| Most laser marking techniques involve either | | | | and microcutting, but also for marking applications. |
| engraving the mark into metal or plastic components, | | | | Switching to the new fiber laser means generating |
| or ablating a surface layer to reveal a contrasting | | | | the same thermally induced high contrast mark on |
| material underneath. Both processes usually require | | | | the bearing housing, but doing so with less production |
| high energy pulsed laser systems and of course | | | | of debris, at reduced raised recast, and at much |
| involve process debris. | | | | greater convenience to the end-user - meaning |
| Fiber lasers are now a robust industrial tool with a | | | | almost no maintenance, increased lifetime and |
| unique series of capabilities that enable a wide range | | | | exceptional reliability. |
| of precision materials processing manufacturing | | | | The 100W fiber laser used in this application typifies |
| methods. Fiber lasers offer low running costs, a fast | | | | the flexibility of fiber lasers as a tool for a wide |
| ROI, a small footprint and exceptional reliability, and | | | | variety of applications - marking applications are |
| are thus enjoy a growing acceptance within the | | | | traditionally an application for high energy pulsed |
| laser-assisted manufacturing industry as a | | | | lasers, but the performance envelope provided by |
| cost-effective alternative to conventional laser design. | | | | fiber laser technology allows systems integrators like |
| Laser marking is able to generate high contrast, easily | | | | CMS to redefine these domains. |
| readable and durable identification on a wide variety | | | | Advantages of fiber lasers |
| of components for industrial use or consumer | | | | Many different laser designs have found their way |
| products. Computer generated vector or bitmap | | | | into materials processing applications. Fiber lasers are |
| patterns (logos, barcodes or text) can be engraved | | | | however revolutionizing many of these applications |
| or etched using a non-contact process onto metallic | | | | through a combination of improved optical |
| and nonmetallic materials, including metals, plastics, | | | | performance, better system flexibility, high |
| glass, electronics, PCBs, wafers, medical devices, | | | | component yield, long up-time and exceptional |
| sporting goods and packaging. | | | | reliability. |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | Critical to many marking applications, they do not |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and professional | | | | exhibit the shortcomings in spot size performance |
| "full service" Search Engine Marketing help at very | | | | found in other laser designs - at all power levels, |
| affordable rates. | | | | across all pulse sequences and during the entire |
| A combination of a reliable industrial laser, fast and | | | | lifetime of the laser, the spot size remains small, |
| accurate galvanometric imaging systems and | | | | predictable and consistent. |
| convenient computer control provides manufacturers | | | | The small spot size and high beam quality also mean |
| with a unique combination of speed, permanence and | | | | high irradiance at the focus, so manufacturing tools |
| versatility that cannot be matched by any other | | | | equipped with fiber lasers can produce better results |
| marking technique. | | | | faster and at lower power levels. The focused beam |
| Laser marking processes | | | | consistently treats only a very small area of material, |
| Traditionally, laser marking involves either engraving a | | | | with the benefit that very little heat is generated in |
| physical mark onto a surface just as for traditional | | | | the surrounding area. High quality precision marking, |
| engraving methods, generating a simple color change | | | | welding and cutting can be performed close (0.1 mm) |
| in surface, or etching of a surface layer of material | | | | to the most complicated and intricate component |
| to reveal another, highly contrasting layer underneath. | | | | parts. |
| Either technique can be used on a broad spectrum of | | | | Factoring in the reliable operation and power |
| materials, and in addition to generating identifying | | | | modulation flexibility, fiber laser technology is now |
| marks can also form part of an industrial process, for | | | | frequently chosen as an upgrade over conventional |
| example in electronics manufacture. | | | | flash-lamp pumped solid state, or even DPSS laser |
| The advantages of laser marking include speed, | | | | technology in many other laser-assisted industrial |
| flexibility and the non-contact marking process, | | | | manufacture segments. The consistent and improved |
| meaning that components parts are not stressed by | | | | marking performance means reduced maintenance |
| the marking process. The non-contact nature of the | | | | costs, longer up-times and improved production |
| process also contributes to low maintenance | | | | quality with less scrap. Fiber lasers are also |
| schedules, as tools do not need to be replaced. | | | | exceptionally physically robust and thus suitable for |
| Additionally laser marking is also highly repeatable and | | | | the most challenging of industrial environments. |
| easily readable (even machine readable). | | | | All of these factors equate to a plug-&-play, |
| Stringent Quality Control | | | | maintenance-free architecture for systems |
| A laser engraving process is often used for marking | | | | integrators looking to cut development, production |
| metal surfaces as it is swift, non contact and | | | | and servicing costs, with the added benefit of being |
| extremely durable, but is however also responsible | | | | able to provide the end user with a better, more |
| for the production of debris - fine metallic particles | | | | flexible product. Last but not least, the end user will |
| removed from the surface as part of the engraving | | | | be able to focus on their business demands rather |
| process. | | | | than having to become laser maintenance experts. |
| Naturally for bearing manufacture there are stringent | | | | Advantages for industrial manufacturers |
| requirements for process debris. The marking of | | | | In general, the choice of tooling for any application |
| bearing housings using a laser has thus traditionally | | | | comes down to determining the required |
| combined a "minimal" engraving process with an | | | | performance followed by a trade-off between initial |
| induced change in surface color. CMS had until | | | | outlay, component yield, uptime and maintenance. |
| recently accomplished this using Nd:YAG lasers, but | | | | Not only are component assemblies becoming |
| customer demand was looking for a way around the | | | | increasingly more complex but, at the same time, |
| cost, maintenance, lifetime and reliability issues | | | | more and more demands are being placed on their |
| associated with the Nd:YAG design. | | | | quality and functionality. The deployment of |
| For this application CMS engineers have pioneered the | | | | manufacturing tools equipped with fiber lasers to |
| use of a fiber laser from SPI Lasers plc of | | | | enhance process control can thus bring important |
| Southampton, UK - more specifically a 100 W cw | | | | financial advantages for any manufacturer. Coupled |
| modulated fiber laser usually used for welding and | | | | with the small footprint, such tools can also open up |
| cutting tasks. SPI has been developing fiber lasers for | | | | processes that were previously out of reach for |
| the industrial market for several years, primarily for | | | | some manufacturers. |
| materials processing applications such as microwelding | | | | |