|
Laser marking
|
May 2007
|
| |
New laser marking equipment is now available suited to many applications in the automotive and metal processing industries.
In these sectors, there is a growing requirement for a cost efficient laser marking solution that can easily mark all types of metal, plastics or glass, and to ensure that the marking complies with the highest standards of quality now demanded for product traceability, including 2D/Bar/ID coding or even company logo or other brand marking.
Typical CO2 laser markers are generally not suited for such applications. They emit in the infrared range - the “wrong” wavelength. The physical/chemical properties of metals do not generally lend themselves well to CO2 marking. The laser beam tends to be reflected with little of the light energy being absorbed.
To create a mark on metal that has sufficient contrast and is easy to read, the requirement is for a system that utilises a solid state laser, such as a YAG laser (YAG – Yttrium Aluminium Garnet), with a wavelength of 1.06µm. But YAG lasers can have high costs associated with their running, arising from the regular need for maintenance, the replacement of water coolant and low energy efficiency, as well as having a relatively short lifetime/marktime (typically 10,000 hours).
To respond to this need, SUNX has made developments of YAG technology, that have become known as FAYb (Fibre Amplified Ytterbium). The SUNX LP-V10 FAYb laser marking system with an output power of 12 Watts, can mark practically any metal (and other materials) with extremely high visibility and quality.
The new system boasts high energy concentration and superior beam quality, improved operational life, a small housing size, low power consumption and simple air cooling.
SUNX, is a member of the global Panasonic Electric Works group and a leader in optical and laser sensing technologies
|
| |
Author
Chris Rowlands
|
| |
Source
Picture copyright Panasonic Electric Works
|
| |
| Email this article |
|
|