Laser Marking Methods Laser Engraving

Laser engraving is a process using laser markers for marking and finishing industrial parts and products. Metals and ceramics, but also plastics and many other materials, are optimally suited for laser engraving. The terms laser engraving and laser marking are often used interchangeably. However, engraving can also be classified as a laser marking method.

Overview

What is laser engraving?

Just like annealing, color change, frothing or carbonization, laser engraving can also be defined as a laser marking method. The methods can be differentiated by the effect that the laser creates on the material, or, in other words, by the way the material reacts to the laser beam. When laser engraving, the laser beam creates a palpable and visually perceptible indentation. By comparison, other laser marking methods create a purely visual effect, such as the impressive deep black effect that ultrashort pulse lasers create on stainless steel.

How does laser engraving work?

For mechanical engraving methods, tools are used to remove material, such as milling cutters or the so-called burin, which is used for manual engraving. When laser engraving parts, a focused laser beam removes the material layer by layer.

Depending on the material properties and laser parameters, the material is vaporized, melted or ablated by the laser marker. The depth of the engraving is determined by the laser parameters and the processing time.

Typical applications of laser engraving

Laser engraving is used for direct part marking. Almost any material can be engraved reliably and permanently with marking lasers, both with graphic content such as logos and with all types of codes, characters and serial numbers.

The method is used across all industries and ensures seamless traceability thanks to perfectly readable markings. Furthermore, this kind of laser processing is also suitable for surface structuring.

Is laser engraving suitable for your needs?

Are you wondering which method is the right one for your application?

It is not necessary to select a marking procedure in advance, but rather the material and your requirements (like content, marking quality, processing time, contrast, corrosion resistance, etc.) determine which process and which laser is used. We are happy to advise you and carry out application tests on your material.

Solutions for laser engraving

With a broad portfolio of marking and engraving lasers for integration and turnkey laser marking systems, we offer reliable and highly efficient solutions for laser engraving with added value: The innovative FOBA lasers are economic, reliable, easy to integrate and enable stable, repeatable marking processes with a laser-integrated vision system.

The vision-based laser marking process HELP (Holistic Enhanced Laser Process) offers automated mark alignment and verification steps for quality management and helps to significantly reduce scrap. This results in perfectly positioned, optimally legible, permanent markings and laser engravings.

Application examples

Engraving of a ceramic disc

In case of engraving using laser marking, material is taken out or removed from the surface of the component to be processed. This marking effect can be created in almost all materials.

Especially metals, plastics and ceramics are engraved using laser markers. The laser beam penetrates into the surface and removes it, so that there is a visible depression of up to 50 µm in that area.

Since the material gets simultaneously heated and reacts with the ambient air, there is often a discoloration at the engraving areas, which stand out more distinctly due to the laser marking.

Suitable laser systems:

Fiber laser marker

Surface Structuring

Previously defined (micro) structures and textures are marked on work piece surfaces (injection mold tools and embossing tools) using a laser engraving machine.

This involves direct materials processing either of the end product or the embossing tool or die. The process of surface texturing, which is used to apply structures, is used for the purpose of creating visual effects.

Suitable laser engraving machines: