Three Types of Laser Markers
Laser markers are widely used in our daily life. Laser markers are also called laser marking machines, laser engraving machines, laser coding machines, laser inkjet printers, laser cutting plotters, etc. Different regions and different industries have other names. Because the materials of the processed products are different, the laser marking machines used are also different. There will be different laser marking machine equipment for various materials in various industries. Today, ATO will introduce three different types of laser markers for you.
Choosing a laser marking machine that suits your product is not a difficult task, as there are many types of laser marking machines, so the first step is to understand the characteristics of the various types of laser marking machines and application areas in order to choose the most suitable laser marking machine for you. According to the division of light sources, the typical laser marking machines in life include fiber laser marking machines, carbon dioxide laser marking machines, ultraviolet laser marking machines, etc. Its principle is to use a high-energy-density laser to irradiate the workpiece locally so that the surface material vaporizes or changes its color, thus leaving a lasting, clear, and indelible mark.
With the advancement of technology, there are now various types of laser marking machines available to meet different application requirements and improve production efficiency. These include desktop, handheld, and portable laser marking machines that are smaller in size and convenient to carry, as well as online laser marking machines that can be integrated into the production line, 3D dynamic laser marking machines suitable for curved marking, PCB laser marking machines designed specifically for marking circuit boards, and CCD vision positioning laser marking machines developed to solve the difficulties in fixture design and manufacturing that result in problems such as difficulty feeding, poor positioning, and slow speed in batch irregular marking. Therefore, laser marking machine equipment types are becoming more diverse, and their application ranges are also becoming more extensive.
1. Ultraviolet(UV) laser marking machine
Working principle of UV laser marking machine: The UV laser marking machine is a series of laser marking machines, so the principle is similar to that of other laser marking machines. It uses a laser beam to make permanent marks on various materials' surfaces. The marking effect is achieved by directly breaking the molecular chains of the material with a short-wavelength laser (different from the surface evaporation produced by long-wavelength lasers), thereby displaying the desired pattern or text to be etched.
Composition of UV laser marking machine: The UV laser marking machine is mainly composed of components such as a UV laser, high-speed scanning galvanometer, marking software, industrial computer, and cabinet. The UV laser is the main core component.
The UV laser marking machine uses a unique low-power laser beam and is particularly suitable for the high-end market of ultra-fine processing. It can mark the surfaces of packaging bottles for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food, and other high-polymer materials, with fine results and clear, firm markings that are superior to inkjet coding and pollution-free. It can also mark flexible PCBs, scribe them, process microholes and blind holes in silicon wafers, mark two-dimensional codes on LCD glass, punch holes in glassware surfaces, mark metal surface coatings, plastic buttons, electronic components, gifts, communication equipment, building materials, and more.
The UV laser marking machine adopts a high-quality ultraviolet laser source. Compared with infrared lasers, ultraviolet lasers are truly cold lasers with very small thermal effects. They can greatly reduce the mechanical deformation of materials and have minimal processing heat effects. Therefore, they are mainly used for ultra-fine marking, and engraving, and are especially suitable for high-speed marking, micro-perforation, glass material cutting, and complex graphics cutting on food and pharmaceutical packaging materials. The ultraviolet marking machine has high efficiency, good marking effect, small size, and convenient transportation. It has a high photoelectric conversion efficiency, a narrow laser pulse width, high peak power, small heat-affected area, and is suitable for high-precision marking of lines and various complex patterns. It is fast, stable, and preferred by customers with higher marking requirements. It features high electro-optical conversion efficiency, stable operation, high marking accuracy, high working efficiency, and modular planning for device protection. It is mainly used for marking on the surface of high-polymer material packaging bottles (boxes), micro-perforation (aperture size ≤10um), flexible PCB boards, LCDs, TFTs, metal or non-metal coating removal, micro-holes on silicon wafers, blind hole processing, and more.
2. Fiber laser marking machine
Working principle of fiber laser marking machine: The fiber laser marking machine uses a laser beam to make permanent marks on various materials. The marking effect is achieved by evaporating the surface material to reveal the underlying material, by causing chemical or physical changes in the surface material through light energy to "etch" the mark, or by burning off some of the material to reveal the desired pattern, text, barcode, or other graphics. The term "fiber laser marking machine" refers to a marking machine that uses a fiber laser, which has the characteristics of small size (no water cooling, using air cooling), good beam quality (fundamental mode), and maintenance-free.
