You have questions about industrial product marking with laser technology? Here in our blog you'll find the answers.
Various processes have become established for marking industrial parts. During the last years there is a clear trend towards laser technology, as it offers decisive advantages over other processes. Learn more about the differences between the marking processes and the reasons for switching from pad printing to laser marking.
Black marking is a term used in the field of laser marking. The term refers to an effect that creates a deep black, non-reflective marking. This type of marking has many advantages for marking sensitive products and is therefore predestined for applications in medical technology. We took a close look at this special deep black marking – from theory to practice.
![[Translate to English:] Laserbeschriftetes Zahnrad](/fileadmin/_processed_/7/2/csm_Zahnrad-Y1000_38b4324f0b.jpg "Laser Marked Gear | FOBA Laser Marking")
This question inevitably concerns all those looking for a coding solution. That's why we asked our laser experts what is typical for laser codings. The answers can be summarized as follows: Laser codings are durable, high-contrast and perfectly legible, precise and gentle on materials. But what does that mean? We took a close look at these qualities.
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Following Brexit, products that currently bear a CE mark require a new UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark to remain or be introduced on the UK market. The UKCA regulation came into effect on January 1, 2021 and includes special guidelines for medical devices. We answer the most important questions about the new UKCA and the latest deadline postponements.
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The laser protection regulation for Germany, the "Verordnung zum Schutz der Arbeitnehmer vor Gefährdungen durch künstliche optische Strahlung - OStrV", requires a written appointment of a laser safety officer for the operation of lasers of the two most dangerous laser classes (3 or 4). You will find all relevant questions and answers here.
FOBA is launching a new marking system: the "green laser" is another innovative addition to the existing range of marking lasers. Philipp Febel, Director Product Management, answers questions about the new laser system and provides insights into product development.
Manufacturing, placing on the market, validating: How can the effort associated with the UDI requirements for medical devices be permanently reduced?
Lean manufacturing in industrial laser marking: A lean laser marking workflow is mainly a question of integrated vision and automated mark alignment.
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Laser marking on dental and other medical devices: FOBA answers some frequent questions in view of the upcoming last FDA implementation deadline.
Customized automation solutions from visual process control to robotic parts handling: FOBA, in cooperation with automation experts, offers technical solutions that make the marking process more efficient for industrial customers. How this is implemented differs individually.
"What to consider when validating my UDI marking laser system to be compliant with the regulations?" was the topic of our UDI Expert Talk on March 18, 2021 with Wolfgang Hirschauer from the consulting firm Medagent and Christian Söhner from FOBA. Many of the questions that were asked at the end of the webinar could not be answered due to time constraints, so we summarize all the answers in this blog article.
Laser systems in high-speed production lines mark serial contents such as shelf life or production data. Markings whose purpose goes beyond classic product identification are also in demand, such as logos. A high speed of the laser system is always a prerequisite for integrating laser marking into production.
Silvia Rosenberger, Technical Marketing Manager at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt Germany, held a lecture as part of the FOBA “Virtual Manufacturing Day 2020” webinar series on January 14, 2021. As an expert for laser pigments, she explained together with her colleague Stefan Gutberlet, Global Marketing Manager Industrial Pigments, how plastics can be optimized for obtaining best laser marking results.
A great number of medical applications, many of which require direct part marking for device identification purposes, are made of plastics. Since lasers can create durable and high-quality marks, laser technology is the proven method for plastic marking.
The first Virtual Manufacturing Day 2020 on November 24 is a virtual trade show for manufacturing companies from the automotive, medical or electronics industries. The focus is on automation solutions specifically for product tracking. The exhibitors are showcasing innovations in optical quality control, robot-supported production, analysis and diagnostics, in the application of materials such as metal or plastic, and in laser marking.
Fast and easy set-up, safe and speedy marking process: FOBA’s fiber laser marking system Y.0200-xs with the world’s smallest laser marking head Titus™ applies high contrasting marks on a polypropylene plastic part.
The FOBA Y.0200-xs fiber laser marking system can be integrated into any production line thanks to the smallest marking head available on the market. In practical tests, Titus™ achieves the best marking results, as demonstrated by applications on stainless steel.
Based on our decades of experience, our focus is to develop solutions for the industry which will master every challenge. Whether it is our special solution for the medical market to ensure safe and easy UDI-Marking with maximum efficiency, or development of the smallest laser head in the world.
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The FOBA Y.0200-xs fiber laser marking system can be integrated into any production line thanks to the smallest marking head available on the market. Field-tested, Titus™ achieves top marking results, as demonstrated by application testing on colored plastic profiles.
Glass is best marked with UV or CO2 laser systems. The energy input can be kept low to minimize the effect of microcracking.
