Unlike marking processes such as dot peen, the laser marking system is compatible with a wide collection of materials. Below are the compatible materials and the type of laser marking obtained.
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Laser marking can be performed on metals using the following laser marking techniques. Each technique marks a specific feature; hence they have specific functions. Below are the common laser marking techniques in relation to metals and their characteristics.
In laser annealing, the laser marker generates a laser beam, which heats the surface where marks appear due to oxidation. The surface gets its colored appearance because of the composition and thickness of the oxide layer.
This laser marking method removes coating or lacquer layers from the base material. For example, the ablation of the oxide layer of anodized aluminum exposes the metal beneath it. Due to the high temperatures ablation markers produce, they heat the surface past its vaporization point. While not damaging the base material, your marking pattern or text is visible.
This laser marking technique changes specular reflection by removing material from the surface. It mostly applies to metals. There is an optimal frequency and speed so that evaporation can occur for the material. Laser markers with short pulses and high peak power generally give the best results and are best suited for these applications.
There are three techniques when marking a plastic material. They include
In laser foaming, the laser machine beam heats the polymer to a given, so some elements begin to foam. Due to the volume change, the material bulges outward, producing clear and textured marks.
The laser color change heats the plastic in precise spots and gets darker (e.g., carbonization) or lighter (e.g., bleaching). The exact outcome depends on the type and composition of the plastic or polymer.
Aside from metals and plastics, the laser marking system is also compatible with other composite materials such as ceramic, paper, and wood using techniques such as laser engraving and laser annealing. Furthermore, the marking system is also compatible with parts with surface coatings.
Put simply, laser marking uses a beam of concentrated light to alter a surface permanently. Laser marking has a variety of applications, all stemming from either pulsed, continuous wave, fiber, green, or UV laser machines.
It is a highly efficient process that can be automated to leave permanent marks on several types of materials, from steel to copper to glass to wood to paper. In addition, lasers can be used to write machine-readable data, like barcodes or QR codes. Keep reading for a better understanding of how laser marking machines work.
Laser marking is a simple process: a focused beam of light marks the surface of a material. Different marking machines can have varying effects on the material&#;s surface, but they will all alter the material&#;s properties and appearance. The concentrated light beam only targets specified areas and makes it possible to create exact, high-contrast marks.
This makes laser marking perfect for applications where machines need to be able to read information easily. It also provides a permanent mark, so you will never need to repeat the process.
&#;Laser&#; is an acronym for &#;Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.&#; You have a laser when an atom is stimulated to release light particles. That energy is measured in nanometers (NM) or wavelengths&#;a higher wavelength means a more powerful beam.
A UV laser marker has a wavelength of approximately 355NM, making it a low-powered laser. This option is also perfect for marking heat-sensitive materials like glass or plastic. Lasers around this nanometer level are known as &#;cold lasers&#; since they produce far less heat than options with higher nanometers.
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The lower temperature is ideal for working with soft or organic products since there is a small chance of the material burning. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the fiber laser. At NM, a fiber laser would be too strong for plastic or glass and instead marks metal effectively.
Unfortunately, the wavelengths that laser marking systems emit don&#;t look like the movies. There are no thick, colorful beams when you fire up your laser; in fact, most industrial laser systems don&#;t even emit visible wavelengths. What&#;s important to understand, however, is that all materials fall somewhere on the absorption spectrum.
What does that mean? It goes back to what we were talking about before with UV and fiber lasers. While a material like steel would react in the way you want to a fiber laser, a UV laser would have no effect. Your material&#;s absorption spectrum is the most important factor in choosing what system you require.
As we mentioned, fiber lasers are ideal for strong materials, like metals. With a wavelength of approximately a micrometer, most metals react well to a fiber laser. On the other hand, gas-state lasers are ideal for use with organic materials. The most ubiquitous gas-state lasers are CO2 lasers&#;while organic materials react well to them, metals do not.
How you want to use your laser will also play a role in the system you need. Your ultimate goal may be to fit the marking process into a particular timeframe, or you may not care about that as much as millimeter-precise results.
Laser engraving is probably the process you think of when you picture laser systems. It literally engraves deep marks into your material by disintegrating part of the surface. Many vehicles require laser engraving to add the VIN&#;this process is durable and difficult to falsify, making it perfect for such a critical task.
Engraving is also the go-to process if you&#;re planning on subjecting the material to any aggressive post-treatments, such as shotblasting.
Laser etching is the preferred process if you need high-contrast marks at high-speed. The laser melts some of the surface material to produce high and low bumps. This process is ideal for etching black and white marks into surfaces.
Laser annealing is among the most complicated laser process, as it is non-destructive. Instead of melting or disintegrating the surface, annealing instead causes a chemical change just under the surface of your material. Some products need to maintain their structural integrity, and annealing makes that possible. While it is a slower process, it also produces the best surface finish of all the processes.
Laser ablation is typically used to remove paint from the surface of a material rather than the material itself. This allows the user to add a barcode or other identifier quickly without needing the power to etch metal.
Lasers can either have a pulsed or continuous beam&#;they work exactly how it sounds. When a beam is pulsed, it has higher peaks of energy, but with the same laser power as a continuous beam. If you have an application requiring higher power density, a pulsed beam is the way to go.
There&#;s no one-size-fits-all answer to how laser marking machines work. The &#;how to&#; is entirely dependent on the system you have. On top of varying by system, the process will also change depending on the material you&#;re using and the application you&#;re using it for. If you purchased your laser marking system from Tri-Star Technologies, feel free to contact us for assistance.
Regardless of the system you&#;re using, be sure to follow all the safety guidelines outlined in the manual. Luckily, a variety of preventative measures like safety enclosures make laser marking a relatively safe process.
There are several benefits to using laser marking for a variety of industries, including:
All our laser markers are non-destructive devices&#;no melting or disintegration. This is perfect for any industries that require precision, as we&#;ve worked with medical facilities, automobile manufacturers, and aerospace applications.
Now that you understand how laser marking machines work, let us help you indelibly and non-destructively mark your products with our systems.
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