Aluminum extruders are facing new challenges as more and more programs demand that parts be marked as soon as they're off the press.
Since inkjet printers are not permanent and hence not suited for automotive programs, an increasing number of extruders are turning to laser marking to permanently etch data matrix codes and serial numbers.
Laser marking provides reliable inline traceability without limiting the throughput of your extrusion press, allowing you to apply to automotive programs such as IATF 16949 and ISO 9001.
Our laser technology can serialize extrusions and identify scrap on the fly at the exit of the press.
With our autofocusing technology, you can create high-contrast human readable characters and barcodes no matter the profile shape.
Reduce your operating costs to almost zero. While inkjet printing runs on expensive consumables and requires regular maintenance, laser technology runs on electrical power alone, is energy efficient, and requires little to no maintenance.
The LXQ laser produced by Laserax has allowed us to meet our customers’ requirements in the extrusion industry. We have been able to meet OEM requirements for traceability, increase product quality and most importantly, reduce downtime—an important problem with other technologies.
Michael J. Werner, Senior Systems Engineer at Granco Clark
Laser markers are already widely used to identify finished extruded parts. But marking extrusions directly on the press is more challenging. Here are the most important challenges that must be overcome for a successful integration.
On the extrusion line, new profiles constantly need to be marked while in movement. Our lasers are ideal to mark extrusions moving at a high speed—up to 230 ft/min. (70 m/min.).
See Laser Power Required
| Extrusion speed | Alphanumeric characters | 10 x 10 data matrix code |
|---|---|---|
| 10 m/min. - 30 ft/min. | 20W | 20W |
| 30 m/min. - 100 ft/min. | 30W | 50W |
| 50 m/min. - 165 ft/min. | 50W | 100W |
| 70 m/min. - 230 ft/min. | 100W | - |
If your manufacturing process includes varying profile geometries, the laser marker needs to adjust accordingly to stay in focus. Our 3D head achieves that with its long marking range of 150 mm and its dynamic autofocus capabilities. No need for complex mechanical setups!
If you are extruding multiple profiles at the same time, you will encounter problems if the laser’s field of view is too small. Our LXQ fiber lasers have a 300 x 300 mm marking window so they can mark multiple profiles at once.
The high temperature of the extrusion line and water quenching create a rough environment for laser marking systems. Our LXQ fiber lasers bear an IP67 protection rating so they can be positioned anywhere, even face up below the extrusion.
To ensure safety, our laser marking machines come with a certification that your installation is 100% safe according to international Class-1 laser safety standards, guaranteeing that laser beams are properly enclosed.
Operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm, this solid-state laser is ideal to mark aluminum extrusions. Its laser source also offers a much better beam quality than Nd:YAG lasers, another type of laser.
This workstation is manually operated and equipped with a rotary table. It is the most efficient solution when extruded parts are marked after cutting.
The Flex is a manually operated station. It is the most cost-effective solution when extruded parts are marked after cutting.