February 17th, 2008
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Laser reflective mirror/lens φ20mm HR@1064nm for YAG/Diode/fiber laser mark/cut Laser reflective mirror/lens φ20mm HR@1064nm for YAG/Diode/fiber laser mark/cut Paypal US $30.00 16d 16m
355nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/UV laser marking & engraving 355nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/UV laser marking & engraving Paypal US $168.00 1d 21h 12m
532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 10x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving 532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 10x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving Paypal US $126.00 3d
Diode-Pumped YAG Laser Marking System Diode-Pumped YAG Laser Marking System Paypal US $26,000.00 25d 12h 33m
Laser Marking Technologies Q-switched Diode Pumped YAG Laser Head Laser Marking Technologies Q-switched Diode Pumped YAG Laser Head Paypal US $799.00 18d 15h 43m
NEW Han's YAG-M50 LASER Marking System (LISTS $26,995!!!) NEW Han's YAG-M50 LASER Marking System (LISTS $26,995!!!) Paypal US $22,995.00 18d 11h 25m
Alase WinLase laser marking software 3.0 YAG CO2 Scanlab RTC3 RTC/3 Charm Design Alase WinLase laser marking software 3.0 YAG CO2 Scanlab RTC3 RTC/3 Charm Design Paypal US $2,250.00 16d 12h 31m
High quality f-theta lens for 1064nm YAG Diode Fiber laser marking/engraving High quality f-theta lens for 1064nm YAG Diode Fiber laser marking/engraving Paypal US $399.00 16d 20m
Control Laser Signature 50 watt Nd:YAG marking engraving system working Control Laser Signature 50 watt Nd:YAG marking engraving system working Paypal US $8,500.00 14d 10h 28m
YAG 1064nm 10× Water Cooling Beam Expander for laser engraving marking machine YAG 1064nm 10× Water Cooling Beam Expander for laser engraving marking machine Paypal US $124.00 11d 23h 21m
1064nm 6x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving 1064nm 6x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving Paypal US $126.00 8d 5h 52m
1064nm 5x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving 1064nm 5x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving Paypal US $124.00 8d 5h 50m
1064nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving 1064nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving Paypal US $120.00 8d 5h 46m
New Laser Krypton Lamp for YAG Laser Marking Φ7x100x210 New Laser Krypton Lamp for YAG Laser Marking Φ7x100x210 Paypal US $58.00 5d 6h 17m
532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 20x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving 532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 20x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving Paypal US $139.00 1d 21h 12m
Can Demo! ROFIN E20 YAG LASER DIODE MARKING / MARKER SYSTEM - 56 HOURS! Can Demo! ROFIN E20 YAG LASER DIODE MARKING / MARKER SYSTEM - 56 HOURS! US $35,000.00 6h 37m
ND:YAG 1064nm 2.5X Water Cooling Beam Expander for Laser Engraving marking ND:YAG 1064nm 2.5X Water Cooling Beam Expander for Laser Engraving marking Paypal US $121.00 11d 23h 29m
YAG 1064nm 3.5× Water Cooling Beam Expander for laser engraving marking machine YAG 1064nm 3.5× Water Cooling Beam Expander for laser engraving marking machine Paypal US $124.00 11d 23h 29m
1064nm ND:YAG 45 Degree laser Reflective Mirror 20mm Marking Cutting Engraving 1064nm ND:YAG 45 Degree laser Reflective Mirror 20mm Marking Cutting Engraving Paypal US $34.00 11d 23h 29m
ND:YAG 1064nm/532nm 10x Beam Expander for Laser Engraving Marking Machine ND:YAG 1064nm/532nm 10x Beam Expander for Laser Engraving Marking Machine Paypal US $211.00 11d 23h 29m
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Laser Burning Marking Station Nd:Yag Laser Optics Laser Burning Marking Station Nd:Yag Laser Optics Paypal US $1,095.00 25d 3h 50m
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Yag Marking
Yag Marking



