schizo0811
Mechanical
What is the difference between laser etching & laser marking?
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Laser Etching Definition
- Thread starter schizo0811
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Technically - none?
Practically - etching generally seems refers to pictures and marking to number, letters, etc. for identification.
Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.
Practically - etching generally seems refers to pictures and marking to number, letters, etc. for identification.
Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.
MikeHalloran
Mechanical
In a former life, we had forming blanks laser- cut from stainless steel and more exotic metal sheet.
Because the same blanks were used in several alloys, we asked the cutter to laser- mark an alloy identifier on the blanks.
The photon cannon he was using had a little slop in the servo drives, so the machine took a little extra time to turn the corners when marking characters like 'E'. The first lot of blanks had a pinhole right through the material at every such corner.
Subsequent lots were cut on one machine, and etched on a much lower powered machine.
So, I'd have to say that the difference between cutting, etching, and marking is some function of the beam power and the traverse rate.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
Because the same blanks were used in several alloys, we asked the cutter to laser- mark an alloy identifier on the blanks.
The photon cannon he was using had a little slop in the servo drives, so the machine took a little extra time to turn the corners when marking characters like 'E'. The first lot of blanks had a pinhole right through the material at every such corner.
Subsequent lots were cut on one machine, and etched on a much lower powered machine.
So, I'd have to say that the difference between cutting, etching, and marking is some function of the beam power and the traverse rate.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
I think the common vernacular and common practice has made these two processes identical. But, to get snitty about particulars, this isn't the case.
ETCHING is a material removal process, like ablation.
MARKING uses laser energy to change the material properties of the laser impact spot. The desired property change is a color change from the background material color. Other (sometimes unwanted) property changes are material strength, corrosion properties, swelling or shrinkage, etc.
TygerDawg
ETCHING is a material removal process, like ablation.
MARKING uses laser energy to change the material properties of the laser impact spot. The desired property change is a color change from the background material color. Other (sometimes unwanted) property changes are material strength, corrosion properties, swelling or shrinkage, etc.
TygerDawg
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