Laser marking is one of the most diverse of laser processes, and it is hard to imagine the production of consumer and industrial products without it.
Functions of marking
Parts and products need to be marked for many reasons, and the type of information that is marked on the part varies. Here are some common examples:
Functional signs and symbols, such as lines and numbers on a speedometer or wash cycles on a washing machine
Manufacturer and product information, such as trademarks and names/models of parts or products
Markings required by law, such as expiration dates or material specifications
Personal tracking codes, such as serial numbers or customer data
Individual codes for logistics and logistics control within production plants
Center marks and marking lines for downstream manufacturing processes such as welding
Comparison of various marking processes
Laser marking process classification
Laser Marking Systems
1 Scanning Optical System
The scanning optics are equipped with 1-2 movable mirrors to deflect the laser beam in the X- and Y-axis directions, which rapidly guide the beam onto the workpiece at speeds of several meters per second.
2 Photomask Optical System
In photomask laser marking, the unfolded laser beam is directed through a stencil or photomask.
3 Integrated marking systems
In automated processes that use laser marking to produce large quantities of items, OEM lasers are integrated into the production system.
4 Marking Machines
Independently operated marking machines are ideally suited for small to medium sized production and processing of a wide range of parts.
Future mark
The popularity of laser marking will continue to grow rapidly over the next few years. Let's take a look at a few of the factors driving this trend.
1 Marking of a large number of items
A large number of items need to be individually labeled.
2 Control process
In manufacturing, marking as a presumed control function will continue to make progress in process automation and optimization.
3 Traceability
Tracking requires marking each part with unique identifying information. Process experts believe the use of lasers to mark individual parts will grow in the future.
4 Combination process
Laser marking is very fast and flexible and can be executed in compact workstations suitable for any combination of processes.
5 Challenge
The laser has one limitation: in many metal and plastic materials it is not capable of producing the full range of colors. Another challenge: the laser marking process, the parameters and the material must be perfectly coordinated to achieve optimal results.
6 Summary
Laser marking is being used to perform a wide variety of tasks. Both lasers and marking machines are becoming faster, more powerful and more economical. At the same time, the demand for personal marking such as machine-readable codes is growing, and with it the number of applications. Flexibility, versatility, precision and speed - all the advantages and characteristics of using lasers to process industrial materials can be seen in laser marking applications.