Laser reflective mirror/lens φ20mm HR@1064nm for YAG/Diode/fiber laser mark/cut Laser reflective mirror/lens φ20mm HR@1064nm for YAG/Diode/fiber laser mark/cut Paypal US $30.00 16d 16m
355nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/UV laser marking & engraving 355nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/UV laser marking & engraving Paypal US $168.00 1d 21h 12m
532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 10x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving 532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 10x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving Paypal US $126.00 3d
Diode-Pumped YAG Laser Marking System Diode-Pumped YAG Laser Marking System Paypal US $26,000.00 25d 12h 33m
Laser Marking Technologies Q-switched Diode Pumped YAG Laser Head Laser Marking Technologies Q-switched Diode Pumped YAG Laser Head Paypal US $799.00 18d 15h 43m
NEW Han's YAG-M50 LASER Marking System (LISTS $26,995!!!) NEW Han's YAG-M50 LASER Marking System (LISTS $26,995!!!) Paypal US $22,995.00 18d 11h 25m
Alase WinLase laser marking software 3.0 YAG CO2 Scanlab RTC3 RTC/3 Charm Design Alase WinLase laser marking software 3.0 YAG CO2 Scanlab RTC3 RTC/3 Charm Design Paypal US $2,250.00 16d 12h 31m
High quality f-theta lens for 1064nm YAG Diode Fiber laser marking/engraving High quality f-theta lens for 1064nm YAG Diode Fiber laser marking/engraving Paypal US $399.00 16d 20m
Control Laser Signature 50 watt Nd:YAG marking engraving system working Control Laser Signature 50 watt Nd:YAG marking engraving system working Paypal US $8,500.00 14d 10h 28m
YAG 1064nm 10× Water Cooling Beam Expander for laser engraving marking machine YAG 1064nm 10× Water Cooling Beam Expander for laser engraving marking machine Paypal US $124.00 11d 23h 21m
1064nm 6x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving 1064nm 6x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving Paypal US $126.00 8d 5h 52m
1064nm 5x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving 1064nm 5x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving Paypal US $124.00 8d 5h 50m
1064nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving 1064nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/Diode/Fiber laser marking & engraving Paypal US $120.00 8d 5h 46m
New Laser Krypton Lamp for YAG Laser Marking Φ7x100x210 New Laser Krypton Lamp for YAG Laser Marking Φ7x100x210 Paypal US $58.00 5d 6h 17m
532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 20x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving 532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 20x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving Paypal US $139.00 1d 21h 12m
Can Demo! ROFIN E20 YAG LASER DIODE MARKING / MARKER SYSTEM - 56 HOURS! Can Demo! ROFIN E20 YAG LASER DIODE MARKING / MARKER SYSTEM - 56 HOURS! US $35,000.00 6h 36m
ND:YAG 1064nm 2.5X Water Cooling Beam Expander for Laser Engraving marking ND:YAG 1064nm 2.5X Water Cooling Beam Expander for Laser Engraving marking Paypal US $121.00 11d 23h 29m
YAG 1064nm 3.5× Water Cooling Beam Expander for laser engraving marking machine YAG 1064nm 3.5× Water Cooling Beam Expander for laser engraving marking machine Paypal US $124.00 11d 23h 29m
1064nm ND:YAG 45 Degree laser Reflective Mirror 20mm Marking Cutting Engraving 1064nm ND:YAG 45 Degree laser Reflective Mirror 20mm Marking Cutting Engraving Paypal US $34.00 11d 23h 29m
ND:YAG 1064nm/532nm 10x Beam Expander for Laser Engraving Marking Machine ND:YAG 1064nm/532nm 10x Beam Expander for Laser Engraving Marking Machine Paypal US $211.00 11d 23h 29m
1064nm YAG 45 Degree laser Reflective Mirror 40mm Marking Cutting Engraving 1064nm YAG 45 Degree laser Reflective Mirror 40mm Marking Cutting Engraving Paypal US $34.00 11d 23h 29m
ND:YAG 1064nm/Green 532nm Beam Expander for Laser Engraving Marking Machine ND:YAG 1064nm/Green 532nm Beam Expander for Laser Engraving Marking Machine Paypal US $211.00 11d 23h 29m
1064nm ND:YAG 45 Degree laser Reflective Mirror 30mm Marking Cutting Engraving 1064nm ND:YAG 45 Degree laser Reflective Mirror 30mm Marking Cutting Engraving Paypal US $34.00 11d 23h 29m
ND:YAG 1064nm 2X Water Cooling Beam Expander for Laser engraving marking ND:YAG 1064nm 2X Water Cooling Beam Expander for Laser engraving marking Paypal US $121.00 11d 23h 29m
Y axis 1064nm ND:YAG Mirror 20mm Laser Galvo Scanner Scanning Marking Y axis 1064nm ND:YAG Mirror 20mm Laser Galvo Scanner Scanning Marking Paypal US $72.00 11d 23h 21m
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Laser Burning Marking Station Nd:Yag Laser Optics Laser Burning Marking Station Nd:Yag Laser Optics Paypal US $1,095.00 25d 3h 50m
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No items matching your keywords were found.


