LASER MARKING SERVICES
Laser Marking Services
Laser part markings are on products we use every day. Because it’s fast, clean and efficient, manufacturers in a broad range of industries rely on laser marking services. At Prototype & Short-run Services, we proudly offer state-of-the-art laser part marking technology with the help of Datalogic equipment.
What Are Laser Markings?
With the AREX fiber laser marking system from Datalogic, we are able to apply any kind of marking to a part, including:
- Barcodes
- Datamatrix
- Labels
- Logos
- Text
- Serial numbers
- Regulatory marking
Why should you choose laser marking?
When you want markings that won’t rub off or alter the surface tolerance of the material, choose laser marking. When you want repeatable results, choose laser marking. When you want unparalleled accuracy, choose laser marking. Laser marking improves traceability, yields clean, permanent markings and is fast and efficient.
AREX Fiber Laser Marking System by Datalogic
Datalogic develops and manufactures cutting-edge laser part marking equipment. For high-speed part marking, we use the AREX Fiver Laser Marking System. Because the AREX produces markings with excellent contrast on metal surfaces, we use it for marking PCB assemblies.
Industries Served
At Prototype & Short-run Services, we offer laser marking services to a wide range of industries, including:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Electronics
- Identification
- Jewelry
- Medical
- Military
Laser Marking Processes
There are many different ways to mark a part using lasers. To learn more about the different methods of laser marking, read on:
- Ablation: This process involves lasering paint off an object (usually a clear plastic body) to reveal a predefined pattern or logo. Ablation is often used to make Day/Night switches for cars.
- Annealing: For things like surgical tools that cannot have any crevices or indentations, annealing is an ideal choice. Annealing heats the material to just before the melting point and creates black markings. Annealing works best with steel and titanium alloys.
- Color Change: UsingLaser light to cause plastic to change color, color change is a simple process. By using a laser to change the color of the material, we are able to create a marking without removing material from the surface of the plastic. Consumer electronics manufacturers often use color change for part marking.
- Cutting: Because regular marking lasers can cut very thin materials, Laser cutting thin materials is very efficient. However it is important to know this process will damage some materials. To cut thicker materials, such as sheet metal, fiberboards, and fabrics, we use high-powered marking lasers.
- Deposition: This process uses laser beams to melt ceramic paints and films in place – permanently. Deposition is commonly used for decorative glass. Though it can be very expensive, deposition yields stunning results.
- Light engraving: Engraving is the most common method of laser marking. The laser beam carves shallow trench (usually between .0001” and .005”), chipping away at the surface to create a marking.
- Deep engraving: Molds, dies and stamps require high-powered lasers. Deep engraving is a slow process that works best with materials that absorb lasers well.
- Polishing: A process that is very similar to annealing, polishing uses a laser beam to melt just the very top few surface molecules. We often use this process for marking gold and nickel parts that are used in electronic assemblies.
- Welding: High-powered weld lasers create weld joints in a wide range of materials, including plastics, ceramics and metals.
History of Laser Marking
Laser marking can be traced back to the 1950s. A research scientist at Columbia University named Dr. Townes invented the first laser. A few years later, two Soviet scientists took Dr. Townes’ creation and worked on it until it was capable of producing continuous output.
Throughout the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s, researchers continued to find new ways to improve and use laser technology. In the 60s, lasers were used mostly for spectroscopy (the study of the interplay between electromagnetic radiation and matter). As the years went on, scientists discovered new ways to use lasers, and now they touch nearly every part of our lives – from the lasers that make it possible to play DVDS to the lasers that perform corrective eye surgery.
Contact Us Today
Laser marking is your best option if you want clean, permanent and accurate markings. Whether you need to mark just one prototype or several thousand parts, we’re here to help. To learn more about our services, contact us today.
Contact our headquarters in Orange, California, at (714) 449-9661 or fill out our online form.
