For industrial laser marking, high-speed lasers are essential to meet tight production schedules while maintaining high-quality standards. But with so many options available, choosing can be confusing. After all, you want a machine that not only performs at high speeds, but that is also cost effective.
In this article, we’ll break down the key considerations to select a high-speed laser marking machine that best fits your needs. From understanding the different types of lasers to evaluating important features and automation options, we aim to help you choose the right machine.
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Fiber lasers are typically the best choice for high-speed marking applications because they can achieve higher power levels and thus faster processing speeds.
Fiber lasers also require less maintenance than other types of lasers, which means there is more uptime and fewer interruptions.
An important factor to consider when choosing a laser is the type of material you're working with. Different materials absorb laser light in varying ways, which can affect the speed of the marking process. For example, metals and certain plastics absorb fiber laser light really well. However, CO2 or UV lasers may be better suited to materials like wood or glass.
Below is a comparison of how fiber lasers, CO2 lasers, and UV lasers are used:
| Laser Type | Best Suited Materials | Typical Applications & Industries | Maintenance |
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| Fiber Laser |
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| CO2 Laser |
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| UV Laser |
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When looking for a high-speed laser marker, some features are essential. Here are the ones we recommend when we customize machines for our clients.
During laser marking, a small portion of the material is removed and turned into dust. This dust tends to accumulate on the lens and, over time, reduces the marking quality by blocking the beam.
For this reason, all types of lasers require routine maintenance for lens cleaning.
To make the most of the laser’s high speed, air knives can be installed on the lens to blow air and prevent dust accumulation. Air knives help reduce the frequency of manual lens cleaning, resulting in longer intervals between maintenance stops. They are essential in high-throughput operations where every minute counts.
We almost always recommend air knives because they are not very expensive and can save you a lot of time.
Laser power is one of the most important factors that affects the speed of the marking process. As a general rule, if you double the output power, you almost double the laser marking speed. For example, a 100W laser is approximately twice as fast as a 50W laser.
sand casting plants.
To evaluate the power needed for your application, it’s best to discuss your application with an expert and provide them with the following information:
To optimize the cycle time, we generally recommend that our clients minimize the amount of information they store in 2D codes. This allows them to make smaller codes that are faster to mark. You can still store extra information in a database. You can learn more about how barcodes work here.
The way laser power is presented can be misleading because of the information that is omitted.
If you see a 100W laser, are you right to assume that it is faster than a 50W laser?
Well, it depends.
When you look at a laser’s spec sheet, you need to know whether the laser beam output is pulsed or continuous. A 50W pulsed laser can be faster than a 100W continuous laser because it makes a better use of its energy.
Continuous lasers always release the same amount of energy. Pulsed lasers build up energy and release it in pulses. This allows them to achieve a higher peak power.
Here are some numbers to give you a concrete idea of why pulsed lasers are more powerful.
peak power of 10,000 watts.
A 50W pulsed laser can hit the surface with 50,000 pulses of 10,000W per second.
In laser marking applications, the high peak power of a pulsed laser creates marks easily in the material. With continuous lasers, the peak power is typically not enough to ablate the material and generate permanent marks at high speed.
Pulsed laser markers are typically more expensive than continuous lasers because they require additional components.
Choosing the right wavelength is crucial because different materials absorb laser energy at different rates. Metals, plastics, and ceramics all respond to wavelengths in unique ways.
Metals, for example, absorb laser energy better at shorter wavelengths, like the infrared light produced by fiber lasers.
Plastics, on the other hand, require CO2 or ultraviolet (UV) lasers to ensure precise marks without damaging the material.
The wavelength also impacts the marking speed. When a material absorbs the laser efficiently, the marking process is faster because less energy is wasted. If the wavelength isn't a good match, the laser has to work harder, which slows down the process.
Laser marking can be done using different sets of parameters and optical configurations. We call these laser processes.
Each laser marking process affects the surface in its own unique way. Most importantly, for a high-speed application, some processes are much faster than others.
Here is an overview of common laser marking processes.
Laser etching is the fastest process, as it alters only the material's surface by heating and expanding it. This process is ideal for high-speed applications. It is also more affordable than other processes because it does not require a high-power laser.
Laser engraving removes material to create deeper marks, making it slower but more durable. The deeper the engraving, the more time it requires. Laser engraving is typically more expensive because it requires a more powerful laser.
Laser annealing does not remove or alter the material's surface. Instead, it uses heat to change the color of metals with iron in them, such as stainless steel and titanium. Changes occur under the surface. It is used when the integrity of the material must remain untouched while still achieving high-quality marks.
This process slowly heats the surface, which allows oxygen to penetrate it without melting or ablating the material. Because of the way this process works, there is no point in using a high-speed laser.
Laser machines are available in various forms for high-speed applications. Here’s an overview of our fiber laser marking machines.
If you want to make sure that your next laser marking machine meets your needs, contact our experts. They will help you make an informed decision to minimize cost and optimize speed.
Olivier is responsible for the development of Laserax’s most widely used laser marking system, the LXQ. He is trained on industrial electronics technologies. He also has extensive experience in automation and is responsible for training new automation staff at Laserax.
Permanent part marking ranges from logos and serial numbers to barcodes and certification marks. It’s a critical step in manufacturing as a way to maintain control over quality, comply with regulatory requirements, and ensure the traceability of products.
Laser marking is the first choice when manufacturers need to improve their traceability capabilities. Fiber laser technology is recognized as the best option when it comes to permanent markings, high-contrast codes, post-process resistance, and ease of integration.
While fiber lasers, CO2 lasers, and diode lasers can all be used to engrave metal, the kind of laser engraver you need depends on how you want to use it. If you run a production line, you’ll need a fiber laser. If you have small business or just want to do DIY projects as a beginner, a CO2 laser or a diode laser may be sufficient.
