Fiber laser marking is a type of usage area of laser in industry. At this point, it will be useful to give some information and definitions about Fiber laser marking. Laser marking is the process of leaving the desired mark with a laser on any product to be applied. Fiber Laser Marking Machines perform this process with a computer-controlled laser beam without the aid of any tools or ink. Fiber Laser Marking Machines do not require consumables and signs such as numbers, texts, barcodes, logos and more are produced with the help of computers. Therefore, the application areas are extremely flexible.
High contrast
High-contrast marking refers to the ability of a laser marking machine to make clear and legible marks on the surface of a material. This is because fiber laser generators can cause darkening or color changes on the surface of some materials, especially metals. By adjusting laser settings such as power and pulse duration, fiber laser generators can create contrast by inducing localized oxidation, melting, or chemical changes in materials.
Marking quality
The fiber laser generator produces a fine and focused laser beam, enabling high-precision marking with excellent edge definition and minimal distortion. This makes fiber laser marking ideal for applications requiring complex designs, small characters, and barcodes. Laser beams can also create clear and permanent marks on a variety of material surfaces, including metals, plastics, and more.
Fast
Fiber laser marking machines use a solid-state laser source to produce a laser beam with high peak power and excellent beam quality. Fiber laser marking offers significantly higher marking speeds than other marking technologies. With fiber laser, you can easily create different designs and patterns on materials in a short time, with higher productivity and operational efficiency, and less waste and downtime.
Durability
Marks created by fiber lasers are usually permanent and will not degrade and disappear due to environmental factors such as low temperature, contact, acidic or alkaline gases, and high concentrations or concentrations of gases. Therefore, it is favored for its durability in parts manufacturing industries such as automotive and aerospace.
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Shandong Unistar Machinery Co.,Ltd specializes in manufacturing and exporting CNC machines and laser machines since 2002. The company operates two large factories, one dedicated to CNC routers and the other to laser machines.
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The working logic of the fiber laser marking machine is as follows: The light produced by the laser completes the marking process by acting on the desired product. Laser marking machines differ among themselves according to the type of use. These are: Fiber lasers, CO2 lasers and UV lasers. The laser marking process is commonly used to complete barcode labels, date codes, QR codes, serial numbers, part numbers, branding and logo insertion, image placement, and so on.
Fiber lasers are renowned for their versatility and laser marking being one of their most popular applications. This process is used to mark, deep engrave and cut steel, aluminum, gold, silver, brass and other metals, LED, plastic, silicone, wood, rubber, leather, plexi, glass and similar materials.
Although the fiber laser marking machine is a product of the advancing technology in the last decade, it is developing day by day. Fiber laser marking machines are advantageous compared to traditional writing and labeling methods as they do not require preparation time and consumables.
When we fix the heat at the focal point of the substance we want to ignite, we witness that this substance ignites after a certain period of time. Fiber laser machines work on this exact scheme.
The laser beam passes through a complex lens and completes its task. If we need to give an example of these lenses, we can use the f-objective lens example. If we need to explain the answer to the question of what is a Fiber Laser Marking Machine with another method, the f objective lens has the feature of protecting the focal point in a single plane row instead of concentrating it on a single area. It realizes the laser light under computer control. The laser focuses on the material defined by the f-objective lens. Images and text, machine-detectable codes or various markings can be made.
While sunlight consists of multiple colors and wavelengths, there is only one color in laser light. In other words, it all consists of the same color and same wavelength. Wavelength is related to the diversity of the laser. As the materials diversify, they vacuum different wavelengths of light. If the materials mounted on the bottom of the laser vacuum the wavelength of this laser, then the best replication will occur.
Speed in Fiber Laser Marking
It is related to how fast the laser beam travels on the material during fiber laser marking. The marking machine uses galvometer mirrors to make this process happen. Engineers who deal with the adjustment of these mirrors adjust the speed of how many characters per second. According to the power of the fiber laser machine, the highest level of this speed varies.
Power in Fiber Laser Marking
Expecting a function beyond the capacity of a laser machine you own will result in inefficient results. Not every machine can exceed the limits of the power it is designed for. The more power the laser has, the more and faster it will be able to do work. 30 Watt laser can only work at 30 Watt power and work at this capacity. The variety of the work you will do and the materials you will use will be effective in choosing the power of the machine you need.
Frequency Range in Fiber Laser Marking
It means the change of the number of laser strokes and the amount of energy generated by these strokes. Choices can be made in the low frequency or high frequency range. If low frequency ranges are preferred, products made of plastic can be melted, while it provides the opportunity to mark superficially in high frequency ranges.One of the most important issues to be considered here is to ensure that laser pulses do not overlap with each other. Interference occurs when the frequency range increases while the galvo speed decreases while fiber laser marking. In this case, knowing the relations between speed, power and frequency will directly affect the quality of the results obtained when making fiber laser marking.
Automotive industry
The automotive industry has become one of the largest users of this technology. It is estimated that a car is made of roughly 30,000 parts, which are either made up of steel, aluminum, copper, special fiber or plastic, all varying in shape and size.
The following are some of the applications where part marking is achieved using a fiber laser marker in the automotive industry;
Marking seat belt components with information such as country of origin, serial numbers and barcodes.