![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/f/csm_Titanium-Y0201_a2a6db981b.jpg "[Translate to English:]")
Annealing marking on titanium is usually black, but a fiber laser can also create color marks.
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In order to increase patient safety, reusable medical parts must be provided with a UDI code (UDI - Unique Device Identification) which remains permanently legible even with heavy use and frequent cleaning. But also beyond legal requirements, manufacturers and users employ part markings for a reliable traceability. That’s why UDI codes or other labels can be found on almost all instruments, devices and accessories in medical technology.
Laser etching machines are indispensable in most industries. They can be used in a variety of ways and mark or engrave almost all materials with high precision and efficiency. Different methods are used for industrial product labeling, depending on the desired effect, material or quality requirements.
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Laser marking is not only used to label cosmetic glass containers, aluminum tubes or plastic bottles with serial numbers or expiry dates. Marks, which then have more decorative than informative purposes, can also be applied directly on colored make-up paint.
![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/2/1/csm_Aluminum-Group1-Y_ed4ba9f70a.jpg "[Translate to English:]")
Aluminum is often anodized, i.e. provided with a ceramic-like oxide layer to protect the material from abrasion or natural oxidation. The layer also has a decorative character, since it can be anodized in many colors.
Small defects in a ball bearing are often difficult to detect, e.g. if single rollers are missing , wrongly mounted, or if a component is of a different size. If the undesired part is then labelled with a laser marker, this causes unnecessary and relatively high costs.
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Is your project time schedule tight? Do you want to get things right the 1st time? Then look at the following guidance what information to provide your laser supplier with to increase your chances of getting relevant and meaningful laser test results with the 1st trial:
![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/5/b/csm_anodized-aluminum-laser-etching-1024x341_7ad3d4f201.png "[Translate to English:]")
Anodized aluminum appeared to be the perfect material for the FOBA application lab-team to create this year’s Christmas tree decoration.
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There is a difference between marking time and cycle time for industrial parts marking. “Okay”, you might say. “So what? Does that matter?” The answer is simple: Yes, it does.
On January 14, 2020, Microsoft will end the support for Windows 7. After that you won’t receive any technical support or software updates via Windows Update for the protection of your PC! After January 14, 2020, your system as well as the application and production files on your PC will be more vulnerable to security breaches and viruses.
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Hidden on the inside of a bottle cap you will often find laser-marked characters and codes, e.g. production data.
Due to traceability reasons, many parts and products have to be marked with codes. Finding room on a product to place traceability content is often a challenge. Manufacturers and designers tend to use every available space on the part to squeeze all tracking information required.
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It might be worth to take a closer look and discover how many of the operating elements inside the house are labelled with a laser mark.
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For high-quality labeling of cardboard or packaging cartons, the marking field can be coated with a laser-sensitive lacquer.
Fiber laser markers, be it pulsed or continuous wave, have prevailed in nearly all industries for marking products permanently and in high quality. The fiber lasers that are used for industrial part marking usually are either Q-switch or MOPA lasers.
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The handling of plastic contact lenses can be simplified if they are laser marked. This helps to avoid confusion of left and right and you can tell before inserting whether the lens is wrongly inverted.
In summer, many people are looking for relaxation and holidays – while solar panels are now particularly productive. FOBA’s motto “Bring products to life by harnessing laser technology” also applies to this future-oriented technology of energy generation.
The acquisition of a laser marker is a large investment for any organization. The correct choice of the laser depends on many variables and it is challenging to keep the overview of the huge number of providers and suppliers.
We used a 20 Watt fiber laser (FOBA Y.0201) for marking anodized aluminum rings with scaling lines. Depending on the color of each part, different laser effects can be applied.
![[Translate to English:] Mit einem Faserlaser markierte Bremsscheibe](/fileadmin/_processed_/4/1/csm_Bremsscheibe-Y1000_76b2a9ca38.jpg "Fiber Laser Marked Brake Disc | FOBA Laser Marking")
FOBA’s MarkUS 2.12 laser marking software eliminates the need for product fixtures in the marking field. This not only means great savings in terms of material, but also increased flexibility and safety in the application.
![[Translate to English:] Laserbeschriftetes Überschlagventil](/fileadmin/_processed_/6/f/csm_Raval-ROV-small-Roll-over-Valve-CO2_0e9c1cba4d.jpg "CO2 Laser Marked Roll over Valve | FOBA Laser Marking")
Melt engraving with a CO2-laser is a possible alternative to the color change process by fiber or UV laser when labeling plastic.
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A data matrix code, or in short simply “DMC”, is a 2D code. In many industries DMCs have become the preferred way of encoding data, e.g. in automotive and medical industries.
At the start of this year’s racing season, it’s also worth taking a look at the automotive components that are under the hood.
Winter is not over yet, snow and ice must still be expected… But ice won’t have a chance with the people who visited the FOBA booth at the Intec-show this month in Leipzig.
