Laser Metal Marking

Since laser engraving is a non-contact process, it can be used to mark parts that would normally be damaged by impact and/or vibratory marking methods. Laser marks are made permanent either by engraving or annealing of the base material.

A laser marking system can engrave directly into metals or through a top coating (abaltion) allowing the material underneath to show through. Typically metal marking is achieved by using Nd:Yag (Neodymium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) with a wavelength of 1.06 microns.

	We can engrave directly into metals or through a top coating that allows the material beneath to show through.

Please refer to our line of VersaScribe YAG laser marking systems.

By using the laser to anneal material, lasers can also chemically alter the surface of a part to create a contrasting laser mark entirely on the surface, without edges or depth.

Laser engraving equipment can be used to create text, graphics, logos, barcodes and 2D data matrix. The laser can be set up to automatically change information from mark to mark, to serialize a number, to write sequentially from a list of variable names or data or to write from data presented with each cycle, such as input from a barcode reading device or other sensor.

Applications

The range of environmentally friendly laser engraving/marking/patterning applications has become nearly as broad as manufacturing itself.

Automotive Products
(VIN) numbers, serialized part numbers, switches, instrument panels, date codes, shift codes, lot codes, 1-D and 2-D barcodes, and ID plates.

Medical Products
Pace makers, artificial joints, heart valves, needles, stents, and surgical instruments.

Industrial Products
Tooling, fixtures, hardware, precision mechanical components, serialized part numbers, 1-D and 2-D barcodes and name plates.

Decorative
Pens, plaques, key-chains, keepsakes, logos, graphics, and text.

Aerospace
Engine component, turbine blades, hydraulic parts.

Laser Markable Materials
Virtually any type of metal can be engraved, before or after heat- treating and coating processes. Lasers can mark in a line or radial, on flat or gently curved surfaces or around tubular stock.

Examples:

• steels -- mild, alloy, hardened, stainless
• aluminum -- bare, anodized
• brasses and bronzes
• titanium, nitinol
• carbides, nitrides, silicon, tungsten
• painted and powder coated metals
• Cannot be removed without grinding, sanding or otherwise destroying the surface
• The first mark is the same as the millionth mark.
  

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