Laser reflective mirror/lens φ20mm HR@1064nm for YAG/Diode/fiber laser mark/cut Laser reflective mirror/lens φ20mm HR@1064nm for YAG/Diode/fiber laser mark/cut Paypal US $30.00 16d 16m
355nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/UV laser marking & engraving 355nm 4x Laser Beam Expander for YAG/UV laser marking & engraving Paypal US $168.00 1d 21h 12m
532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 10x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving 532nm YAG Laser Green Laser 10x Beam Expander for Marking Sub-surface Engraving Paypal US $126.00 3d
Diode-Pumped YAG Laser Marking System Diode-Pumped YAG Laser Marking System Paypal US $26,000.00 25d 12h 33m
Laser Burning Marking Station Nd:Yag Laser Optics Laser Burning Marking Station Nd:Yag Laser Optics Paypal US $1,095.00 25d 3h 50m
Laser Marking Technologies Q-switched Diode Pumped YAG Laser Head Laser Marking Technologies Q-switched Diode Pumped YAG Laser Head Paypal US $799.00 18d 15h 43m
NEW Han's YAG-M50 LASER Marking System (LISTS $26,995!!!) NEW Han's YAG-M50 LASER Marking System (LISTS $26,995!!!) Paypal US $22,995.00 18d 11h 25m
Alase WinLase laser marking software 3.0 YAG CO2 Scanlab RTC3 RTC/3 Charm Design Alase WinLase laser marking software 3.0 YAG CO2 Scanlab RTC3 RTC/3 Charm Design Paypal US $2,250.00 16d 12h 31m
High quality f-theta lens for 1064nm YAG Diode Fiber laser marking/engraving High quality f-theta lens for 1064nm YAG Diode Fiber laser marking/engraving Paypal US $399.00 16d 20m
Control Laser Signature 50 watt Nd:YAG marking engraving system working Control Laser Signature 50 watt Nd:YAG marking engraving system working Paypal US $8,500.00 14d 10h 28m
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Yag Training Vessels


Yag Training Vessels


$68.51


High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles YAG (Yard Auxiliary, General) training vessels are wooden boats built between 1954 and 1958, and based at CFB Esquimalt in Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada. The vessels are used for training Canadian Forces regular naval officers, naval reservists, and members of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets in basic seamanship, vessel handling, and navigation. According to the Department of National Defence, in 2000, a total of 1830 personnel were deployed on the YAGs for a total of 585 days and steamed over 25,000 nautical miles (46,000 km) in support of training. YAGs displace 70 tonnes, and are divided into five major belowdecks compartments: right forward, a chain locker, then the forward cabin, containing the galley, one of the heads (washrooms) and the officers eating and sleeping areas, as well as the gyroscopic (gyro) compass. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 80 Publication Date: 2010/07/05 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.19 inches

