The advantage of the laser over other engraving methods is its versatility, since it can work with a wide range of materials, its precision even when marking very small characters and, above all, its speed. These characteristics make laser equipment widely used in a wide variety of sectors. In both technologies, high-definition results are obtained without requiring any contact with the engraved object, making it easy to mark a wide range of shapes and sizes.
What do you know about laser technology?
Laser technology allows you to perform engraving, marking and cutting of a multitude of materials in a precise, very fast and permanent way. The most common types of lasers to perform this kind of applications are CO2, Nd:YAG and Fiber. They differ basically in the active part that creates the energy (CO2 gas tube, nd:YVO4 crystal and optical fiber doped with elements such as ytterbium, respectively) and other technical capabilities. The results also differ according to the material to be marked since each of them behaves differently depending on the material with which they come into contact.
Difference between marking and laser engraving:
Marking: This is the case in which the material with which we are going to work changes color with exposure to heat with the presence of oxygen, without an appreciable ablation, i.e., the groove left on the piece is barely noticeable. It is a melting/vaporization of a microscopically thick layer on the surface of the area to be marked.
Engraving: This technique consists of a significant ablation of material. The material is melted and is thrown out of the groove that is created. Depending on the material, the power applied, the speed, etc., an etching or a marking will be produced, but in general, marking refers to metals and etching to organic or softer materials.
The CO2 laser can engrave a multitude of materials and even cut others. For example, plastic, wood, acrylics, painted or anodized metals, glass, mirrors, leather, rubber, etc. Also metals in natural color to which a special additive is applied. It is therefore a technology in great demand because it opens up a wide range of possibilities that can be covered.
Jensen Instrument Technologies uses a range of CO2 laser machines with various working areas (from 460×305 mm to 610×610 mm) and various powers (from 35W to 80W) and a range of special materials for engraving, which is the most extensive on the market, ranging from plastics and two-layer acrylics, anodized or lacquered metals, special screen-printed metals for the CO2 laser, transparent methacrylate, etc.
Fiber and YAG get superb results on raw or treated metals (steel, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, carbide, silver, gold, brass), modified plastics and ceramics. The YAG works better on reflective materials and offers a finer and more detailed engraving, the Fiber however is more resistant in harsher industrial environments.
Finally, Jensen Instrument Technologies make use of two types of machines for this type of technology: those with a head that moves on the XY axes of a worktable and those with a galvanometric head. The former have a much larger working area, so they can handle large parts and serial engraving of several parts at the same time, and the latter have unbeatable speed.
