Laser Marking on Metal

Dark text stainles steel

White text annodized aluminium

Cylindrical battery cleaning

Metal engraving machines are important and versatile tools for various industries. These machines precisely engrave or etch intricate designs into metal surfaces. However, laser engraving metal does differ a bit from laser marking. Metal engraving places information into the target via penetrating the surface and material removal, while metal marking is faster and achieves surface level colour contrast.

In either case, laser engraving metal is a common practice by many businesses across the globe. Jewelers and artists use these machines to create customised jewelry pieces and works of art. Manufacturers also use them to etch logos, serial numbers, and other imprints onto products for identification purposes. The medical industry, for example, employs this technology for engraving implants with patient information. Metal engraving machines offer quick, high-precision etching solutions with heavy-duty results.

Aluminium and aluminium alloys are frequently used for aerospace part marking because of their conductivity, minimal weight, flexibility, and low cost. With that, each aluminium component is required to have a 2D code with the component’s manufacturing information.

Laser engraving is often used for marking aluminium because it is permanent, environmentally friendly, precise, and compatible with the metal. Unlike other methods that add force and risk distorting the flexible aluminium, laser marking metal is no-contact and doesn’t change any aspect of the aluminium besides the target area.

Stainless steel is a metal commonly used for the medical device and aerospace industries. It is anti-corrosive, tolerant to high temperatures, and has a high tensile strength.

Since laser markers make stainless steel marking much easier than other marking methods, both industries rely heavily on laser marking to add traceability and identification marks on their stainless steel parts.

The hardness of stainless steel can make it difficult to mark without a laser. Additionally, some marking methods, like chemical etching, can cause the steel to lose its anti-corrosive layer. Laser marking metal targets only the precise area so that you can mark stainless steel without any adverse effects. With laser markers, you can also mark with an anneal style mark which gives contrast on stainless steel while keeping the anti-corrosive layer intact.

A hybrid laser marker is a combination of a YVO₄ laser marker and a fibre laser marker. This combination means that this laser includes the high quality and depth of focus of a YVO₄ laser marker, as well as the long service life and high output of a fibre laser.

The hybrid laser can anneal, etch, engrave, and mark dark and white marks.

A fibre laser marker is a laser marking machine for metal that offers a high-speed and powerful laser. This makes it ideal for high-quality annealing, deep engraving, and cutting. It includes model options for a 30 W or 50 W laser, and it's known for its compatibility with metals.

KEYENCE’s MD-X Series lasers include XY and Z tracking to ensure a high quality mark every time. The Z tracking uses a built-in sensor to measure the distance between the machine and the target. The distance measurement allows the laser to re-focus based on tilt, positioning, and height. Likewise, the XY tracking adjusts for any deviations between expected part placement and the actual placement.

All KEYENCE’s lasers include 3-Axis control that allows the laser to mark complex shapes without distortion. Instead of marking on one plane, the beam can maneuver multi-plane shapes like stepped, cylindrical, circular cones, and inclined surfaces.

If you use KEYENCE’s software features, then you will never have to guess how your mark will turn out. KEYENCE’s software, called the Marking Builder Plus, includes on-screen guidance to preview your mark on the target. You can check marking alignment on a 3D CAD profile of your target, even if it’s a complex shape.

The software also has a Marking Conditions Navigator, which contains pre-made settings for different styles of marks on all types of materials. Just pick the material and the style of mark that's desired, and the software will give settings to achieve it.