Laser engraving
Laser engraving is a surface treatment process. A high-energy laser beam inscribes, marks or decorates objects without contact. The process, which is widely used across all industries, is characterized above all by its durability, high level of automation and flexibility.
Which materials can be processed using laser engraving?
Laser engraving can be used for a wide range of applications. It is possible to apply laser engraving to many different non-metallic materials and metals. Laser engraving is also easily possible on stainless steel. Laser engraving on metal is permanent and very durable. The only exceptions are materials that produce toxic fumes when processed with a laser. Possible materials for laser engraving are
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A classic application example for engraving metal with a laser is the creation of type plates. Another example – usually for engraving metal – is the numbering of individual parts in series production. The process is also used for marking glass with laser engraving.
What are the advantages of laser engraving compared to other engraving techniques?
Laser engraving is a processing method with a number of advantages:
- Speed: The laser pulses that vaporize on the material only need a very short time to achieve the desired result. This makes laser engraving ideal for processes that require fast production.
- Variety of materials: Engraving of metal and non-metallic materials is common. The large selection of possible materials gives customers maximum design freedom.
- Wear resistance: Laser engraving is an indentation in the material. This marking is very robust and durable against external influences.
- Precision: Even with very small objects, laser engraving makes it possible to engrave complex shapes and designs with intricate details.
- Process reliability: Compared to conventional engraving techniques, laser engraving is very reliable and impresses with its excellent repeat accuracy.
- Gentle on materials: The process ensures localized heat input. This means that temperature-sensitive sensors or electronic chips can also be marked.
Like laser marking, laser engraving is very versatile and has the great advantage of non-contact processing. Laser engraving is able to create complex geometries. There are no additional tools or wear costs. This makes laser engraving an efficient and economical surface processing method, even for small batch sizes.
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more than 500 customers speak for us.
With extensive laser experience, BLS supports customers as a contract manufacturer from parameter determination / basic development through prototype production to series production. High-performance machinery and different types of lasers and systems enable an optimized overall product. The quality management system and exchanges with leading research institutions ensure quality at the highest level on a permanent basis.
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How precise can laser engraving be?
The accuracy that can be achieved with laser engraving depends, among other things, on the laser used, the laser power, the optical setup and the material to be engraved. Generally speaking, it is possible to produce more intricate engravings by reducing the focus diameter on the component surface. As modern machines enable targeted control of the laser power, high precision and very good reproducibility are guaranteed.
Is laser engraving suitable for small or large series?
Laser engraving is an extremely flexible process and requires no additional tool costs. This means that laser engraving is highly cost-effective, even for small batch sizes. As the surface treatment process is easy to integrate and automate, it is also convincing in series production with large quantities due to its simple feasibility and cost-effectiveness.
Can colors or color changes be created with laser engraving?
When laser engraving on metal, a distinction is made between black and white engraving in terms of color. Laser engraving therefore differs significantly from laser marking, where the typical color change in the form of annealing marking is used.
White engraving is a highly reflective surface that is created by slightly melting the material surface. As the penetration depth is very low, the corrosion protection of a surface, for example, remains intact.
During the engraving process, black engraving is mainly caused by the interaction of the oxygen oxides in the air with the molten material on the surface of the workpiece. The incident light is absorbed by the rough surface. As a result, the surface appears dark or black. The color depends on the engraved base material.
The combination of both applications is ideal for generating DataMatrix codes.
Does laser engraving affect the properties of the material?
Laser engraving is a very precise, non-contact and gentle machining process. The influence consists of material being removed from the component surface for engraving. The type and extent of the influence depend on several factors. These include
- Material: Materials react differently to laser radiation.
- Laser parameters: The decisive factors are the intensity, wavelength and duration of the laser pulse. High intensities generally lead to stronger changes.
- Engraving depth: Deep engravings have a greater influence on the properties of the material than superficial engravings.
Is laser engraving possible on sensitive or complex-shaped surfaces?
Laser engraving is also possible on sensitive and complex-shaped surfaces. Laser marking can be a good alternative for very sensitive material surfaces, as the laser intensity of laser marking is lower than that of laser engraving. Laser engraving is a non-contact process for surface processing. It can also be used to engrave complex shapes on small components. However, the surface to be engraved must be flat.
Laser engraving can be used economically for everything from individual items to small and large series, as the non-contact processing means there are no additional costs for consumables.
How deep can a laser engraving penetrate into the material?
For laser engraving, material is usually removed at a depth of tenths of a µm. By processing the same area several times, it is possible to remove material in stages. This results in engravings down to the millimeter range.
The penetration depth of a laser engraving essentially depends on the material, laser power, wavelength, focusing, speed and the number of passes.
With white engraving, the thermal penetration depth into the material is only a few µm. This is particularly advantageous for components with a coating or susceptibility to corrosion. White engraving is a smudge-free process. This leaves a discreet marking. It is particularly suitable for darker surfaces.
Compared to white engraving, black engraving is a laser engraving with high intensities far above the threshold for material removal. The high intensity causes an oxidation process in the interaction area. This makes the engraving appear dark, depending on the base material, from deep black to dark blue, gray or brown.
What shapes or designs can be engraved?
These shapes and designs can be realized quickly and gently with laser engraving in wear-resistant and reproducible quality:
- Letters and texts: Examples are serial numbers, names or dates.
- Barcodes, QR codes, DataMatrix codes: For identifying and tracking products.
- Logos and graphics: Company logos, symbols, illustrations, even complex graphics are possible.
- Patterns: Geometric patterns and details as well as ornaments and calligraphy.
- Images: Photos, drawings and other image formats can be engraved in great detail.
- 3D effects: Impressive 3D laser engravings can be created by combining different engraving depths.
The specific combination of white and black engraving creates a high contrast and therefore ensures the best legibility of the code, serial number or logo. As black engraving is very durable, this form of laser engraving is almost impossible to make unrecognizable. This is particularly true for hard materials, for example when engraving metal or glass.
What other services does BLS Lasertechnology GmbH offer in connection with laser engraving?
BLS Lasertechnology GmbH is able to process workpieces with laser engraving as well as with the following applications (in particular laser welding):
- 3D laser cutting: An effective and highly efficient process for cutting through a wide range of materials. The strengths of BLS lie particularly in the area of complex laser cuts with critical tolerances and in the 3D area.
- Laser welding: This ultra-modern automated welding process is used to join various metals and non-ferrous metals.
- Laser hardening: When targeted and precise hardening of metallic components is required, laser hardening is the right choice due to its efficiency and flexibility. Thanks to modern technology, the temperature is controlled in real time for optimum results.
As alternatives to laser engraving, BLS Lasertechnology GmbH also has laser marking and laser marking in its portfolio.
What else should I know about laser engraving at BLS?
The TRUMPF marking laser used has a camera system with VisionLine. This makes it possible to measure the components and ensure reproducible positioning of the engraving. The generated codes can also be checked for legibility. The focus position is set automatically.
Laser engraving as a service is just one of the many laser applications used at BLS Lasertechnology GmbH. BLS focuses on the flexible processing of small to large series.
Laser engraving at BLS Lasertechnology GmbH means that all customer-specific requirements are implemented exclusively by the team of experts. Attention to quality, precision and repeat accuracy are a matter of course for the team.
BLS Lasertechnology GmbH is your reliable and competent partner for laser engraving. The experienced team and the powerful laser machine ensure high and reliable quality.
