How Do I Choose The Right Laser Marking System? 

Laser marking machines have become popular alternatives to other marking methods like dot peen markers. Their efficiency, versatility and cost savings make them an excellent fit for many manufacturers in sectors ranging from packaging to microelectronics. While you may be ready to purchase a laser marker, it&#;s helpful to know how to buy the right laser machine for your goals. Here are some tips for choosing the right laser marking system: 

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1. Functionality

The laser&#;s wavelength, power and frequency will influence what type of mark you can create, so it&#;s important to understand how you&#;d like to use your laser marker. For example, an infrared beam and an ultraviolet (UV) beam will produce different marks because they are at different ends of the light spectrum.

Some of the core use cases for this technology include:

• Marking: Laser marking involves changing the substrate&#;s properties just beneath the surface to create a permanent, high-contrast mark. This process is most commonly used for critical identification marks like barcodes and product numbers.
• Engraving: Engraving is the process of removing material from a substrate to create a channel or pocket on a substrate&#;s surface. Deep engraving takes this a step further by removing more material than just below the surface. Engraving, especially deep engraving, is used when ID numbers are at risk of being filed off by consumers to remove traceability.
• Annealing: Annealing is similar to laser marking in that it changes the properties of the substrate just below the surface. However, this process brings carbon to the surface to create that high-contrast mark. Annealing is used for ferrous materials like steel, carbon steel and chrome.

2. Size

Laser marking systems come in a range of formats and designs to suit different use cases. Size is one of the core factors you&#;ll want to consider when selecting the right model for your operation. System size will relate to the physical size of your space and the scale of your production needs.

Tabletop models and compact workstations are smaller options for manufacturers with limited space. Portable designs can also be an excellent alternative for small operations or those that require laser marking on the field. Higher-volume systems can have footprints of various sizes. For example, Advanced Optowave Corporation has compact air-cooled lasers to fit even the smallest of spaces.

3. Application

When choosing a laser marker, you should evaluate your applications and the types of materials you&#;ll typically work with. From there, you can decide which laser type to purchase. Laser types and their applications include:

• CO2: Many manufacturers choose CO2 lasers because they can work with nonmetallic materials like glass, wood, cardboard and textiles. CO2 is the active medium used for this laser type, and it has the longest wavelength of the different types. These lasers deliver highly localized heat to leave material structure uncompromised, though they have higher reflectivity than other types.
• Fiber: Fiber lasers are also known for their compatibility with nonmetallic materials. Use this laser type for glass, plastic, rubber and a range of metals. Fiber lasers offer impressive flexibility with various settings and can be used for embossing and discoloration. 
• UV: The most notable selling point for UV lasers is their ability to perform cold marking. Unlike other laser types, UV does not generate high heat, making it more suitable for sensitive materials where heat may cause degradation &#; such as glass, ceramic and plastic &#; in addition to materials other lasers can mark. UV laser markers are favored in industries like microelectronics and energy where sensitivity is a top priority.
• Green: Green lasers also generate lower heat levels than other laser types, making them ideal for sensitive materials like polymers and plastics. 

4. Marking Speed

Generally, laser marking is one of the fastest processes available for marking substrates. Among laser marking products, different technologies will offer different speeds. For example, annealing is a generally lengthier process than engraving. You&#;ll also want to think about how your laser system affects productivity levels on the manufacturing floor.

For instance, a tabletop model can be great for manual marking needs for small volumes of product, but it won&#;t support high-volume production. Ultimately, this setup will lead to downtime between each product. Mark-on-the-fly systems can be integrated into fast-moving production lines that use conveyors, robots or other forms of factory automation. This setup can lead to impressive productivity gains, as the laser marking processes are continuous and automated. 

5. Cost

Of all the tips for choosing a laser marker, performing an in-depth cost analysis will likely have the greatest impact on your business. There are a few areas to examine when weighing the costs of a laser marking system because the initial investment will not provide a full picture of potential gains. Look into:

• Losses: How much will maintenance cost? How much downtime do you expect with use, and how will this affect productivity?
• Return on investment: How much time will you save on marking processes compared to your old method? How will your profitability increase as a result of increased productivity? 
• Revenue gain: How much will a permanent, unfading mark assist in product recalls or quality checks? How much more business could you potentially attract if your product&#;s laser mark looked significantly more professional than the competition&#;s?

