laser Marking era
You need to take a look at and consider three fundamental elements before selecting the right laser marking technology.
· variety #1: cloth
the primary issue that must come to mind is the kind of fabric you want to mark. Materials that can be marked with lasers are divided into two categories: organic materials and non-organic materials. natural materials are carbon-primarily based substances from residing organisms together with timber, glass, paper, and plastic are examples of organic materials. Non-natural materials consist of metals, forged aluminum, and metal.
The material you want to mark using a laser ought to be well suited with the marking generation. as an example, UV and green laser marking are suitable for thermolabile substances. Fiber laser machines are suitable for non-natural substances, at the same time as CO2 laser technology is used for organic substances.
· variety #2: sort of Mark
There are exceptional approaches laser marking may be finished, every with distinctiveness in phrases of what the marks look like. because of the type of marks acquired, each one has distinct packages. as an instance, barcode marking would require you to have a darkish or frosty mark so that people will now not have a hassle reading the codes
each generation used for laser marking has numerous talents that result in one-of-a-kind forms of marks. selecting the most suitable form of mark is a vital step. below are the common sorts of laser marks.
– Engraving
Laser engraving entails using a laser beam to bodily peel off a material’s outer surface, leaving a visible engraved mark. it’s miles the maximum common approach for customizing and personalizing one of a kind products. you can have specific laser marking generation depending on the material, although fiber laser markers are the maximum common. Laser engravable materials include wooden and plywood, leathers, and glass. Bricks and stones.
– Etching
Laser etching involves the use of a laser beam to soften and lift a cloth’s outer floor, leaving a seen engraved mark. it’s miles like laser engraving and is also relevant for customizing and personalizing exclusive merchandise. but, not like engraving, it has wider material helps and lower reduce intensity, decreasing the markings’ permanency. Fiber laser markers are the handiest laser etching machines due to the excessive power required
– Layer removal
Laser layer removal entails vaporizing the masking layer of a product the usage of a laser beam. This makes the main material seen again and outcomes in a marking effect. This technique is suitable for not directly marking label-covered substances such as laser marking movies and painted base materials. The laser era relies upon at the material, with CO2 laser engraving machines and fiber laser marking generation being the maximum not unusual.
– Carbon Migration
they may be additionally known as ‘black annealing.’ It entails heating the fabric to deliver the carbon to its floor due to its launch from carbon-containing compounds. consequently, the surface turns into dark, and black laser marking is every now and then left at the back of. Metals and now and again metal alloys may be used.
– Bonding
Laser bonding is an additive method that involves binding every other cloth to the floor of the material being marked. not like other techniques, it does now not eliminate part of the substances you need to mark. it is not unusual to mark glass, stoneware, and metals.
· wide variety #three: safety issues
the subsequent thing to recall is the area of the laser marking gadget. these include the putting, the kind of region (whether or not constrained or not), the presence of other marking systems, and the hazards that accompany the technology.
in case your laser engraving gadget is ready on an open shop floor, you have to be assisted with installing a category I safety device by means of your provider. a category I protection system contains a laser-safe cage, warning lighting fixtures, and curtains to enable safe access and different protection features.
some other option is a laser pc with a category I safety confinement and a laser source. An remoted room that meets positive safety criteria, together with protection goggles, location posting, and a key transfer, might be needed to meet safety requirements if you have a category IV laser.
conclusion
you may effortlessly choose the proper laser marking generation on your undertaking with the knowledge above. Fiber and CO2 laser markers are the most commonplace of the extraordinary laser marking generation because of their powerful nature. Fiber laser markers paintings with metals, at the same time as CO2 laser era is appropriate only for non-metals. Do you have a question about the use of the technology, or do you need to get machines that deliver best?