Ophthalmic Neodymuim: Yag Lasers


Ophthalmic Neodymuim: Yag Lasers


$19.01


No Synopsis Available

Ophthalmic Neodymuim : Yag Lasers


Ophthalmic Neodymuim : Yag Lasers


$19.01


No Synopsis Available

Advances in ND : YAG Laser Surgery


Advances in ND : YAG Laser Surgery


$312.98


No Synopsis Available

Neodymium : YAG Laser in Medicine and Surgery


Neodymium : YAG Laser in Medicine and Surgery


$82.88


No Synopsis Available

The Marking Lesson


The Marking Lesson


$49.99


Helen K. Brietzcke The Marking Lesson - Giclee Print

In the Marking II


In the Marking II


$12.99


Tandi Venter In the Marking II - Art Print

NYLON MARKING PEN BLACK


NYLON MARKING PEN BLACK


$22.99


NYLON MARKING PEN BLACK

Pencil,Marking,Refillable


Pencil,Marking,Refillable


$13.99


PENCIL,MARKING,REFILLABLE

Dritz Marking Pencil Water Soluble Marking Blue


Dritz Marking Pencil Water Soluble Marking Blue


$2.49


Use marking pens, pencils and chalks for sewing, quilting and crafting. Pencil Water Soluble Marking Blue- Marks can be remove with a damp cloth.

A Stone Marking the Jail Yard


A Stone Marking the Jail Yard


$79.99


A Stone Marking the Jail Yard - Premium Photographic Print

Girls Marking Tapa


Girls Marking Tapa


$79.99


Girls Marking Tapa - Premium Photographic Print

Dritz Marking Pencil Assorted


Dritz Marking Pencil Assorted


$2.99


Use marking pens, pencils and chalks for sewing, quilting and crafting. Pencil Assorted- - For marking dark fabrics, remove all marks with brush on end or damp cloth.

Dritz Marking Pencil White


Dritz Marking Pencil White


$2.99


Use marking pens, pencils and chalks for sewing, quilting and crafting. Pencil White- For marking dark fabrics, remove all marks with brush on end or damp cloth.


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Laser SISMA SARTY 10W YAG marking

