Laser Marking Plastic Parts

As laser marking systems become more advanced and gains importance in today s manufacturing sector among other areas the need for ability to mark polymers continues to grow and it s applications like plastic parts security seals electrical parts animal identification tags and other areas of use continues to grow at a rapid pace.

Laser marking plastic parts. Plastic marking with a laser a fiber laser from epilog is the perfect choice for marking engineered plastic parts with barcodes serial numbers and logos. The absorption ratio varies greatly depending on the. This is because the laser marking process results in smooth surface materials which do not require any further polishing. The use of laser beams for engraving makes the process completely free of waste products and hence environmentally safe.

Laser marking is considered as an eco friendly process. Color change in an injection molded part made of light plastic is brought about by means of carbonizing. Finally a uv laser marking machine is also well suited for marking heat sensitive materials including a number of plastics from hdpe and silicone to polycarbonate and polyethylene. Such marking on plastic can be done at high speeds.

The polymer that the plastic parts are made up of dictates the methods used and the energy input needed to laser mark the plastic. There is no need for last step hand polishing of plastic parts. The polymer that the plastic parts are made of dictates the methods used and also the energy input needed to laser the plastic. Laser marking of plastics has many advantages of.

For pvc abs and polystyrene both fundamental and green lasers show low transmission ratio and high absorption ratio which ensures good marking. The graph on the left shows the transmission ratio of a fundamental laser 1064 nm and a green laser 532 nm for various plastic materials. Laser marking of plastic or plastic engraving is a process during which components are labelled or marked with the aid of a laser. On the other hand the transmission ratio for polyimide is about 30 with a green laser 532 nm but more than 90 with a fundamental laser 1064 nm.

Pulsed fiber lasers can be used to generate high contrast marking on plastic surfaces. The most common processes of laser marking on plastic are carbonization color change foaming and engraving. Our plastic marking systems come in a variety of sizes so you can laser mark large parts one at a time or load the table with a jig of parts to engrave hundreds at once. Laser plastics processing is a well known method although the understanding of the physicochemical phenomena which take place during laser irradiation is always an active field of research.

The identifier will generally appear white or gray regardless of the base color of the irradiated plastic. Most plastics are quite easy to mark with a laser. This is because the technique does not result in any toxic by products that are seen in conventional techniques. With a wavelength of only 355 nm this uv laser can create ultra fine marks with high contrast.

This application is typically used for permanent and durable marking of housings of all types relays switches plugs and other electronic components. Medical device manufacturers like uv lasers for their ability to make hygienic marks and automotive companies can use them for a wide variety of parts.