Laser etching and laser marking are two important process, and you can see a large number of industries coming up in this niche; here are some of the basic reasons to mark or etch the products.
• The laser mark is enormously durable and permanent in most of the cases. Laser etch can be done without destroying the actual product. This is very much true for laser etching, marking, and annealing.
• The process of laser etching is accurate, 100 percent repeatable, clear, and fast with sharp results.
• Marking and laser etching can be done pretty easily as well as quickly without changing the actual shape or replacing the tools. The laser etches or laser mark is simple and can be operated with a single computer click.
• Laser doesn’t require any additional purchases or consumables of added supplies or materials. Therefore, the maintenance and operating costs of running and owning the laser etching systems are almost non-existent.
More about Laser Etching
Laser etching fields are created in the range of 65mm x 65mm (smallest size) – squared 356mm x 356mm (largest size). You have to consider beam spot size at the time of etching.
The focused laser light for etching and marking can vary from 200 micron to 540 microns. Smallest laser beam can be varied from 20 microns to 70 microns. The smallest beams are highly focused for permanent etching that is typically called as laser etching process.
Types of laser etching
After laser etching, you can see visible depression on the material. It replaces the habitual process such as pin scribing and mechanical press. The etching process can be done with YAG laser and CO2 on material surfaces.
Laser marking can produce surface marking with minimum disruption and little engraving of material surface. The marking is especially used in various industries like semi-conductor, discrete electric components, ceramics, and electrical fuses.
Laser marking and laser etching do not produce any changes in color and it creates the color impressions. In certain conditions, few plastics may react and you can see the color change under YAG or CO2 laser light.
Laser annealing is a popular methodology of marking. The procedure is carried out on metal surfaces using high frequency and low speed; annealing replaces the electro chemical etching.
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January 17, 2012
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