3 Best Laser Marking Machines

Laser marking is a process involving marking parts using laser technology. A laser beam hits materials, and then the energy reacts and leaves a permanent mark. The laser beams' power, speed, and focus on the material lead to various laser processes. There are other options: laser etching, laser engraving, laser ablation, or laser annealing.

To mark your parts successfully, it’s essential to select the right laser configuration and technology. To do this, you must determine the laser configuration and technology. This includes the part size, material, geometry, the production process, and available marking time. Read through to find out more.

Types of Laser Marking Machines

At Dongguan base automatic technology co., Ltd., we specialize in designing and manufacturing automated mechanical research and development, mechanical machine, and other core accessories. There are three main lasers used in laser marking: carbon dioxide lasers, fiber lasers, and UV lasers. The laser machines are all built similarly but differ in specific power ranges; hence each is used to cut through different materials.

1. CO2 Lasers: Electrically stimulated gas mixtures (mainly comprising carbon dioxide) are employed to generate the laser. These are the most common laser marking machines because they need low power, are cheap, efficient, and can cut through and raster various materials.CO2 lasers can cut wood, paper-based products (cardboard, etc.), leather, acrylic, glass, some plastics, and some foams.

They are commonly used in alcohol, drug, and food packaging, electrical appliances, integrated circuits, microchips, electronic components, and mobile communications. Because of theirwavelengthsCO2 laser marking achieves the best marking result on materials like leather, paper, wood, and plastic polymers. They are also perfect for glass marking.

Advantages

• Suitable for coated metals like painted brass and aluminum, it doesn't require pre-treatment
• They are perfect for non-metals. CO2 laser marking is suitable for materials like paper, wood, leather, acrylics, and more.

Disadvantages

• CO2 laser marking machines with immense power is costly
• CO2 laser machines have a high energy consumption rate, while the conversion rate for photoelectric in the process is 10%
• This machine exhibits significantly lower throughputs than fiber laser markings when working with metals. It's because it needs time for pre-treating with a metal marking agent.
• The working life of the CO2 laser glass tube is below 2000 words. Conversely, a Metal RF laser tube has a working life of over 20,000 hours at a high price.
• CO2 lasers are expensive to maintain with higher operation requirements.

2. Fiber Lasers: Fiber lasers are made from a "seed laser" and then amplified through special glass fibers. The lasers have higher intensity and smaller wavelengths than CO2 lasers, but they are built to require less maintenance and are mostly used for laser marking processes. They can markmetals and plastic materials.

Fiber lasers can be used in annealing, color marking, carbonizing, foaming, and night and day marking.

Advantages

• Fiber lasers offer high-quality beams usable for various surfaces. Its high filtration of monochromatic light beams allows you to work on multiple surfaces.
• They are amongst the fastest laser marking machines to use
• Fiber lasers are highly durable
• It’s easy to achieve different laser engraving depths that depend on the intended purpose.
• It has a 25% photoelectric conversion rate; therefore economic power usage

Disadvantages

• It doesn’t work fast on materials that have high reflection and very thick
• Cannot perform deep engraving on many metals.

Ultraviolet (UV)

Laser is a band of the electromagnetic spectrum whose wavelength ranges from 10-400nm; they tend to be shorter than visible light and more prolonged than X-rays. Long wavelengths are not considered ionizing radiation as the photons don't have the energy to ionize atoms.

UV's biological and chemical effects are wider than heating and other UV applications because of organic molecules. Solid-state lasers, gas lasers, and diodes are used to make machines that emit ultraviolet rays.

UV lasers are designed in 355 UV laser marking wavelength marking various materials. They are suitable for cold marking applications where lasers that produce heat are not used. UV laser machines mark ceramics, glass, plastics without any additives needed. Because of its high-quality beam, UVs can micro-mark microchips, circuit boards, and electronics. They are also perfect for use on solar panels and medical equipment marking.

Advantages

• UV lasers are power efficient
• Can mark glass with ease

Disadvantage

• UV laser marking machine is not suitable for engraving and deep metal etching
• The lasers machine is costly.

Other known laser marking machines includes Green laser and Mopa laser machines.

Factors to consider when evaluating laser marking machines

When selecting your ideal model, the following elements are essential for consideration.

Line speed

Various laser systems give different results because of varying power and wavelengths. The results are different depending on the speed used during parts production. High line speed production requires high wattage markers to mark the in-process parts effectively.

Moving/stationary marking surfaces

If you need a machine to include a processing line for more models and parts that accords the part marking of the moving parts, it's a perfect choice due to its high in-process efficiencies.

Material

Laser marking machines can work on metal and non-metal surfaces. However, the market type used relies on marked materials that have to be worked on. You'll get fiber lasers perfect for metals, whereas CO2 lasers are suitable for non-metals.

Expected workload

Some laser marking machines have low speed and, therefore, may not be efficient with high workloads. For instance, it's more cost-effective to use fiber lasers than CO2 lasers for marking metals.

Environmental conditions

Some machines are susceptible to environmental conditions like vibrations, dust, shock, and more. Other machines are robust enough to withstand these harsh conditions.

3 Best Laser Marking Machines

types and consideration factors of  laser machines

After-sales services

Setting up a machine can be difficult. Though most laser marking machines need low maintenance, finding a supplier with the expertise and instance assistance is essential when selecting equipment to buy.

Dongguan base automatic tech co., Ltd is a leader in designing and manufacturing mechanical machines, automated mechanical research& development, and other core accessories. With our excellent R&D team, quality laser marking machines is guaranteed. Get a quote or find out more on our website.