Most laser marking techniques involve either engraving the mark into metal or plastic components, or ablating a surface layer to reveal a contrasting material underneath. Both processes usually require high energy pulsed laser systems and of course involve process debris.
Fiber lasers are now a robust industrial tool with a unique series of capabilities that enable a wide range of precision materials processing manufacturing methods. Fiber lasers offer low running costs, a fast ROI, a small footprint and exceptional reliability, and are thus enjoy a growing acceptance within the laser-assisted manufacturing industry as a cost-effective alternative to conventional laser design.
Laser marking is able to generate high contrast, easily readable and durable identification on a wide variety of components for industrial use or consumer products. Computer generated vector or bitmap patterns (logos, barcodes or text) can be engraved or etched using a non-contact process onto metallic and nonmetallic materials, including metals, plastics, glass, electronics, PCBs, wafers, medical devices, sporting goods and packaging.
A combination of a reliable industrial laser, fast and accurate galvanometric imaging systems and convenient computer control provides manufacturers with a unique combination of speed, permanence and versatility that cannot be matched by any other marking technique.
Laser marking processes
Traditionally, laser marking involves either engraving a physical mark onto a surface just as for traditional engraving methods, generating a simple color change in Atomstack surface, or etching of a surface layer of material to reveal another, highly contrasting layer underneath. Either technique can be used on a broad spectrum of materials, and in addition to generating identifying marks can also form part of an industrial process, for example in electronics manufacture.
The advantages of laser marking include speed, flexibility and the non-contact marking process, meaning that components parts are not stressed by the marking process. The non-contact nature of the process also contributes to low maintenance schedules, as tools do not need to be replaced. Additionally laser marking is also highly repeatable and easily readable (even machine readable).
Stringent Quality Control
A laser engraving process is often used for marking metal surfaces as it is swift, non contact and extremely durable, but is however also responsible for the production of debris – fine metallic particles removed from the surface as part of the engraving process.
Naturally for bearing manufacture there are stringent requirements for process debris. The marking of bearing housings using a laser has thus traditionally combined a “minimal” engraving process with an induced change in surface color. CMS had until recently accomplished this using Nd:YAG lasers, but customer demand was looking for a way around the cost, maintenance, lifetime and reliability issues associated with the Nd:YAG design.
For this application CMS engineers have pioneered the use of a fiber laser from SPI Lasers plc of Southampton, UK – more specifically a 100 W cw/modulated fiber laser usually used for welding and cutting tasks. SPI has been developing fiber lasers for the industrial market for several years, primarily for materials processing applications such as microwelding and microcutting, but also for marking applications.