The Future of Laser Engraving

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 10:37 am

The future of laser engraving is directly influenced by the variables of materials, the types of lasers and their capabilities.

What is Laser Engraving?

Laser engraving is a technique that uses a laser to etch/mark or to engrave the surface of other objects. These marks can vary in depth and can be used to create designs in or on objects or to imprint a message. The types of lasers used depend on the material being etched. The next generation and lasers of the future will advance three-dimensional techniques, integrate with existing design programs and see the development of better multi-engraving etchers and micro-machines. In addition, laser engraving techniques of the future will begin to develop and implement green methods and practices.

How Does a Laser Engrave or Etch a Material?

Basically, a laser beam (Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is focused on a material which results in a modification of the surface and in the optical appearance of the material. The material being engraved determines the type of modification that will occur. For example, on paper, wood or cardboard the etching would occur as carbonization (burning) while the surface of a metal might be melted.

Different Types of Lasers, Their Uses and Future Applications

A few examples of how engraving lasers are currently being used include engraving/etching bar codes, 2D codes, photographs, identification tags, logos, glass doors, mirrors and to mark circuit boards and electronic equipment. Advancements in laser engraving technology to reduce material stress and vibrations are helping to expand and increase the potential for future marketable applications.

CO2 Lasers typically use low power sources to engrave plastics, paper, acrylic materials, wood, transparent objects and leather (Long wavelength applications) and use a Carbon Dioxide gas sealed chamber inside of the laser to create the laser photon stream. Generally, a CO2 laser is used for organic materials.

ND: YAG Lasers are small, affordable air cooled systems which are designed to engrave metallic materials and non organic materials. ND:YAG refers to the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet that is pumped with the use of a lamp or a diode to emit the photon stream.

Fibre Lasers, a derivative of the ND:YAG Laser (Pulse repetition rates-can emit longer pulses with lower pulse energy) commonly uses a ytterbium doped glass fiber to reflect the photons and can be used for ceramics, metals and non organic materials.

Green Practices and the Economy: Future Considerations for Laser Engraving Technology

Engraving lasers do not use ink, leave a permanent mark and are generally good for the environment.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act designed to jump start the economy with a focus on restoring and building American-made innovative science technologies may benefit and encourage laser engraving technological advancements. As a result, future laser engraving technologies that focus on energy conservation, utilization of green technologies and renewable resources may be eligible for tax incentives. Also, under this act, qualifying equipment purchases may be deducted during this tax year enabling businesses to purchase or lease qualifying laser etchers.

Considerations for the development of future engraving lasers might also focus on ease of use issues and on how to minimize vibrations and material stress along with processing speed, pulse repetition rates and the quality of results.

Future laser engravers will become more compact and portable, have multiple material engraving capabilities, use minimal resources and energy and have three dimensional engraving capabilities. In order to advance, the engraving lasers of the future will also need to be capable of engraving textured surfaces, irregular shapes and be able to do multiple stages of etching, engraving and carving.

Parts Marking for Traceability

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 12:03 pm

Parts manufacturers need an effective way to keep track of what they make in the event of recalls, returns or warranties. If you are a manufacturer looking for the best way to trace your parts, there are several different systems you can consider. Choosing the right one will depend on what you produce as well as the materials used in production.

Many industries, such as automotive, aeronautical and medical, have come to prefer the laser marking system. These systems can quickly produce high quality results. They can also produce these results with lower costs because of reduced downtime and post processing as well as the elimination of consumables. A laser can mark almost any surface, and the markings such as logos, text and bar codes can be laid out in any orientation.

Some companies offer a Dot Peen Marking and Traceability system. By using a tungsten carbide stylus, dots are cold formed under a low stress and highly accurate compressive force. This system can put alpha-numeric characters on either hard or soft surfaces. These characters can come in a range of sizes and depths to suit your project’s needs. They are used in a wide range of characters, from UID codes, bar codes and logos to graphics, schematics or photo etchings.

Another marking option is plastic card embossing. Industries requiring an embossed finish, such as bank cards, membership cards and insurance cards require this type of marking. These cards add a personal touch to the end user. Several different types of embossers can be used depending on what the job calls for. Some systems are used almost exclusively for banking card solutions. Others give high speed results in a desktop environment. If you have a need for plastic card embossing, there is a solution available for you.

Some manufacturers want their parts marking for traceability to be in the form of embossed metal plates. These embossers are suitable for many applications, including identification plates and tags. Also found in such industries as ship building, VIN identification and various motor identification plates, this type of tracking is available for all sizes of manufacturing environments. The systems range from hand held embossers, which are good for smaller metal plates to larger ones with higher speeds and production quantities, used in the Automotive and Steel Industries as well as the Armed Forces. Whatever your metal embossing needs are and no matter the size of your company, there is an option for you.

If your company works in personalized identification cards, you will want to look into thermal card printers as a means of marking for traceability. These include smart cards encoded with magnetic strips and barcodes, creating the necessary databases for the parts in question. There are thermal card printers available in a range of sizes from a desktop environment to lamination options. For larger jobs, there are systems utilizing high speed and high volume printing. One of these systems can meet your thermal printing needs and provide the part marking you need for optimum traceability.

