Laser Marking Methods and Applications
Laser marking is a versatile process that works on a wide range of materials, provided they can absorb the laser light. The choice of laser wavelength is crucial and must align with the material's properties and the desired type of mark.
Matching Lasers to Materials
Metals
Properties: Highly reflective to far-infrared (10 µm) wavelengths.
Solution: Metals are typically marked using near-infrared (1 µm) or shorter wavelengths, which offer better absorption and marking quality.

Organic Materials (e.g., Wood, Cotton)
Properties: These materials are transmissive to near-infrared (1 µm) wavelengths.
Solution: Use lasers with wavelengths greater than 5 µm for effective marking.
Glass, Plastics, and Ceramics
Properties: These materials transmit near-infrared (1 µm) wavelengths but can crack or burn under far-infrared (10 µm) lasers.
Solution: Mark these materials with visible or ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths to avoid damage while achieving precision.
Why Choose Laser Marking?
Laser marking offers a wide range of benefits, making it the ideal solution for various applications:
Add Value: Enhance your products with precise, high-quality marks.
Personalisation: Create custom, unique designs tailored to individual needs.
Corporate Giftware: Offer personalised and branded gifts for clients or employees.
Decoration & Product Branding: Elevate your product’s visual appeal with sophisticated markings.
Identification & Batch Coding: Easily track products with accurate and clear identification marks.
Part Numbering: Ensure parts are easily identified and traced with durable part numbers.
Barcode/Traceability: Mark barcodes or human-readable traceability codes for inventory management and quality control.
Functionality: Enhance product functionality with backlit displays, keypads, and more.
Fine Trimming & Repair: Perfect for precise trimming and repair of electronics.
Small, Accurate Parts: Ideal for producing small, detailed components with high accuracy.
Laser marking adds precision, durability, and versatility to your products, making it a valuable investment for any industry.
Advantages of Laser Marking
Non-Contact Process: No physical contact with the material, preventing damage to delicate components.
No Wearing Parts: The laser marking process has no moving parts, ensuring minimal maintenance.
No Disturbance to Small or Lightweight Components: The non-contact nature ensures that small or fragile parts are not affected.
Permanent Marks: The marking is permanent and will not rub off over time, providing long-lasting identification.
Modifies the Parent Material: Unlike other methods, laser marking alters the material itself, ensuring the mark stays intact throughout the product’s life.
Full Lifetime Traceability: Laser marks provide clear, traceable identification for the entire lifetime of the product.
Versatility: Suitable for a wide range of materials and applications.
Computer-Generated and Controlled Marks: Marking is precise and easily controlled through software, ensuring consistency.
Rapid Changes to Marks: Quickly adapt to new designs or data without the need for retooling.
Part-by-Part Serialisation: Marking can be tailored for individual parts, ensuring unique identification for each item.
Data Import: Easily import data in a ‘mail merge’ style format for efficient marking.
Precision with Speed: Achieve fast marking speeds without compromising on accuracy.
High Precision: Marks as small as 25 µm, ensuring fine details and accuracy.
Up to 1000 Characters per Second: High-speed marking for fast production lines.
Positional Repeatability: Achieve consistent, repeatable results with a positional accuracy down to 2.5 µm.
Laser marking is a reliable, efficient, and versatile solution for permanent and precise marking needs across various industries.
Key Methods of Laser Marking
Annealing
How it works: Heat from the laser alters the material’s surface composition, creating a mark without removing material.
Best for: Metals like stainless steel, titanium, and alloys.
Application examples: Medical instruments, jewellery, and kitchenware.
Laser Marking Methods and Applications: Annealing
Engraving
How it works: The laser vaporises the material, creating a deep and permanent mark.
Best for: Metals, plastics, and ceramics.
Application examples: Serial numbers on tools, branding on consumer goods, and personalisation of electronics.
Etching
How it works: Similar to engraving but removes less material, producing shallow, high-contrast marks.
Best for: Metals and coated materials.
Application examples: Automotive parts, barcodes, and QR codes.
Foaming
How it works: The laser heats a material to produce bubbles, resulting in a raised, frosted effect.
Best for: Light-coloured plastics.
Application examples: Food packaging and cosmetic containers.
Colour Marking
How it works: By adjusting the laser’s parameters, oxide layers of different thicknesses are created, producing vivid colours.
Best for: Stainless steel and titanium.
Application examples: Decorative pieces, watch faces, and branding on luxury items.
Laser Marking Methods and Applications: Colour Marking
Carbon Migration
How it works: The laser heats metal to bring carbon to the surface, producing dark, contrasting marks.
Best for: Metals like steel and iron.
Application examples: Aerospace parts and heavy machinery.
Conclusion
This blog explored Laser Marking Methods and Applications. Laser marking is a cornerstone of modern manufacturing, offering reliable and precise solutions for product identification, branding, and traceability. With a variety of techniques available, businesses can choose the method that best fits their materials and applications.
Whether you’re in aerospace, automotive, or consumer goods, laser marking opens the door to high-quality, durable, and efficient production processes.
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