Composition of fiber laser marking machine: The fiber laser marking machine mainly consists of a fiber laser, a high-speed scanning mirror, marking software, an industrial computer, and a cabinet. Among them, the fiber laser is the main core component.
Advantages of fiber laser marking machine: The fiber laser marking machine is the most advanced laser marking equipment in the world today, with the characteristics of good beam quality, small size, fast speed, long working life, flexible and convenient installation, and maintenance-free. It is widely used in various fields such as integrated circuit chips, computer accessories, industrial bearings, watches, electronic and communication products, aerospace components, various automotive parts, home appliances, hardware tools, molds, wires and cables, food packaging, jewelry, tobacco, and military affairs, as well as mass production line operations.
Development trends in fiber laser technology: The focus of research in the field of fiber lasers in the future will be on how to increase output power and conversion efficiency, optimize beam quality, reduce the length of gain fibers, improve system stability, and make it more compact. In the time domain, ultra-short pulse fiber lasers with smaller duty cycles have been a hot topic in laser research, and high-power femtosecond pulse fiber lasers have long been a goal of researchers. In the frequency domain, broadband output and tunable fiber lasers will become a research hotspot.
Research on fiber lasers began in the late 1980s. Due to their ability to generate ultra-short pulses and their vast application prospects, countries around the world have shown great enthusiasm for fiber laser research. Compared with other types of lasers, fiber lasers have outstanding advantages such as high reliability, simple structure, low cost, and high conversion efficiency.
3. CO2 laser marking machine
Working principle of CO2 laser marking machine: The CO2 laser marking machine, also known as the carbon dioxide laser marking machine, is a laser galvanometer marking machine that uses CO2 gas as the working medium. The CO2 laser marking machine uses CO2 gas as the medium for the CO2 laser to fill the discharge tube with CO2 and other auxiliary gases, apply high voltage to the electrodes, and generate glow discharge in the discharge tube, releasing a laser with a wavelength of 10.64μm. After amplifying the laser energy and focusing it through a scanning galvanometer and an F-Theta lens, the laser marking machine can mark images, text, numbers, and lines on the workpiece according to user requirements under the control of a computer and a laser marking control card.
Composition of CO2 laser marking machine: The CO2 laser marking machine is mainly composed of a CO2 laser, a 10.64 field lens, a 10.64 beam expander, a CO2 laser power supply, a scanning galvanometer, a control computer, a laser control card, laser control software, a laser machine frame, a laser circulating water system, an electronic control system, and other components.
Main Features of CO2 Laser Marking Machine: The CO2 laser marking machine uses a carbon dioxide laser and is a universal model with a small volume and high integration. It adopts a rear focusing mode and is suitable for marking the majority of non-metallic materials, such as paper packaging, plastic products, label paper, leather fabrics, glass ceramics, resin plastics, bamboo and wood products, PCB boards, and so on. The CO2 laser is a gas laser with a wavelength of 10.64μm in the far-infrared frequency band. It uses CO2 gas filled in the discharge tube as the medium for laser generation. When high voltage is applied to the electrodes, glow discharge is generated in the discharge tube, which releases the laser from the gas molecules. After amplifying the laser energy, a laser beam for material processing is formed.
Precautions for operating the CO2 laser marking machine:
- If the CO2 laser marking machine is found to be discharged due to moisture or other reasons during adjustment and use, it should be turned off immediately for maintenance.
- CO2 laser marking machine can work continuously for 4 hours at low current, and shorten the use time as appropriate when high current.
- The casing should be grounded wire, and the power line should be single-phase three-wire.
- When the light guide joint arm is not in use, please place it in the drying box to prevent mold of the lens.
ATO fiber laser markers include four types of machines: portable, desktop, handheld, and dynamic flying, which can be used for marking logos, barcodes, UDI codes, etc. on all kinds of metals, plastics, and jewelry. Shop low-cost fiber laser markers on ATO online store now.
