The inscribing
of anodized
aluminum or
coated metals is
especially easy
with CO2 lasers.
During the
engraving of
anodized
aluminum, the
inscribed
surface becomes
white, reason
for which dark
eloxal produces
a particularly
good contrast.
With coated
metals, the
coating is
removed and the
base metal
appears. Since
CO2 lasers
cannot inscribe
metals directly
without
additives (or
only with very
large
limitations),
the metal layer
remains intact.
For this type of
application, a
laser system
with low output
is preferred, in
order to execute
inscriptions
with fine
structures.
In metal
marking,
individual parts
are generally
labelled with
serial numbers,
bar codes, data
matrix codes or
logos. Laser
inscribers are
especially
well-suited to
this task
because they
generate a
permanent,
indelible,
forgery-proof,
thermally and
chemically-resistant
metal marking on
workpieces and
systems. Laser
marking also
stands out for
its high
processing
speeds,
precision and
flexibility.
Anodised
aluminium is
used primarily
for the
production of
signs (e.g. type
plates), or in
the promotional
materials
industry (e.g.
for ballpoint
pens or key
chains).
However,
anodised
aluminium is
also a popular
material in the
industrial
sector.
Marking anodized
aluminum parts
with a CO2 laser
is a simply
process. The
laser removes
the pigment from
the anodizing
and thus creates
a white mark.
The darker the
anodized color,
the better the
contrast will
be. This can be
done with even
relatively low
powered systems
and does not
impact that
actual metal
layer itself.
This ensures
that the base
metal integrity
is intact.
Metals with
coatings such as
paint, ink and
oxides and be
processed with a
CO2 laser also.
In this case the
actual coating
is removed, but
there is no
impact on the
base metal. The
contrast is
created by
exposing the
base material.
Common
applications for
anodized and
coated metals
would be machine
plates, name
plates and a
wide variety of
advertising
specialty
items. There
are also many
industrial
applications
such as tools,
racing products
and other
durable goods.
The laser is
capable of
putting
barcodes, 2D
codes and serial
numbers as well
as any logo that
can be imported
into the
software. The
great benefit of
laser marking is
the non-contact
method, speed
and of course
the quality.