Beam: -Steered Laser Marking of Plastics & Fundamentals

Beam-steered Nd: YAG (Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser marking provides a unique combination of speed, permanence, and imaging versatility in a noncontact marking process. Laser marking can generate considerable savings in reduced manufacturing and tooling costs; elimination of secondary processes and consumable disposal; and reduced inventory expense, quality-control costs, and maintenance downtime. Laser marking frequently improves the aesthetic appearance of the marking image, thereby increasing the product's perceived value. Of all materials, plastics are the most challenging in terms of the laser's interaction with the material and the required image quality. The wide variety of material chemistries and colors and the aesthetic requirements of most plastics applications require special consideration in both material chemistry and imaging techniques. The successful implementation of laser marking technology requires a working knowledge of the laser marker's function and capabilities and a committed, team approach by the user. Marking Fundamentals Laser marking is a thermal process that employs a high-intensity beam of focused laser light to create a contrasting mark on the material surface. As the target material absorbs the laser light, the surface temperature increases to induce a color change in the material and/or vaporization of material to engrave the surface. Beam-steered laser marking employs mirrors mounted on high-speed, computer-controlled galvanometers to direct the laser beam across the target surface. Each galvanometer provides one axis of beam motion in the marking field. A multi-element, flat-field lens assembly subsequently focuses the laser light to achieve high power density on the work surface while maintaining the focused-spot travel on a flat plane. The laser output is gated to blank the beam between marking strokes. Marking can be accomplished at speeds of up to 5000 mm/sec with positioning speeds between marking strokes of 50,000 mm/sec. Because the process relies on heat conduction into the plastic, marking speeds are usually slower than the system's maximum capability to allow sufficient conduction to achieve the desired results. The beam-steered marker can duplicate virtually any black-and-white image, including variable line widths and images as small as 0.0001 inch. Present computer-imaging technology produces highly intricate graphics with line widths, resolution, and accuracy well below 0.001 inch. Because “drawing” with the laser beam creates the image, the marking time is dependent on the amount and complexity of the text and graphics. With computer-generated imaging, any graphic element or the entire marking program can be instantly changed before a new part is positioned for marking. Nd:YAG lasers amplify light of 1.06mm wavelength in the near-infrared. They are unique among the different types of lasers in that they operate much like an "optical capacitor." In pulsed operation, the Nd: YAG laser stores energy between pulses, resulting in peak powers of kilowatts of light energy. A Nd: YAG laser emitting 75 watts of continuous light, pulsed at 1 kHz, emits a train of pulses with peak powers of 110,000 watts. The "optical capacitor" effect provides the peak power necessary to vaporize material. For plastics applications, the laser must also be run in a "top hat" mode, where the power distribution is fairly even across the cross section of the laser beam in order to eliminate "hot spots" in the marking path. The beam-steered Nd: YAG marker frequently replaces acid and electro-etch systems, stamping and punching systems, and those other marking systems that permanently mark products by imprinting or engraving. It also replaces other, less permanent printing systems, including ink jet. Uncoated Plastics Most uncoated plastics must be doped with a material reflective to the laser wavelength to prevent over-absorption of the laser light, which results in loss of control of the temperature rise and excessive melting on the surface. Light-colored plastics are doped with mica, titanium dioxide or carbon-containing materials. The heat generated by absorption of the laser light causes the carbon to migrate to the surface, producing a contrasting dark mark against the unaltered background plastic. Plastics are semitransparent to the near-infrared wavelength of the Nd: YAG laser. Depending on the degree of transparency and the laser output power, the laser beam can alter the material surface to depths of more than 0.025 mm without achieving vaporization temperature on the surface. If material vaporization occurs, the layer of carbon is thinned and the marking image will appear washed out. There has been considerable success in altering the depth of carbon migration to create gray-scale graphics on light plastics. Adjusting the power and/or pulse rate of the laser controls the depth of penetration and therebv the darkness of the mark. Increasing the laser power will increase the overall depth of penetration and thickness of the carbon layer. Increasing the pulse rate will result in a longer pulse width and lower peak power. The longer exposure also increases the depth of penetration and associated carbon layer. Dark plastic is doped with a material that produces a lighter color as the material expands and the density decreases. As the temperature of the plastic increases, the plastic expands to form a "blister" on the surface and a lighter-colored mark. As with light plastics, the temperature must be tightly controlled to avoid over absorption. If the temperature rises too high and the blister bursts, material