Laser Plastic Marking Technology

Nevertheless, laser technology has replaced ink marking technology in some applications, such as imprint and inkjet printing.

Some printed carbon dioxide laser machines are made, including parts type, manufacturing date and validity period.

Usually these marks are black letters and numbers on pparent or light background, or white marks on black background.

This is a typical white mark printed on black engineering plastics. It is printed with a solid state Nd: YAG laser. This laser machine is easy to program, and is suitable for making clear marks on products of arbitrary shape.

There are other applications, including TPE ear tags for cattle and pigs, electrical appliances such as HDPE switch buttons on cleaning and drying equipment, PVC fittings such as fittings and fittings.

In recent years, the latter has become an important application market.

Even the dark contrast is possible.

According to PatrickSchlather, marketing manager of Rofin-Baasel, the main supplier of plastic laser equipment, these color variations are one of the fashion trends. This trend is making people more interested in laser decoration plastics.

In recent years, the latter has become an important application market, and it also meets the development needs of printing large amounts of data on even smaller plastic parts.

For example, two dimensional barcode with data density of 10 times the traditional bar code has been studied.

Compared with the barcode used in the past, printing two-dimensional barcode requires more precise and clearer.

According to Schlather, laser marking meets these requirements. The size and location of dots can be repeated within 0.001 inches, which are difficult to achieve by imprint or ink printer.

Laser marking does not require ink or solvent, nor does it require high energy drying process such as ink marking technology.

Schlather said that for a three shifts printing production, ink and chemicals cost US $20000~40000, while printing plates cost US $100000 per year or more.

In contrast, a three line laser marking equipment consumes less than 3000 US dollars per year, and other consumption such as lamps and filters cost less than US $3500.

The control device uses two computers to scan the laser beam with a mirror or galvanometer moving in the direction of X or Y.

"When the laser path of a good program is completed, new parts are put in place and repeat this cycle.

Since laser mode exists entirely in software, tools or mask are not needed.

This device essentially adopts the same technology, but is suitable for continuous rotating production such as conveyor belt or substrate conversion, Barbero explains. "The advantage of this device is that it can be easily adapted to the existing production line to maximize productivity.

The code is fed back to the computer, and the computer adjusts appropriately to track the moving target in real time.

Schlather continued, "the current device uses simple and clear graphics generation software, which is easy to program and print single data on each and every rotating part."

In recent years, the performance of laser marking has been improved by programming, standardization and troubleshooting, and the printing speed has also been greatly improved.

Barbero said, "today's software is suitable for printing more than 400 words per second, and only 40 can be printed every second 10 years ago."

Most laser machine software has the ability to print serial and multi type bar codes and any model (including company logo) text.

Using Window based "help" option, the laser marking supplier adds services and standardization technology as well as fault clearing software.

Another development is to synchronize two parts with a laser source.

With a deformable head and a programmed beam splitter, with the same information, a laser machine can print two parts at the same time.

Schlather points out that this type of equipment can be used for printing large areas or large quantities of parts that do not move parts.

The cost of CO2 laser equipment is a key factor.

A set of carbon dioxide turnkey devices will cost between $25000~35000 and a Nd or YAG device pumped by an electronic tube or diode can cost between $60000~75000.

The CO2 laser machine etched the surface of the plastic and cleaned the material by evaporation. The contrast mark was obtained, but little or no real color change.

Suitable for the use of carbon dioxide laser machine printed plastic, PVC, ABS and most polyester.

Frosted marks for commercial mica filled commercial resins such as PP are marked with CO2 laser machine.

Although the output power of the CO2 machine can reach 200W, the most common range for marking plastic is 10 to 25W, sometimes 50W.

In the coding process of bottling production lines, speed is the key, or large letters are needed, usually using CO2 laser.

SteveBone, President and chief executive officer of FOBA North America laser equipment group, said that the use of matrix prototype for CO2 machine was 2 times faster than that of Nd: YAG, though it was only a few seconds fast.

"Now laser marking plastic has high contrast, sometimes it is a contrast color rather than black and white, and even thick dark contrast is also possible."

ControlMicrosystems's main market has been focused on automotive hood and electronic / electrical devices. Stevenson of the company said that considering the marking of a plastic, it is necessary to use carbon dioxide laser as the first step to print it.

"If you can't get the required contrast or get excessive melting, then choose the YAG laser machine."

Plastics heated by solid state Nd: YAG laser can cause thermochemical reactions, such as foaming, and produce more color changes.

Because the laser generated by this laser machine has shorter wavelengths, it can achieve higher resolution.

The shorter the wavelengths, the less heat the plastic matrix will induce (Leng Yin).

FOBA's Bone said that the 100 watt Nd: YAG device used for plastic marking is popular at present (because of its high output), but the output power is between 30 and 50W.

YAG laser machines are generally used for high quality marking of parts, such as electronic connectors, hood components, lock caps and surgical equipment.

Rofin-Baasel's Schlather recommends that the processors consider buying the solid state laser machine to understand the required production volume and the aesthetic requirements of the printed label.

For example, if you want a high contrast, the surface is not measured to the interrupt mark, then the high frequency laser machine has the best performance.

However, it depends on whether the low output power of the device is suitable for your productivity requirement.

There is also a new diode with a power between 3 and 100W. Diode can be used as a laser lamp source to replace the electron tube of the electron tube pump.

It is said that the diode is 50% more compact than the electron tube, and the energy efficiency is increased by 20% to 30%.

Electronic tube equipment needs water cooling, and diode type requires water cooling or air cooling.

The electronic tube usually needs to be replaced every 1000 hours, and the life of the diode is 10000 hours.

The disadvantage is that diodes are relatively new and more expensive.

For example, the diode pumped laser of FOBA50W is 10% more expensive than the 100W tube.

But FOBA expects the price of diode devices to fall in the next few months, and they will eventually replace the electron tube pump.

"Environmental problems are another driving force behind the development of laser marking.

Laser marking does not require ink or solvent, nor does it require high energy drying process such as ink marking technology. "

Rofin-Baasel's Schlather summarizes the choice of YAG type: "if you want to maintain every 600~800 hours, then the electron tube pump has the least investment, but the maximum productivity can be achieved.

If the 3 to 60W diode pump equipment can complete the desired printing mark, then the diode pump will cost less than the electronic tube pump in 5 years.

Another development is to synchronize two parts with a laser source.

With a deformable head and a programmed beam splitter, with the same information, a laser machine can print two parts at the same time.

Schlather points out that this type of equipment can be used for the printing of a large area or a large number of parts without moving parts.

The cost of CO2 laser equipment is a key factor.

A set of carbon dioxide turnkey devices will cost between $25000~35000 and a Nd or YAG device pumped by an electronic tube or diode can cost between $60000~75000.

The CO2 laser machine etched the surface of the plastic and cleaned the material by evaporation. The contrast mark was obtained, but little or no real color change.

Suitable for the use of carbon dioxide laser machine printed plastic, PVC, ABS and most polyester.

Frosted marks for commercial mica filled commercial resins such as PP are marked with CO2 laser machine.

Although the output power of the CO2 machine can reach 200W, the most common range for marking plastic is 10 to 25W, sometimes 50W.

In the coding process of bottling production lines, speed is the key, or large letters are needed, usually using CO2 laser.

FOBA North America laser equipment group