Steel Laser Marking and Engraving
Laser marking is a permanent marking solution for the part identification and traceability of steel workpieces. You can rely on fiber lasers to mark all types of metal alloys, like anodized steel, carbon steel, die steel, and stainless steel. Laser marking can be used to mark data matrix codes, serial numbers, barcodes, and logos on steel workpieces. Common examples are:
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Based on your application requirements, you can mark steel using different laser marking processes such as laser etching, laser engraving, and laser annealing. All these laser processes deliver high-contrast and high-quality marks. Each is fine-tuned to specific needs, such as a high marking speed, or a mark that can withstand surface treatments like shotblasting, e-coating, and heat treating.
A Laser Technology for Industrial Applications
No Consumables & Low Maintenance
Consumable management and maintenance are way too common in industrial applications. With laser marking, you can get rid of mechanical components that use up. You won’t need consumables like ink, acid, and pins. You can decrease noise on the shop floor.
Laser marking is contactless, has no moving parts, and requires no consumables. In addition, it’s completely automated, which means operators aren’t needed. With laser technology, employees have more time for other tasks.
Resistant & Permanent Marking
To be permanent, marks must withstand industrial processes applied to the part. With laser technology, marks are resistant to surface treatments like shotblasting and e-coating. The marking process can thus be implemented at the beginning of the production line, allowing you to meet modern traceability requirements.
Laser marking consistently generates high-contrast codes. Unlike dot peen marking and inkjet printing, the readability of your codes won’t degrade over time. Barcode readers will be able to scan your codes no matter what.
Fast Laser Marking
You don’t want the marking process to be the bottleneck in your production line. Here’s how our fiber laser systems can keep up with production lines:
- You can get up to 500 W of laser power for high-speed applications.
- Our laser experts fine-tune the laser process to each application.
- Our lasers are the fastest on the market.
The Right Laser Technology for Your Marking Application
To choose the right laser technology, you need to analyze your marking application. Laser etching, laser engraving, and laser annealing are used for different applications. Here are the main differences between one laser technology and another.
For High-Speed Laser Etching
To integrate the marking process smoothly in your production line, marking needs to be as fast as possible. The fastest laser marking process is laser etching. Laser etching only affects the surface of the material such as an anodized coating. By instantly changing the roughness, the surface becomes highly contrasted with high and low bumps. You don’t have to worry about changing the properties of the material. The change only occurs on a micro-scale.
For high-speed applications, the laser etching process is what you need.
To Laser Engrave the Most Resistant Marks
Sometimes, marking on the surface isn’t enough to engrave metal permanently. If you have harsh industrial applications, you need a deep engraving method. This is necessary to make sure that identifiers located on the metal surface remain readable. Common examples where this method is used are steel dies used in the aluminum extrusion industry. Or, marks that need to withstand post-treatments like shotblasting.
For the most resistant marks, you’ll need a laser engraving machine. But the deeper the engraving depth, the longer the laser engraving process. You’ll need to discuss with a laser expert to adjust the laser engraving process to your needs.
To Mark Stainless Steel Alloys
Different types of metals have different characteristics and, thus, different laser requirements. To remain rust-resistant, stainless steel must be laser annealed. Read our page on marking stainless steel to discover the advantages of this laser process.
Laser Marking Solutions
You can either buy laser machines or laser systems. Laser machines are fully integrated laser marking solutions, whereas laser systems must be integrated in a greater framework by an integrator.
Fiber Laser Machines
Laser machines are fully integrated laser marking solutions. They’re frameworks that give life to laser systems. Being fully integrated, they’re guaranteed 100% safe according to international safety standards. All our laser machines are ready to be integrated in your production line. You won’t need to take any additional safety measures.
Visit our page on laser machines to see which ones we have to offer.
Fiber Laser Marking Systems
Whereas laser machines are standard solutions for most production lines, you can buy a fiber laser marking system if you want to customize the integration of your laser marking solution.
Visit our page on laser systems to learn more about what we have to offer.
Let Us Know Your Application
Let our laser experts know your steel marking application. They will guide you in choosing the laser process that fits your needs, based on your steel alloy and application requirements.