is lost and the mark will lose contrast. Not all plastics require dopant to achieve a contrasting mark. Several plastics do yield excellent results without additives; for example, most black polycarbonates produce a snow-white mark without altering the chemistry. Coated Plastics Coated plastics consist of a solid, translucent, or transparent plastic with one or more coats of ink or paint. The marking image is created by achieving vaporization temperature on the surface to remove the top coat and expose the underlying plastic or second coat. Coated plastics allow a great deal of control over color selection and marking contrast. Transparent plastics allow the designer to use an underlying part to establish the background color (marking image) while the topcoat determines the foreground color. Solid plastics establish their own background with the color of the plastic. Translucent plastics are frequently used for backlit applications. The plastic is initially coated with a white paint and overlaid with a dark topcoat. The laser removes the topcoat, exposing the white paint for daytime visibility. When the part is backlit at night, the lighting illuminates the translucent plastic from behind and the marking image appears in the color of the plastic. The paint or ink used must be conducive to laser processing. Standard paints and inks are neither predictable nor controllable when exposed to the laser output. The inks burn easily and can mix with the underlying plastic while in the molten liquid state. Laser-compatible inks are mixed with a silicone-based material reflective to the laser output, thereby reducing the ink's light absorption and rate of thermal reaction. Paints must be suitable for high-temperature processing and be free of any contaminants that may absorb the laser wavelength and speed up the thermal rise. To achieve a quality image, the top coat must be completely removed with minimal impact on the underlying plastic or secondary coat. To maximize the ratio of light absorption between the two layers, the top coat must always be a dark color and the contrasting underlying layer must be a light color. The dark color will absorb a comparatively higher percentage of the laser light, resulting in a higher surface temperature, while the light color reflects a higher percentage and minimizes the temperature rise. The underlying plastic, paint, or ink should also be thick enough to tolerate a minor amount of material removal during marking. Marking coated plastics is a multi-step process in which the first marking pass removes the majority of the top coating. The remaining residue is removed with a second, lower-power pass to minimize the effect to the underlying material. For precise edge definition, the outline of the image is marked prior to filling in the image. The outline is marked with a heavy edge pass (i.e., 50 kHz, 250 mm/sec, 2.5 watts) followed by a lower-power cleanup pass (50 kHz, 250 mm/sec,1.75 watts). The image is then filled, if desired, with a heavy fill pass (50 kHz, 650 mm/sec, 6 watts) and subsequent cleanup pass (50 kHz, 6.50 mm/sec, 4.5 watts). Care in determining the process parameters for each pass and the edge and fill beam paths will result in a crisp, high-contrast, high-quality marking image. Preparation and Installation Perhaps the most critical element in the successful application of laser marking is the composition of the part programs. When replacing an existing marking technology, one must allow up to six months for conversion of existing art work to part-marking computer programs. Even if the present artwork resides in AutoCAD files, time must be allotted to convert the files to optimized marking programs. Many users start with thousands of sheets of Mylar artwork. (Mylar is a Dupont trade name.) Each Mylar film is scanned to create a bitmap image. The scanned bitmap could be directly converted to the laser marker format with good image quality, but the cycle time would be unnecessarily long, with excessive marking line overlap. For best results, import the scanned bitmap into AutoCAD as a positional template. Create a separate marking "logo" for each alphanumeric character and graphic image, and, in AutoCAD, place each logo in position on a separate layer, using the bitmap template as a positioning guide. A library of optimized logos facilitates the creation of programs from the scanned artwork, allows nonstandard text kerning and line leading, and ensures low cycle time and high image quality. After all the logos are in place, the template layer is removed, and the final CAD file is converted to the laser marker program format. If the art work already exists in a CAD file format, the image elements could be optimized without using a separate library of logos. Every element including repetitive elements shared between drawings must be individually optimized. It will take considerably longer to convert large quantities of files, and there is no guarantee that every clement is optimized correctly. It is far more efficient to use the original AutoCAD file as the placement template for optimized logos. Implementation of beam-steered laser marking requires a team effort. With cooperative implementation. Manufacturing can ensure product flow and integration with existing controls, the materials department ensures that plastics and coatings are appropriate for laser marking, and engineering will produce part-marking programs with low cycle times and high-quality images. Careful team planning, preparation, and execution will result in a smooth application of laser marking technology and the associated benefits in manufacturing efficiencies, quality, and product value.