Laser marking systems can deliver impressive ROI for operations switching from other printing methods like dot peen markers and CIJ printers. While the initial investment is often higher for laser marking equipment, reducing consumable usage, increasing productivity and improving mark quality all contribute to gains in the long term.

6. Installation and Operation

System design will dictate how complex installation and operation will be. When choosing the best system for your needs, complexity in these areas should play a role. Is your operation able to accommodate the downtime for installation if you want a larger system? 

You&#;ll also want to think about team capabilities. Laser markers operate with a computer system, but the requirements for operation will vary between products. Make sure your team includes someone capable of operating the machine or willing to learn the system to make the most of the investment. If you lack the personnel to run it, you may want to consider an automated model. 

7. Life Span and Maintenance

Life span and maintenance often relate to the total cost of ownership. To make your laser system worth the investment, you&#;ll want a product with a long life span and minimal maintenance requirements. Generally, laser markers have low maintenance requirements, especially when compared to more traditional alternatives like CIJ printers. 

The life span of a laser marking machine depends on its design and how often it is used. One piece of advice for buying a laser marking machine is to source from a trusted manufacturer in the space. Speak with a manufacturer&#;s team to learn more about maintenance demands and projected life span. 

Find the Best Laser Marking System for Your Needs at Advanced Optowave Corporation

For industrial laser marking, high-speed lasers are essential to meet tight production schedules while maintaining high-quality standards. But with so many options available, choosing can be confusing. After all, you want a machine that not only performs at high speeds, but that is also cost effective.

In this article, we&#;ll break down the key considerations to select a high-speed laser marking machine that best fits your needs. From understanding the different types of lasers to evaluating important features and automation options, we aim to help you choose the right machine.

Table of Contents

• What is the Best Laser for High-Speed Marking?
• What to Look for in a High-Speed Laser?
  • Air Knives to Minimize Lens Cleaning
  • Laser Power to Match Your Cycle Time
  • Pulsed Laser Technology for Efficient Marking
  • The Right Wavelength for Your Material
  • The Fastest Marking Process
• Automation Adapted to Your Production Reality
  • 1. Manually Loaded Rotary Table
  • 2. Fully Automated Rotary Table
  • 3. Fully Automated Conveyor
  • 4. Open Air Robot
  • 5. Automated Door Robot

What is the Best Laser for High-Speed Marking?

Fiber lasers are typically the best choice for high-speed marking applications because they can achieve higher power levels and thus faster processing speeds.

Fiber lasers also require less maintenance than other types of lasers, which means there is more uptime and fewer interruptions.

An important factor to consider when choosing a laser is the type of material you're working with. Different materials absorb laser light in varying ways, which can affect the speed of the marking process. For example, metals and certain plastics absorb fiber laser light really well. However, CO2 or UV lasers may be better suited to materials like wood or glass.

Below is a comparison of how fiber lasers, CO2 lasers, and UV lasers are used:

What to Look for in a High-Speed Laser?

When looking for a high-speed laser marker, some features are essential. Here are the ones we recommend when we customize machines for our clients.

Air Knives to Minimize Lens Cleaning

During laser marking, a small portion of the material is removed and turned into dust. This dust tends to accumulate on the lens and, over time, reduces the marking quality by blocking the beam.

For this reason, all types of lasers require routine maintenance for lens cleaning.

To make the most of the laser&#;s high speed, air knives can be installed on the lens to blow air and prevent dust accumulation. Air knives help reduce the frequency of manual lens cleaning, resulting in longer intervals between maintenance stops. They are essential in high-throughput operations where every minute counts.

We almost always recommend air knives because they are not very expensive and can save you a lot of time.

Laser Power to Match Your Cycle Time

Laser power is one of the most important factors that affects the speed of the marking process. As a general rule, if you double the output power, you almost double the laser marking speed. For example, a 100W laser is approximately twice as fast as a 50W laser.

sand casting plants.

To evaluate the power needed for your application, it&#;s best to discuss your application with an expert and provide them with the following information:

• The type of the identifier you want to engrave (QR code, DMC code, serial number, etc.)
• The size of the identifier
• The information you want to encode
• The type of material being engraved
• The shape of the marking area

To optimize the cycle time, we generally recommend that our clients minimize the amount of information they store in 2D codes. This allows them to make smaller codes that are faster to mark. You can still store extra information in a database. You can learn more about how barcodes work here.