Product traceability is standard among nearly all industries. Especially in automotive and medical industries, traceability codes have become indispensable.
New Year, good resolutions … The motivation to do more sport can be increased even further with a fashionable and individual design of the sports shoes! In the production of sports shoes, on both the shoe sole and the upper materials marks can be applied with laser marking.
Still searching for the perfect Christmas gift? An individual marking makes items like key rings, wooden plates or drinking glasses a very personal little something.
A data matrix code, or in short simply “DMC”, is a 2D code. In many industries DMCs have become the preferred way of encoding data, e.g. in automotive and medical industries.
![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/7/csm_Scalpel-Holder-UDI-Zoom-Y_9a2e12ec1f.jpg "[Translate to English:]")
A data matrix code, or in short simply “DMC”, is a 2D code. In many industries DMCs have become the preferred way of encoding data, e.g. in automotive and medical industries.
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Depending on the material and application of the product, plastic cables or tubes can be marked with a UV or a fiber laser.
Well, you might expect from a person with my background that there is only one possible answer. However, I believe that the appropriate answer is: It really depends.
Laser paint removal is the most advanced way of creating highly precise sharply contoured symbols on coated, translucent or transparent plastics.
Anticipating the upcoming football world championship, we are well prepared: Drinking glasses and snack dishes have been marked appropriately! Our application engineers chose UV-laser marking systems for glass and wood application.
![[Translate to English:] Medizinische Klemme, markiert mit UDI Code](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/4/csm_Medical-clamp2-Y0201_e40eb8df06.jpg "Laser Marked Medical Clamp | FOBA Laser Marking")
At the Medtech Europe, starting tomorrow in Stuttgart, FOBA will demonstrate laser marking on medical forceps.
Individualized codes with flexible contents like QR-codes on beverage cans can be applied on the outside of the can as well as inside the opener.
Complex structures of a substrate – such as on castings in the automotive sector – may complicate the readability of the applied codes due to shadows in varying lighting conditions and therefore poor contrasts.
Ceramic is a material that needs to be highly resistant against wear or temperature changes, especially in industrial applications.
For marking food with logos, quality labels, identification numbers or best-before dates, CO2-laser marking is the most appropriate method.
For sample marking on ball bearings, we applied marks with two different procedures for demonstration purposes: laser engraving on the outside, laser annealing on the inside circle.
Musical instruments often get marked with company logos, serial numbers or other information. Different marking systems are utilized, depending on the material.
![[Translate to English:] Farbige Anlassbeschriftung](/fileadmin/_processed_/b/b/csm_Color-matrix-SS304L-Y0201_75a453c5bc.jpg "Colored annealing marking | FOBA Laser Marking")
Expensive materials like titanium, and especially the products made from it, require markings of an appropriate high quality. In order to demonstrate the marking capabilities of a pulsed fiber laser on titanium, we have marked the material with 80 fields of different colors on plates of 5 x 5 cm (1.97 in²) for our sample case.
![[Translate to English:]](/fileadmin/_processed_/8/0/csm_Nylon-white-green-yellow-blue-red-V0020-uv_0c15345844.jpg "UV Laser Marked Nylon Pattern | FOBA Laser Marking")
While selecting basic plastic material for a special industrial application, manufacturers need to consider whether the material is appropriate for marking – in order not to obtain unpleasant results at the end of the production process.
The “high class” version of the conventional French fry fork and reusable as well: our stainless steel laser cut and laser marked application sample has been introduced right for the start of the 2017 barbecue season, and has been highly appreciated by our trade show visitors so far.
UV-laser marking systems with a wavelength of 355 nm use relatively little energy (ca. 2 watt). As a result, only a low heat level is created and the surrounding material is barely affected – which thus contributes to high marking contrasts.
nformation management and “UAI” (“Unique Animal Identification”) do not even stop at farming. In order to be able to track an animal’s pedigree, for in-house registration reasons or milk output documentation, farm animals get tagged.
Electronic parts and products get identification marks to allow for correct allocation during complex production processes, for safety reasons in case of breakdown, for tracking and registration of inventory, as a prevention against forgery as well as to ensure traceability throughout the complete value chain.
Laser light is highly focused and fast so that the surrounding material is only slightly affected during the marking process. Laser is thus able to create even the smallest marks with high contrast and sharp boundaries.
This time of the year, driving with searchlights on lightens up the outside darkness. Inside the vehicle, we hit the right switches when they are lit up from inside out. Their transparency and the backlit signs on them are created by highly precise layer removal.
Did you know that champagne sparkles even better in your glass with the help of sparkling marks?
The FOBA Y-series pulsed Ytterbium fiberlasers are capable of creating the smallest of marks with the highest precision and legibility
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