What commonalities do DVD players, checkout lines at the grocery store, and industrial marking machines all share? Lasers.

But alas, not all lasers are the same.

Do you know what L.A.S.E.R. stands for? Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. In other words, it’s a highly concentrated beam of light. Lasers consist of a: 

• Gain medium: A material that interacts with electrical currents to stimulate photons of light as they pass through.
• Energy supply: Lasers typically receive their energy from electrical currents. These currents are “pumped” through the gain medium, stimulating atoms as light passes through. As the currents are pumped, the light accelerates within the gain medium.
• A material to provide optical feedback: The materials selected for optical feedback serve one main purpose: steering the direction of the light beam.

The Basics of Industrial Laser Marking Applications

While the standard laser pointer used in conference rooms and lecture halls are safe for the user with no protection, part marking lasers fall into two classes governed by the CDRH – Class I and Class IV:

• Class I lasers are housed inside a safety enclosure. No laser radiation can escape from the enclosure, and the industrial laser engraving machine operator doesn’t need to take any additional safety precautions. 
• Class IV means the laser is applied in an “open” configuration where the operator can be directly exposed to laser radiation. In this case, laser safety glasses are a must. 

Both classes of lasers above are used in industrial laser marking applications and are able to produce different types of results depending on the material being marked. Some jobs may require a mark that requires no physical damage to be done to the substrate while others require deep engraving.

Here are 5 applications laser marking systems have in the manufacturing industry:

Laser Marking Systems: 5 Applications

Different projects and materials call for different applications. With ever-improving technology, laser marking systems can perform: 

1. General marking
2. Annealing
3. Ablating
4. Deep engraving
5. Plastic marking

1. General Marking 

General marking can be more or less aggressive depending on the desired color of the mark. 

This type of marking can be executed on most metals, including steel and aluminum. Best of all, a metal marking machine is easy to program and extremely durable.

2. Annealing 

Annealing can be used when no visible surface disruption is desired. 

The material is heated by the laser beam to create a dark or burned mark that’s smooth to the touch. This method is commonly used on medical part marking, such as surgical tools or implants, so no physical disruptions occur. 

Common materials that are annealed include:

• Stainless and non-stainless steel
• Chrome
• Cobalt
• Titanium
• Elastomer

3. Ablating

Ablating is the process of removing some of the surface coatings in order to mark or reveal the underlying material.

This is standard practice in anodized aluminum products, painted materials, or heat-treated surfaces. Ablating creates different levels of contrast between the mark and unaffected areas.

4. Deep Engraving 

Typically employing a high-powered fiber laser, this type of marking involves removing material. The depth of the mark is a function of: 

• Power
• Speed
• Frequency (how many pulses (kHz) per second)

Manipulating these variables allows you to control the depth of the mark. 

This process can be used on a variety of materials, including rubber and metal.

5. Plastic Marking

Since plastic has a lower melting point than metal, certain laser settings will need to be adjusted. Lower power and higher speed are required when marking when on plastic. This creates a more controlled “micro-burn” on the surface of the plastic.

Many manufacturers who are marking on a variety of substrates opt to purchase fiber laser technology (a near IR operating laser) due to the versatility allowed to mark a wide range of materials for many part marking applications. This is the most commonly used laser in marking for manufacturing. 

All Technomark lasers use fiber technology, which offers the broadest application reach for marking ferrous and non-ferrous metals, many plastics, as well as rubber and elastomers.

Market Drivers & Industry Adoption of Laser Marking Systems

From the medical industry to electronics, part marking plays a large role in maintaining quality control standards, brand recognition, and chain of custody.

Laser marking systems are useful in several industries, including:  

• Medical
• Tooling
• Automotive
• Aerospace and defense
• Electronics
• Oil and gas
• Home goods
• Industrial-grade machinery
• General Industry

Most industries have adopted laser marking systems as a track-and-trace solution for whatever part they’re producing. By marking a 2D barcode, like Datamatrix, on the part, these marks are scannable throughout the assembly process for full visibility of work in progress on the factory floor. This includes tracking: 

• Configuration management – Tracking which parts are used in which assemblies. 
• Production bottlenecks – How long parts take to move through the assembly process, and where they might be losing efficiency.
• LEAN analysis -The number of assembly steps required to create the finished product.

This is specifically important for government/military and aerospace applications where stringent standards regulate each component of a system. 

Some companies have also used part marking as a means to increase brand awareness and discourage counterfeiting. Having a logo, DataMatrix, or other unique marks that are difficult to replicate can ensure that no black market products enter your supply chain. This potentially prevents costly recalls.  

Looking Ahead at Industrial Laser Marking Applications

Laser marking systems are ideal track-and-trace solutions. These techniques are used in the production of stainless steel medical equipment, electronic components, vehicle manufacturing, and more. 

Part-marking solutions allow you to track and trace each part produced. Scannable parts add traceability to each station and worker that touches a part. Marking parts with a specific logo, DataMatrix, VIN, or other identifying mark reduces the risk of fake or shady knockoffs. 

Solutions for Your Industry

To learn more about the correct traceability solution for your industry, contact us today us today:

(Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published in August 2021 and was recently updated to reflect current information.)