Pulsed Laser Technology for Efficient Marking

The way laser power is presented can be misleading because of the information that is omitted.

If you see a 100W laser, are you right to assume that it is faster than a 50W laser?

The company is the world’s best flying laser marking machine supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

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Well, it depends.

When you look at a laser&#;s spec sheet, you need to know whether the laser beam output is pulsed or continuous. A 50W pulsed laser can be faster than a 100W continuous laser because it makes a better use of its energy.

Continuous lasers always release the same amount of energy. Pulsed lasers build up energy and release it in pulses. This allows them to achieve a higher peak power.

Here are some numbers to give you a concrete idea of why pulsed lasers are more powerful.

peak power of 10,000 watts.

A 50W pulsed laser can hit the surface with 50,000 pulses of 10,000W per second.

In laser marking applications, the high peak power of a pulsed laser creates marks easily in the material. With continuous lasers, the peak power is typically not enough to ablate the material and generate permanent marks at high speed.

Pulsed laser markers are typically more expensive than continuous lasers because they require additional components.

The Right Wavelength for Your Material

The wavelength absorption of different metals. Image courtesy of Novika Solutions.

Choosing the right wavelength is crucial because different materials absorb laser energy at different rates. Metals, plastics, and ceramics all respond to wavelengths in unique ways.

Metals, for example, absorb laser energy better at shorter wavelengths, like the infrared light produced by fiber lasers.

Plastics, on the other hand, require CO2 or ultraviolet (UV) lasers to ensure precise marks without damaging the material.

The wavelength also impacts the marking speed. When a material absorbs the laser efficiently, the marking process is faster because less energy is wasted. If the wavelength isn't a good match, the laser has to work harder, which slows down the process.

The Fastest Marking Process

Laser marking can be done using different sets of parameters and optical configurations. We call these laser processes.

Each laser marking process affects the surface in its own unique way. Most importantly, for a high-speed application, some processes are much faster than others.

Here is an overview of common laser marking processes.

Laser Etching

Laser etching is the fastest process, as it alters only the material's surface by heating and expanding it. This process is ideal for high-speed applications. It is also more affordable than other processes because it does not require a high-power laser.

Laser Engraving

Laser engraving removes material to create deeper marks, making it slower but more durable. The deeper the engraving, the more time it requires. Laser engraving is typically more expensive because it requires a more powerful laser.

Laser Annealing

Laser annealing does not remove or alter the material's surface. Instead, it uses heat to change the color of metals with iron in them, such as stainless steel and titanium. Changes occur under the surface. It is used when the integrity of the material must remain untouched while still achieving high-quality marks.

This process slowly heats the surface, which allows oxygen to penetrate it without melting or ablating the material. Because of the way this process works, there is no point in using a high-speed laser.

Automation Adapted to Your Production Reality

Laser machines are available in various forms for high-speed applications. Here&#;s an overview of our fiber laser marking machines.

1. Manually Loaded Rotary Table

This portable workstation provides maximum throughput for a manually loaded machine. With a rotary table, operators can load new parts while others are being laser marked, ensuring continuous operation.

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2. Fully Automated Rotary Table

This rotary machine is the most efficient laser marking machine available. The robot loads parts in just a few seconds while the high-power laser engraves parts in hidden time for maximum efficiency.

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3. Fully Automated Conveyor

This machine can be easily installed on any conveyor system and keep up with its cycle time, including existing setups. Positioned above the conveyor, the laser head can engrave moving parts and adjust automatically to positioning changes.

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4. Open Air Robot

The open-air design of this system provides great flexibility and a small footprint. A robotic arm holds parts during the process, making it simple to engrave multi-cavity parts and switch between different models with minimal changeover.

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5. Automated Door Robot

This metal engraver combines simplicity with flexibility. The door used to load parts can be placed on any side to fit your plant layout. It is also one of the most affordable automation solutions.

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Ready for the Next Step?

If you want to make sure that your next laser marking machine meets your needs, contact our experts. They will help you make an informed decision to minimize cost and optimize speed.

Want more information on dynamic co2 laser marking machine? Feel free to contact us.