„Marking with Light“ -Laser Markers for the Industry-

Contents: Application Technology Machine Concepts Economic Efficiency

Modern Production Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Total Quality Management Just-in-time Production Small Lot Sizes Product Liability Plagiarism Protection Environmental Audits Laser Marking Application

Marking of Plastics I Keyboard - non-abrasive inscription with high contrast Identification Card - identification with image Labels - host computer controlled just in time marking Application Laser marking

Housing - with machine readable barcode Wiper Blade - weatherproof marking on hardly accessible surface Cattle Ear Clip - flexible marking with high productivity Marking of Plastics II Application

Marking of Metals Calliper - scaling with high precision Telephone - marking without additional work Engine Block - deep engraving without tool wear at high temperature resistance Application

Annealing Engraving Some metals Change of colour under O2 and heat Penetration approx. 5 µm Line width 80 - 150 µm Recast < 1µm Metals, plastics, ceramics Contrast (shadow) through groove Penetration up to 150 µm Line width 80 - 120 µm Recast along groove Application

Colouring Removal Plastics Foaming, bleaching and carbonisation Penetration up to 200 µm Line width > 100 µm Coated materials, (e.g. labels) Vaporisation Penetration up to 100 µm Line width 80 - 150 µm Application foaming bleaching / carbonisation

Laser Nd:YAG CO2 Medium: crystal gas Wavelength: 1064 nm 10600 nm Power: 3 -130 W 10 - 50 W Optical Fibre: yes no Cost: medium low Materials: almost all organic materials materials glass Lasers for Marking Technology

Principle of Laser Marking Deflection Unit with Focusing Lens Technology Laser: Nd:YAG (pulsed) Power: 3 W-130 W Marking speed: 1000 characters/second Remark: Superior flexibility Laser Marking

Benefits: High marking quality through excellent beam quality and short pulses 10-100 [ns] Increased availability because of long diode life (approx. 15 000 h) High reliability Low operating cost through efficient pumping process Small footprint area New Technology - Diode-pumped Lasers

Economic Efficiency Sufficiently high degree of utilisation Small to medium number of workpieces Use of black and white copies Training of employees Marking time depends on the amount of text Provision of energy supply and cooling Use of suitable materials metal (steel, aluminium, copper, brass, etc.) plastics and foils glass ceramics email cardboard Requirements of Laser Marking

Quality High optical resolution and precision Durability Total flexibility in the choice of font types and forms No mechanical and thermal stress on the workpiece Marking of uneven and hardly accessible surfaces Profitability High speed of processing without subsequent treatment No manufacturing, change and wear of tools Integration in existing manufacturing systems Well-tried and reliable technique High reproducibility Environment Friendly Without chemicals Summary Benefits of Laser Marking

Galvo head Shutter Beam expander Krypton arc lamps Q-Switch Rear mirror Mode aperture Laser rod Ignition box Laser diode Flat field lens Marking field Front mirror Principle of laser marking

3 1 2 5 4 6 1. Laser medium 2. Front mirror 3. Rear mirror 4. Stimulus 5. Stimulated emission 6. Laser beam Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

smaller lenses larger working distance Advantages of the increased beam quality of diode-pumped laser marker increased process efficiency (Higher marking speed / less power consumption) less heat effects higher process flexibilty

Beam Quality: d*Q beam parameter product (small value means high quality) Focussing Beam expansion allows better focussing Short focal length: small focus Long focal length: large focus

Pulse width: 15-100 ns (diode-pumped) 100-200 ns ((lamp-pumped) frequency 1.000 -65.000 Hz CW and Q-Switch Marking Supersonic field causes periodical variations in the material density Diffraction of the light Quick switching of the S-field allows beam deflection without marking and pulsed operation Acousto-optical Modulator

Focal length (f in mm) / field relation f= f= f=

Supply cabinet External Chiller laser temperature checking heat exchanger De-ionising cartridge valve pump water tank expansion valve compressor vaporizer Cooling System with external chiller

Theoretical diameter of focus Real diameter of focus Depth of focus Beam quality f actor k Reflective lens Transmissive lens Metal mirror Lens workpiece/ working platform focal length f Focussing of laser radiation

wavelength aberration beam quality beam diameter Focussing of laser radiation

Mode Intensity Typ K-Factor TEM classification (Transversely Excited Modes)

Energy drawing