Beam-steered Nd: YAG (Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser marking provides a unique combination of speed, permanence, and imaging versatility in a noncontact marking process. Laser marking can generate considerable savings in reduced manufacturing and tooling costs; elimination of secondary processes and consumable disposal; and reduced inventory expense, quality-control costs, and maintenance downtime. Laser marking frequently improves the aesthetic appearance of the marking image, thereby increasing the product's perceived value.

Of all materials, plastics are the most challenging in terms of the laser's interaction with the material and the required image quality. The wide variety of material chemistries and colors and the aesthetic requirements of most plastics applications require special consideration in both material chemistry and imaging techniques. The successful implementation of laser marking technology requires a working knowledge of the laser marker's function and capabilities and a committed, team approach by the user.

Marking Fundamentals

Laser marking is a thermal process that employs a high-intensity beam of focused laser light to create a contrasting mark on the material surface. As the target material absorbs the laser light, the surface temperature increases to induce a color change in the material and/or vaporization of material to engrave the surface.

Beam-steered laser marking employs mirrors mounted on high-speed, computer-controlled galvanometers to direct the laser beam across the target surface. Each galvanometer provides one axis of beam motion in the marking field. A multi-element, flat-field lens assembly subsequently focuses the laser light to achieve high power density on the work surface while maintaining the focused-spot travel on a flat plane. The laser output is gated to blank the beam between marking strokes.

Marking can be accomplished at speeds of up to 5000 mm/sec with positioning speeds between marking strokes of 50,000 mm/sec. Because the process relies on heat conduction into the plastic, marking speeds are usually slower than the system's maximum capability to allow sufficient conduction to achieve the desired results.

The beam-steered marker can duplicate virtually any black-and-white image, including variable line widths and images as small as 0.0001 inch. Present computer-imaging technology produces highly intricate graphics with line widths, resolution, and accuracy well below 0.001 inch. Because “drawing” with the laser beam creates the image, the marking time is dependent on the amount and complexity of the text and graphics. With computer-generated imaging, any graphic element or the entire marking program can be instantly changed before a new part is positioned for marking.

Nd:YAG lasers amplify light of 1.06mm wavelength in the near-infrared. They are unique among the different types of lasers in that they operate much like an "optical capacitor." In pulsed operation, the Nd: YAG laser stores energy between pulses, resulting in peak powers of kilowatts of light energy. A Nd: YAG laser emitting 75 watts of continuous light, pulsed at 1 kHz, emits a train of pulses with peak powers of 110,000 watts. The "optical capacitor" effect provides the peak power necessary to vaporize material. For plastics applications, the laser must also be run in a "top hat" mode, where the power distribution is fairly even across the cross section of the laser beam in order to eliminate "hot spots" in the marking path.

The beam-steered Nd: YAG marker frequently replaces acid and electro-etch systems, stamping and punching systems, and those other marking systems that permanently mark products by imprinting or engraving. It also replaces other, less permanent printing systems, including ink jet.

Uncoated Plastics

Most uncoated plastics must be doped with a material reflective to the laser wavelength to prevent over-absorption of the laser light, which results in loss of control of the temperature rise and excessive melting on the surface. Light-colored plastics are doped with mica, titanium dioxide or carbon-containing materials. The heat generated by absorption of the laser light causes the carbon to migrate to the surface, producing a contrasting dark mark against the unaltered background plastic.

Plastics are semitransparent to the near-infrared wavelength of the Nd: YAG laser. Depending on the degree of transparency and the laser output power, the laser beam can alter the material surface to depths of more than 0.025 mm without achieving vaporization temperature on the surface. If material vaporization occurs, the layer of carbon is thinned and the marking image will appear washed out.

There has been considerable success in altering the depth of carbon migration to create gray-scale graphics on light plastics. Adjusting the power and/or pulse rate of the laser controls the depth of penetration and therebv the darkness of the mark. Increasing the laser power will increase the overall depth of penetration and thickness of the carbon layer. Increasing the pulse rate will result in a longer pulse width and lower peak power. The longer exposure also increases the depth of penetration and associated carbon layer.

Dark plastic is doped with a material that produces a lighter color as the material expands and the density decreases. As the temperature of the plastic increases, the plastic expands to form a "blister" on the surface and a lighter-colored mark. As with light plastics, the temperature must be tightly controlled to avoid over absorption. If the temperature rises too high and the blister bursts, material is lost and the mark will lose contrast.

Not all plastics require dopant to achieve a contrasting mark. Several plastics do yield excellent results without additives; for example, most black polycarbonates produce a snow-white mark without altering the chemistry.

Coated Plastics

Coated plastics consist of a solid, translucent, or transparent plastic with one or more coats of ink or paint. The marking image is created by achieving vaporization temperature on the surface to remove the top coat and expose the underlying plastic or second coat.

