Laser Marking & Engraving Information
Laser marking and engraving provide a permanent, high-contrast solution for traceability, branding, and compliance across industries. Explore key aspects of laser marking technology, including material interactions, process variations, and factors affecting mark quality.
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Laser Marking & Engraving
Laser marking provides non-destructive, high-contrast marks ideal for traceability, compliance, and part identification.
Laser engraving offers permanent, precise, and non-contact marking for detailed patterns, text, and graphics on a variety of materials.
Pulsed fibre lasers deliver bursts of high-energy laser pulses, making them ideal for precision marking on metals, plastics, and composites. The pulsed nature ensures minimal heat input, preventing damage to delicate components. This technique is commonly used for micro-marking, medical instruments, and serialisation in high-precision industries.
Continuous wave (CW) fibre lasers provide a constant energy output, making them ideal for high-speed marking on metal surfaces. This technique is commonly used in automotive, aerospace, and industrial machinery sectors where deep, permanent marks are required for part identification and compliance. CW lasers offer excellent control over heat input, ensuring minimal material distortion while achieving high-contrast results.
CO2 Lasers have been a cornerstone in the photonic engineering field since 1964 and still remain as a top choice for manufacturing professionals today. TLM leading partners FOBA and Universal Laser Systems, provide many variants of these laser sources that are suitable for marking and engraving.
CO₂ laser marking uses a carbon dioxide laser to create marks on organic and non-metallic materials such as wood, glass, ceramics, plastics and more. This technology is highly effective for decorative, medical, automotive and packaging marking. Its ability to create detailed marks without direct contact makes it perfect for fragile materials where mechanical stress could cause damage.
Ultra Violet (UV) laser marking uses a short-wavelength ultraviolet laser to create highly detailed, low-heat marks on sensitive materials such as glass, plastics, and medical devices. The reduced heat impact ensures minimal thermal stress, making UV lasers ideal for fine detailing and delicate components where other laser types may cause damage.
High-contrast lasers use photochemical marking to create precise surface marks while minimising heat impact, ensuring virtually no alteration to the material’s mechanical properties. This makes them ideal for marking even the most sensitive medical and aviation components.
Day-night marking is a key feature in modern vehicles, ensuring dashboards remain easy to read in daylight while providing illuminated controls at night. This technique enhances visibility without causing glare, keeping the dashboard well-lit without affecting the car’s interior lighting.
Laser-based day-night marking creates a dual-contrast effect, making markings clearly visible in both natural light and backlit conditions. It is widely used in automotive dashboards, aerospace control panels, and consumer electronics. The precision of laser marking guarantees uniform, long-lasting results, even in demanding environments.
2D matrix codes are compact, square-shaped patterns that can store large amounts of data in a small space. Laser marking ensures these codes are applied with high precision and durability, making them ideal for industries requiring advanced traceability, such as medical devices and aerospace parts. The high contrast and permanence of laser-marked 2D matrix codes ensure reliable readability for automated scanning systems.
Unique Device Identification (UDI) laser marking is essential for medical device compliance, ensuring components are marked with scannable data for traceability. Laser marking allows for precise, high-contrast codes that remain legible throughout the product’s lifecycle, helping manufacturers meet global standards such as the FDA’s UDI system and EU MDR regulations.
Traceability relies on the ability to track components throughout their lifecycle using unique identification codes. Laser marking ensures these codes remain legible under extreme conditions, such as heat, moisture, and wear. Industries like aerospace, automotive, and medical manufacturing depend on traceable markings to meet regulatory requirements and improve quality control.
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