Marking various components and button on the dashboard. These need to be well visible during the day and illuminated at night. Therefore, day and night markings are used.
Other materials such as ceramics used to make spark plugs can also be marked using these method too.
Integrated circuit industry
Integrated circuit elements are the most important units used to build circuits and systems. The Fiber Laser marking machine can be used to make markings on Integrated Circuits boards and semiconductor components, including text and graphics.No mechanical pressure is generated due to the non-contact processing mechanism. The laser beam is extremely thin hence can be integrated on small components including capacitors and crystal oscillators.
Electronics industry
In such a fast-evolving industry, it is crucial that efficiency is prioritized and the need to match the ever-increasing demand. This demand also expects quality and safety too. TVs, Laptops and smartphones are all made up of tiny and small substances.Fiber Laser marking is the most efficient for marking in this industry because of its ability to work with minute elements without damaging the surrounding material.
Medical industry
Health establishments and manufacturers of medical equipment are subject to very strict standards in terms of position, size and content of the marking, thereby leaving no room for error. Markings must be resistant to cleaning with acid, corrosion and sterilization and high temperatures.Tools may become smaller and process more efficient. But high quality and safety remain the foremost priorities in this industry. Fiber Lasers have therefore become popular for markings in this industry, considering quality, cost-effectiveness, speed, reliability and adaptability.
The following are some of the most common reasons why Fiber Laser markings are used in the medical industry;
Traceability of Medical equipment
The internal medical personnel in health establishment need to be able to track and locate the medical devices in their hospitals. They should also be able to clearly read and make out each instrument through the sterilization process.
Identification of medical prostheses
Medical prostheses need to have a medical number or logo based on alphanumeric series retrieved from a dedicated database.
Traceability of Individual Biofluid Storage Containers.
Jewelry and accessories industry
Fiber Laser machines can be used on precious stones such as gold and silver to make markings. The reasons for making inscriptions on precious stone could be the following;
Brand names
Jewel brands could inscribe their jewels with their names or logos so as to identify their jewels from those of competitors.
Easier Identification
By adding a unique serial text or numbers, the jewel can be recognized later. It is important to keep this identifier a secret to avoid forgery.
Insurance requirement
An insurance agency may require a jewel to be inscribed.
Personal dedication
A personal may wish to add an inscription to a jewel as part of a dedication to a loved one.
Choosing a suitable laser marking machine can make a huge difference to your production. It also determines the profitability of the project. Here are a few factors that you should consider when making your choice.
The first thing you need to consider is the type of material needed to engrave. There are two types of materials: non organic materials and organic materials. Organic materials are plastics, glass, paper products, and wood. You can use the fiber-cutting machine for both materials.
The engraving speed is one of the main factors that you need to consider. The speed is directly proportional to the strength of the optical fiber power source. So, the more laser power, the higher the speed you can expect.
This means you need to choose a 30W laser, which can give you a deep engraving depth of 0.3mm with a speed of more than 4000 millimeters per second, offering you great results. Therefore, if you want to engrave at high speeds, you need to look for a fiber-optic laser with 30W. With this machine, you can also expect to get precise results.
The more powerful the laser is, the faster the process will be. You need to determine your type of cycle time for the operation. If you need short cycle times, higher-power machines are the best option. But if not, you can opt for low-power laser engraving machines.
The fiber laser marking machine should be easy to use. Whether a small business or a bigger corporation needs it, the simple and easy usage offers to speed up a deficiency in the production line department. It should have easy-to-understand features and a simple operating process.
The laser with higher beam quality can engrave surfaces much faster, with improved quality, and with better resolution. Laser marker machines with better beam quality can generate a focused optical spot size down to less than 20 microns.
Although laser equipment is safe nowadays, there are some precautions to be taken when using it.
Durability and safety features
Make sure to choose a durable and long-lasting machine that doesn’t waste your money. You also need to look for laser systems with CE certification and a hermetically sealed beam path. These things ensure that your machine is safe to use.
Proper machine use
It’s important to understand how to use the machine to avoid accidents and problems. Therefore, read the operating instructions before you start to use it. Also, avoid direct exposure to a laser beam that can cause injuries.
Personal protective equipment
While using the fiber laser machines, you need to wear personal protective equipment. This includes safety goggles, gloves, and other things. This will help you avoid accidents during the operation.
Laser equipment is inevitably subject to wear and tear during use. Maintaining the machine is necessary for the production process.
Cleaning and maintenance schedule
You need to regularly clean and maintain your machine. Weekly cut head, check the level of circulating water, and lubricate oil on the guide screw. You must also clean the lens, check the travel switch bracket, and clean the muffler filter. Try to set a daily maintenance and cleaning schedule to keep your machine in good condition.
Replacement of consumables
You need to replace consumables in around one year. This helps your machine to work efficiently and offers promising results. If not replaced, it can impact the life span of your laser marking machine.
Regular calibration and inspection
We advise people to check the calibration regularly, at least within 6 months. You can do it early if you have used the laser levels roughly when they give you their specific accuracy level. Also, hire experts to inspect the machine regularly so you can repair it before it needs to be completely replaced.
Cooling system maintenance
You need to replace the water regularly present inside the water cooler. In general, it’s best to replace it for at least one month. You also need to use distilled water for the water cooler or deionized water if there are no particular requirements.
