How Laser Marking Works

1. Basic Principles

Laser Marking achieves marking by interacting with the surface of a material through a focused laser beam in the following ways:

Thermal effect: The laser energy causes the material to heat up locally, causing melting, vaporization or oxidation, forming pits or color changes.

Photochemical effect: After certain materials (such as plastics) absorb laser light, chemical bonds break or recombine, changing the surface color.

Ablation effect: Removing the surface layer of a material to expose a material with different properties (such as a metal oxide layer) underneath.

2.Core components

Laser: Generates laser light (common types: fiber laser, CO2 laser, UV laser, etc.).

Galvanometer system: High-speed mirrors control the movement path of the laser beam and accurately scan the surface of the material.

Control system: Converts design patterns (such as text, barcodes, graphics) into laser path instructions.

Focusing lens: Focuses the laser beam to a very small spot (usually micrometers) to increase energy density.

Workbench: Fixes or moves the material to be processed.

3. Workflow

Pattern design: Design the marking content through software (such as CorelDraw, AutoCAD).

Parameter setting: Adjust laser power, speed, frequency and other parameters according to the material.

Positioning and focusing: Determine the marking position and adjust the focal length.

Laser scanning: The galvanometer controls the laser beam to scan along the path to form a mark on the surface of the material.

Complete output: The marking is completed instantly without subsequent processing (some materials need to be cleaned).

4. Applicable materials

Fiber Laser Machine: Fe, Stainless steel, Al, PVC, Electronics, etc.

CO2 Laser Machine: PET bottles, durian, watermelon, glass bottles, cartons, etc.

UV Laser Machine: PE, PPR, bottle caps, BOPP, OPP

5. Advantages

Permanent: The marking is wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant.

High precision: Micron-level fine patterns (such as QR codes and tiny texts) can be achieved.

Non-contact: No mechanical stress, suitable for fragile materials.

High efficiency: Tens to hundreds of marks can be completed per second.

Environmental protection: No consumables (such as ink, chemical reagents).

6. Application fields

Industry: part number, serial number, LOGO.

Electronics: PCB board marking, chip traceability.

Medical: production date, expiration date, production batch number

Packaging: production date, barcode, batch number, QR code

Pipe/profile: production batch number, implementation standard

Food/beverage: production date, barcode, batch number, QR code

Laser marking has become an indispensable marking technology in modern manufacturing due to its flexibility and durability.