Lasers mark glass without cracking
A
Laser Lines (Industrial and Medical) product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Oct 7, 2003
Synrad has recently demonstrated two different techniques using lasers for decorative marking of glass.
The use of lasers for marking a variety of materials, including glass, is widely known.
Typically the requirement is for product traceability, and the laser marks either a serial number, batch code, barcode or 2D data matrix.
However, the use of lasers for decorative marking of glass is less common.
Synrad has recently demonstrated two different techniques to accomplish this.
The first approach involves scanning a low powered sealed CO2 laser across the glass surface to achieve a decorative sandblasted look.
This requires a simple system configuration of the laser itself, a scanning head and marking software, and provides the capability to mark graphics as large as 300 x 240mm.
The graphic to be "laser blasted" is simply imported as a bitmap image.
The breakthrough that ensured the success of this application came when Synrad developed the "spot marking" type of laser marking.
This limits the duration of applied laser power to only 100us at each pixel, thereby limiting heat input and thus preventing fracturing.
The second technique is successful on stained or coated glass.
Here, the laser beam is scanned at very high speed across the surface, which ablates the coating and creates a contrasting, decorative mark.
Because the process on the thin coating is so fast, there is no effect on the glass substrate beneath it.
Synrad is the world leader in low to medium power sealed CO2 lasers.
Their "all-metal" construction ensures reliable operation in even the most demanding applications, and with expected gas lifetimes in excess of 50,000 operational hours these lasers offer 24 hours-a-day production for many years with absolutely no maintenance requirements.
Other benefits of laser etching include: permanent indelible marks; high speed; complete flexibility through total software control; no inks, solvents or consumables; simple installation and low running costs; high resolution; and the noncontact process means no wearing parts.
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Contact Laser Lines (Industrial and Medical)
Tel +44 1295 672500
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