Coated plastics allow a great deal of control over color selection and marking contrast. Transparent plastics allow the designer to use an underlying part to establish the background color (marking image) while the topcoat determines the foreground color. Solid plastics establish their own background with the color of the plastic. Translucent plastics are frequently used for backlit applications. The plastic is initially coated with a white paint and overlaid with a dark topcoat. The laser removes the topcoat, exposing the white paint for daytime visibility. When the part is backlit at night, the lighting illuminates the translucent plastic from behind and the marking image appears in the color of the plastic.

The paint or ink used must be conducive to laser processing. Standard paints and inks are neither predictable nor controllable when exposed to the laser output. The inks burn easily and can mix with the underlying plastic while in the molten liquid state. Laser-compatible inks are mixed with a silicone-based material reflective to the laser output, thereby reducing the ink's light absorption and rate of thermal reaction. Paints must be suitable for high-temperature processing and be free of any contaminants that may absorb the laser wavelength and speed up the thermal rise.

To achieve a quality image, the top coat must be completely removed with minimal impact on the underlying plastic or secondary coat. To maximize the ratio of light absorption between the two layers, the top coat must always be a dark color and the contrasting underlying layer must be a light color. The dark color will absorb a comparatively higher percentage of the laser light, resulting in a higher surface temperature, while the light color reflects a higher percentage and minimizes the temperature rise. The underlying plastic, paint, or ink should also be thick enough to tolerate a minor amount of material removal during marking.

Marking coated plastics is a multi-step process in which the first marking pass removes the majority of the top coating. The remaining residue is removed with a second, lower-power pass to minimize the effect to the underlying material. For precise edge definition, the outline of the image is marked prior to filling in the image. The outline is marked with a heavy edge pass (i.e., 50 kHz, 250 mm/sec, 2.5 watts) followed by a lower-power cleanup pass (50 kHz, 250 mm/sec,1.75 watts). The image is then filled, if desired, with a heavy fill pass (50 kHz, 650 mm/sec, 6 watts) and subsequent cleanup pass (50 kHz, 6.50 mm/sec, 4.5 watts). Care in determining the process parameters for each pass and the edge and fill beam paths will result in a crisp, high-contrast, high-quality marking image.

Preparation and Installation

Perhaps the most critical element in the successful application of laser marking is the composition of the part programs. When replacing an existing marking technology, one must allow up to six months for conversion of existing art work to part-marking computer programs. Even if the present artwork resides in AutoCAD files, time must be allotted to convert the files to optimized marking programs.

Many users start with thousands of sheets of Mylar artwork. (Mylar is a Dupont trade name.) Each Mylar film is scanned to create a bitmap image. The scanned bitmap could be directly converted to the laser marker format with good image quality, but the cycle time would be unnecessarily long, with excessive marking line overlap.

For best results, import the scanned bitmap into AutoCAD as a positional template. Create a separate marking "logo" for each alphanumeric character and graphic image, and, in AutoCAD, place each logo in position on a separate layer, using the bitmap template as a positioning guide. A library of optimized logos facilitates the creation of programs from the scanned artwork, allows nonstandard text kerning and line leading, and ensures low cycle time and high image quality. After all the logos are in place, the template layer is removed, and the final CAD file is converted to the laser marker program format.

If the art work already exists in a CAD file format, the image elements could be optimized without using a separate library of logos. Every element including repetitive elements shared between drawings must be individually optimized. It will take considerably longer to convert large quantities of files, and there is no guarantee that every clement is optimized correctly. It is far more efficient to use the original AutoCAD file as the placement template for optimized logos.

Implementation of beam-steered laser marking requires a team effort. With cooperative implementation. Manufacturing can ensure product flow and integration with existing controls, the materials department ensures that plastics and coatings are appropriate for laser marking, and engineering will produce part-marking programs with low cycle times and high-quality images. Careful team planning, preparation, and execution will result in a smooth application of laser marking technology and the associated benefits in manufacturing efficiencies, quality, and product value.

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Santosh, Mumbai

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