Materials
LASER ENGRAVING METALS
For manufacturers of engineering parts, a good traceability system is a vital part of quality monitoring. The use of laser engraving metal ensures that these traceability marks are permanent and will remain legible for a long time – especially useful for parts that undergo a lot of friction and heat. Find out how laser engraving can add value to your business.
LASER ENGRAVING PLASTICS
Prior to laser marking, ink printing was the technique of choice for plastic marking. However, the numerous advantages of laser marking meant that ink printing was soon pushed to the background. The ink printing process was carried out by having an image placed directly on the plastic surface using inks, which can be erased by solvents or by long-term abrasion. On the other hand, the marks made with lasers are indelible and permanent.
Laser marking is also much faster than ink printing, capable of producing up to 1,000 alphanumeric characters per second. The detail in laser marking of plastic parts can be at the level of several microns, allowing it to produce highly intricate designs.
LASER ENGRAVING MACHINES FOR WOOD
Laser engraving is an entirely non-contact process. You will not even need to affix the object to the production platform, saving on precious time during the manufacturing process. Since the material undergoes no stress, there is little chance of secondary warping or damage. Having no physical cutting or engraving parts also means a reduced requirement for regular parts replacement due to wear and tear. The lack of any moving parts with sharp edges also implies that laser engraving is an inherently safer process for human operators.
With the level of accuracy that laser engraving machines capable of, it can even work with wood sheets that are paper-thin and extremely delicate.
LASER ENGRAVING GOLD
Laser engraving gold has become a particularly effective and popular technology used toward this end. Find out how laser engraving can add value to your business.
Gold metal needs little introduction. Valued for its rarity and visual appeal, jewellery made of gold has been used to convey affluence and elevated social status.
Nowadays, gold has become more accessible, with most consumers instead preferring their pieces to have a higher degree of personalisation and customisation. Pendants, rings, and charms are considered more valuable when laser engraved gold has a person’s name, initials, or other personal inscriptions.
LASER ENGRAVING SILVER
Laser engraving machines have become an indispensable tool for many businesses and manufacturing houses that work with this metal. It is easy to larser engrave etch or mark sterling silver in seconds! What’s more, the precision of the laser beam is so accurate that a human worker or craftsman would find difficult to match. Find out how laser engraving can add value to your business.
LASER ENGRAVING COPPER
Copper is one of the few metals that is directly usable in its natural form, or without being combined into alloys. It is characterised by having a very high thermal and electrical conductivity, making it a valuable material in electrical wiring, printed circuit boards, thermocouples, heat exchangers, electromagnets, and electric motors.
Copper is a naturally soft and malleable metal that can be fashioned into pipes and pipe fittings, or as architectural elements. The green patina that the metal develops after a long period of atmospheric exposure is a particularly coveted finish by architects and designers due to its visual appeal.
LASER MACHINES AND CAST IRON
Laser marking cast iron is an incredibly accurate and reliable technology that can create highly detailed marks with consistent quality. An iron laser engraver can create marks, such as barcodes and QR codes, that are legible enough to be machine-readable.
By using multiple passes of a laser engraver, codes can be cleaned up for enhanced quality and contrast. With automated laser parameters, the hue of marks made by iron laser engraving can be varied from light grey to rich black. Being an automated process also gives iron laser marking the benefit of being repeatable, a desirable quality for producing consistent traceability marks on a high volume of items.
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LASER ENGRAVING ANODISED ALUMINIUM
Anodised aluminium is one of the most common metals used for laser marking purposes. Aluminium itself is a very widely used metal which is valued for its combination of being both lightweight and durable. This unique combination has made it the material of choice for aircraft and automotive products. The high electrical conductivity of aluminium has also made it an excellent material for long-distance power lines, satellite dishes, and in electrical components found in most household appliances and power systems.
LASER MARKING STAINLESS STEEL
There are two options for laser technology that can be used to engrave stainless steel: CO2 and fiber.
CO2 laser engraving machines are particularly sensitive equipment that requires frequent adjustment and realignment. Moreover, CO2 lasers are not readily compatible with cutting and engraving of reflective materials, including stainless steel. Without any pre-treatment, CO2 systems will only recoil off of a metal surface. Laser etching stainless steel using a CO2 machine often involves coating the metal part with specialist paint, which the laser then “burns” off.
