Knowing how to choose the right laser engraver for your application is not that complicated. If you are willing to learn just the basics of fiber laser engraving, you can quickly identify what you need.
The first thing you must know is that there is no such thing as a “fiber laser engraver”. You may need a fiber laser to engrave metals, but the laser you’re looking for could also be configured for laser cleaning as well as various laser marking applications.
In this article, you will find answers to the following questions:
What Are the Types of Fiber Lasers?
How Much Laser Power Do You Need?
How Do You Choose a Fiber Laser Marking System?
Why Choose a Fiber Laser for Metal Engraving?
How Does Fiber Laser Technology Work?
What Are the Types of Fiber Lasers?
Each type of fiber laser is the combination of a laser source, laser beam output, lens configuration and laser parameters. For that reason, there is a wide variety of fiber lasers that offer different benefits. Choosing the right technology is key to get optimal results.
How Much Laser Power Do You Need?
To know how much laser power you need, you first need to know your desired cycle time for the laser marking operation. The more powerful the laser, the faster the processing. If you are bound by short cycle times, higher-power laser engraving machines represent a good investment. Otherwise, you can usually opt for a low-power laser marking workstation.
Apart from the laser power, many factors affect the engraving time. These include:
The font used for text and serial numbers
The size of the engraving area
The material that needs to be engraved (for example, aluminum is easier to engrave than steel)
The choice to use a pale background to improve contrast for barcodes, data matrix codes and QR codes
The marking process (for example, the deep engraving of VIN numbers requires more time)
Tips for Choosing a Fiber Laser Marking System
Before choosing a laser marking system, you usually need to gather some information about your manufacturing process. These tips can help you determine which type of system you need, but also how the system needs to be configured.
List the materials that need to be engraved. Although a wide variety of metals can be marked with fiber lasers (such as aluminum, steel and stainless steel), each alloy has unique properties that affect how the laser beam interacts with the surface.
Determine the information that needs to be marked if you have traceability needs. This information may include the weight, part number, mold number, date and time, and so on.
Determine the types of markings. These may include text, alphanumerical characters, logos and codes like data matrix codes.
Determine how much time is available for marking. Even a rough estimate can be useful in finding the right laser power for your needs.
Start thinking about laser options. Laser engraving solutions can include a laser safety enclosure, an HMI to easily adjust the laser for different operations, a dust extraction system, an air knife to prevent dust accumulation on the lens, and much more.
Identify the IP rating that you need. This is dictated by the environment where the fiber laser marking machine is integrated. Casting plants, for example, require a higher protection level than assembly lines. Some lasers have better protection against dust and liquid projections.
Identify the electrical certifications required in your country. Like any electrical equipment, if the laser fails to meet these requirements, you could be forbidden from installing it. For example, the “UL” certification is in place in the USA; the “CE” in Europe; and the “CSA” in Canada.
Once you have a list of lasers that you are interested in, this information will help you quickly identify which lasers meet your requirements.