Direct part marking is just one process in the manufacturing world’s attempt to standardize and allow for all part traceability. It is a necessary system that continues to grow as the technology grows with it. In many instances, sales can be lost if the parts can’t be traced back to the manufacturer and charged accordingly. The traceability can save industries hundreds of millions of dollars. If you as a manufacturer want to trace your parts for whatever reason, choosing a part marking option for traceability can work for you and save possible lost revenues for your company.

Laser marking in the medical industry

Filed under: Laser Engraving — Tags: , , — admin @ 10:40 am

Laser marking has become an essential part of many businesses, and is now used widely in the medical industry. Traditional marking has now taken a back seat to the more advanced and highly accurate technology that is laser marking. There are advantages that laser marking offers that can’t be achieved through other marking techniques. The accuracy and speed that laser marking supplies, along with the ability to mark any size object with quality printing, and the ability to mark any number of objects, makes this technology much preferred over traditional marking methods.

Laser marking in the medical industry supplies the best reliability and precision for marking medical devices such as hearing aids, surgical instruments, implants, and a whole lot more. These medical items are marked with identification codes, serial numbers, and other information that is essential in their use in the industry.

There are various benefits offered to the users of medical equipment by laser marking. It provides dependable tracking and permits safe sterilization and cleaning in a medical atmosphere. The one of a kind annealing effect that is created by laser marking guarantees that surface areas will remain the same and also remain smooth after the marking process is completed. This ensures that there are no uneven spots in which germs can manifest themselves. The traceability and safety of any marked objects are also ensured by the laser markings resistance to chemicals, steam, and heat.

Laser marking has become the choice of many medical facilities who want to add data matrix codes to their pieces. While these keyhole surgery pieces are becoming smaller all the time, the tiny beam width of the laser allows accurate marking of the item no matter how small it may be. Laser marking has become particularly appropriate for medical applications due to it’s reliability, durability, cleanliness, and ease of maintenance.

Both metal and plastic components are precisely marked by a laser marking system. Whether it is high or low volume applications that are needed, the permanent marking of the laser system is easily integrated into any production line. This is just another part of what makes laser marking ideal for the medical industry.

There are strict requirements for marking in the medical industry that are easily adhered to by using laser marking. These include bar-coding, tapering, perfect surfaces, parallel and narrow incisions, and a lot more. For a wide range of materials the laser’s wavelength, beam quality, and power level can be adjusted for marking, cutting, welding, or structuring the material.

Laser marking is a safe and compact way to meet the marking needs of a wide variety of medical devices. Laser marking can also be used for such things as closing the titanium housings on implanted pumps, defibrillators, and pacemakers.

Laser marking has become an integral part of the medical industry. With all that it can do and the precision that it provides, along with all the other benefits that it supplies, laser marking will only become more important as the medical industry moves forward.

Different materials that can be engraved with lasers

Filed under: Laser Engraving, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 2:09 pm

Engraving inventory and supplies with lasers has grown very popular with inventory managers. From government agencies to schools and hospitals, any organisation with a sizable amount of supplies to track and sort benefits from laser engraving. Furthermore, lasers can engrave almost any surface with barcodes, codes, images, or text.

Laser Basics

Few people realise that the word laser is actually an acronym, which stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”. The three most commonly used lasers are CO2 lasers, which use carbon dioxide gas inside the laser to produce a stream of photons; nd:YAG lasers, which use neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet to produce its photons; and fiber lasers, which use a glass fiber doped with ions such as ytterbium to create photons.

While the different lasers may not mean much to the average lay person, it makes a difference when engraving different materials with laser technology. For example, when engraving metal with a laser beam, the best type of laser to use is either an nd:YAG or fiber laser; CO2 lasers should not be used. On the other hand, less reflective materials, including wood, acrylics, and plastics, are better suited for CO2 lasers. When choosing a company to engrave inventory items with lasers, it’s important to check to see if they are using the right technology for the job.

    Industries in Which Laser Engraving is Especially Important

    Medical: In the medical industry, it’s crucial to mark equipment indelibly, and laser engraving is perfect for the job. Non-intrusive laser engraved codes on equipment and tools stay clean, do not rub off, and make it easy to track medical inventory as they move from ward to ward or hospital to hospital.

    Electronics: Ever opened up a computer and taken a close look at the various parts inside? Each is marked with serial numbers, sometimes text, and other identifying marks. This type of engraving on electronics parts is the work of laser engraving.

    Manufacturing:     In a factory environment, knowing how much of an item is produced, and where it’s shipped is absolutely crucial. Regardless of extreme conditions of heat or cold, laser engraving on cardboard, metal, plastic, and other surfaces easily stands the test of time.

    Other Application of Laser Engraving

    Laser engraving can go far beyond simple barcodes and supply management applications. These days, laser engraving is used on promotional gifts, such as pens and key chains; on signs and nameplates; on custom rubber stamps, such as an address stamp; and delicate decorative work on glassware and ceramics.

    Given the power and versatility of laser engraving in virtually every business, and the ability of lasers to engrave virtually any surface, it is likely that laser engraving will remain popular for decades to come. If there’s a better technology for inventory managers to track their supplies than laser engraving, that technology hasn’t yet been invented.