It is a synthetic polymer used in a lot of everyday items such as toothbrushes, stockings, and textile products. Polyamide has a much more common name – nylon. Laser marking is also not prone to wear and tear on tools, even when working with hard materials. Because of the toughness of polycarbonate, laser marking can turn out to be the more economical marking option. Laser marking is perfect for this as the intensity of the laser can be adjusted to just exactly what is needed. It has such a high impact resistance and tensile strength that it has been used for police riot gear, construction materials, and bulletproof glass.Īs you can imagine, a tough material will also require a high-energy marking process. Polycarbonates, so-called because they are made of a series of carbonate groups, are commonly used because of their excellent durability, temperature resistance, and optical properties. The quality of finish and accuracy of laser cutting is unequaled, allowing ABS to be used for parts in automotive, architectural models, pipes, and fittings. Lasers aren’t just used to create consistent and legible marks on parts made using ABS, but they are also instrumental in creating precision-cut parts out of ABS plastic sheets. Before being processed into final products, ABS is typically handled as thin plastic sheets that are lightweight yet tough and rigid. It is used in both industrial and engineering parts and commodity products. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)ĪBS is one of the most widely used engineering thermoplastics because of its superior combination of hardness, strength, electrical resistance, chemical resistance, and glossy finish. That said, here are just some of the most common plastics that receive the laser marking treatment: 1. Laser marking is a very versatile technology not just for plastic, but also for a lot of common materials like wood or metal. If there are any plastic objects around, then there’s a good chance that it’s made with a material that can be marked with a laser. What types of plastics are laser marking and engraving used on? This creates a slightly elevated portion of the plastic while dispersing the plastic material and cause it to develop a lighter color. Secondary bleaching can be done to increase the contrast of laser marks created by color change.Ī less common approach is called “foaming” – a process by which low energy laser causes the plastic to form a walled foam structure. The most common method used in plastic relies on a basic color change caused by molecular changes in the polymer structure of the plastic as it gets hit by a high-frequency laser. On the other hand, marking is done using a low-intensity laser. The subsequent solidification of the plastic results in a surface that is slightly modified, creating contrast with its surroundings.įor a less subtle approach, an even higher intensity laser can be used to combine engraving and color change, where localized evaporation and carbonization of the plastic creates a surface that is slightly darker and has a different finish. This causes the plastic to melt very slightly. These lasers simply differ in their active gain media but both can be adjusted in terms of intensity, exposure time, and the number of passes to achieve the desired level of contrast for the plastic part in question.Ī distinction also needs to be made between “engraving” and “marking.” Engraving generally uses a high-intensity laser to increase the temperature of the surface of the plastic. Most laser marking machines make use of either fiber lasers or CO2 lasers. They require minimal setup, are easy to learn for operators, and don’t need a lot of maintenance. Standalone laser marking equipment are incredibly common nowadays, making them a lot easier to integrate into existing workflows. Laser marking is a fully automated process that requires only a digital input in the form of an image or a pattern. How exactly is laser marking done and what types of plastics is it used on? What are the advantages of laser marking which make it such a suitable marking technology for plastics? How does laser marking work? Laser technology is proving to be a very attractive option for marking and engraving of plastics. With so many plastic products and parts in the market, manufacturers have to find a way to label said parts. Because they are so cheap, versatile, and easy to work with, they have effectively revolutionized the modern manufacturing process and have become parts of our everyday lives. It’s no exaggeration to say that plastics are found in almost all types of industrial and commercial applications. 3D Insider is ad supported and earns money from clicks, commissions from sales, and other ways.
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