Using a beam of concentrated light, laser marking creates a lasting mark on a surface that cannot be removed. Laser marking encompasses a wide range of applications using fiber, pulsed, continuous wave, green, or UV laser machines. The most common applications of laser marking are:
- Annealing
- Migration of carbon
- Discoloration
- Engraving
- Etching
In addition to leaving permanent traceability marks on a variety of materials, laser marking can be automated and processed at high speeds. These materials include steel, titanium, aluminum, copper, ceramic, plastic, glass, wood, paper, and cardboard. In addition to text marks (like serial numbers and part numbers), parts and products can also be marked with machine-readable data (like barcodes, unique ID codes, and 2D Data Matrix codes).
LASER MARKING: HOW IT WORKS
LASERS: A SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, or LASER, actually stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. An atom is stimulated so that light particles are released, resulting in a laser beam. Laser marking areas can be marked with concentrated light. A wavelength or nanometer (NM) is the measure of the energy released. Laser beam power increases as wavelength increases.
For example, a UV laser with a wavelength of around 355NM can mark heat-sensible materials like plastics with a lower power. Due to their low energy output, UV lasers and other “cold lasers” machines are excellent for many organic or soft products, since they are less likely to burn the material. For marking harder materials, such as metal, a fiber laser operates at approximately 1070NM, providing significantly higher power.
With laser marking, there are no consumables and less maintenance compared to print or labeling, which are non-permanent markings. Moreover, we offer quick and reliable customer service, including free marking samples, fast response times, and a fast response time.
USE OF A LASER MARKING MACHINE
Laser marking systems vary slightly in their operation, and there are several types to choose from. You should also consider the material you’re working with and the application you’re going to use when using the machine. The resources provided by MECCO include video tutorials and detailed documentation to help you operate and troubleshoot your machine.
Safety guidelines should be followed when using laser marking machines. Laser marking is relatively safe thanks to a variety of preventative measures, including safety enclosures.
LASER MARKERS HAVE MANY BENEFITS
The laser marking process can provide manufacturers with many advantages, including basic part identification, branding, and complete traceability. With laser marking machines, direct part marking produces readable, durable marks. Some of the results of these high quality scores are:
- Enhanced productivity and efficiency with fewer wastes and downtimes
- Supply chain transparency and accountability
- Ensured quality and counterfeiting issues were minimized
- Consistently adhered to industry regulations
LaserAx lasers are faster and have a higher readability rate every time they are benchmarked. Providing the right tools is important to ensuring consistent results. Air knives prevent dust from collecting on the lens, and autofocus adjusts markings based on positioning variations.
