Marking components or workpieces using laser technology is known as laser marking. Lasers leave a permanent mark on materials when their energy irradiates them with energy. Different laser processes are determined by the speed, power, and focus of the laser beam. In addition to laser etching, laser ablation and laser engraving, laser annealing can also be used.
In order to successfully mark your parts, it is critical to choose the correct laser technology and configuration. Before choosing the appropriate laser, it is important to understand what you want to achieve. Examples include:
- Materials, dimensions, and geometry of the part
- Marking time available
- How you produce
Learn how these specifications will determine the type, power, and process of Laser marking Machine you need by reading on.
Table of Contents
1. Absorption Spectra Are Characteristic Of All Materials
Many industrial laser systems emit wavelengths that are invisible to the naked eye, so it is difficult to visualize them. Nonetheless, different materials are affected differently by the wavelength.
Certain wavelengths are absorbed by certain materials and not by others due to their unique compositions. Lasers are highly specialized marking tools because they produce only one wavelength. The requirements for laser use vary from material to material.
If you are using fiber lasers for your material, or CO2 lasers for your material, you’ll need either one.
2. A Fiber Laser Produces A Different Wavelength Than A CO2 Laser
As a result of the gain medium—one of the components of the laser source—different types of lasers emit different wavelengths. The type of laser marking system you need depends on the material you will be marking.
Metals Are Best Marked With Fiber Laser Systems
Solid-state lasers are sometimes considered fiber laser systems. Using Ytterbium-containing rare-earth metal along with an optical fiber, they have developed a laser source. These machines produce laser light of about one micrometer wavelength (1064 nm). Marking with fiber lasers works well for almost all metals.
Organic Materials Are Best Marked With Gas-State Laser Systems
Lasers that use gas for their source are gas-state lasers. Gas lasers are most commonly known as CO2 lasers. With these laser marking systems, laser light is produced with wavelengths ranging from 9,000 to 12,000 nanometers (micrometers). This wavelength range is compatible with nearly any organic compound. However, metals don’t react well with these wavelengths, as they do with fiber laser systems.
3. Different Laser Marking Processes Offer Different Possibilities
Depending on your application, you will need a specific laser marking process. If a mark cannot be erased, you may have to create a highly resistant mark. Perhaps the marking process must fit within a specific cycle time.
Understanding your needs and the production process can help you choose a laser process.
Markings With Lasers Are Resistant
Through laser engraving, part of the material is disintegrated into dust, leaving deep marks in the material. VIN marking, for example, can be done with laser engraving machines, as deep markings ensure durability and prevent falsification. Marks on which shot blasting is to be applied can also be treated with them for protection.
Laser Etching Is Used To Create High-Speed And High-Contrast Markings
When laser marking has to be as quick as possible to integrate into a production line, laser etching is usually applied. Almost instantly, this technology melts the surface of the material, causing bumps to occur on the surface. A high-contrast mark, for example, is created in this way.
Materials That Cannot Be Damaged Are Protected By Laser Annealing
In laser annealing, the material surface undergoes a chemical reaction. The material does not disintegrate, do not displace, or melt. The mark must not harm the stainless steel’s surface since it is one of the few solutions for marking stainless steel. A lot of aesthetic applications use laser annealing, such as logos. This method produces a more beautiful surface finish than any other laser marking process.