Jacqui, Jandra, Jenny, Joanne, Sarah
Customer support
Phone: +61-1300-TROTEC
E-Mail: australia@troteclaser.com
Contact form Laser Marking
&
Laser Engraving Metal
Aluminium, silver, steel, stainless steel and more
The laser has been a prominent tool for many years now, especially when it comes to laser engraving and laser marking metals. Soft metals, like aluminium can easily be marked. But it’s also possible for hard metals like steel and solid alloys to be laser marked accurately and quickly. It is even possible to implement corrosion-resistant markings onto steel alloys without damaging the surface structure of your metal. Products made of metal are typically marked with a laser engraving machine in many different industries, including industrial industries as well as gifts and personalisation industries.
Suitable Metals for Laser Marking & Engraving:
- Stainless Steel
- Aluminium
- Anodised Aluminium
- Hardened Metals
- Alloyed Steels
- High-Speed Steels
- Titanium
- Titanium Alloys
- Carbides
- Brass
- Copper
- Precious Metals (silver, gold)
- Coated Metals
Want to know more about laser marking and laser engraving metals?
WHICH METAL PRODUCTS DO YOU WANT TO MARK?
Industrial Laser Marking
Examples of Applications
Laser Marking Metal in the Industrial Sector
Applications for Laser Marking Metal
Metal laser marking is typically used when making products that need traceability features and/or codes. These kinds of applications are popular in the electronics and electrical industry, for mechanical engineering, tool manufacturing, sheet metal processing, medical technology, promotional materials, jewellery crafting, the automotive industry and much more.
Colour Marking on Stainless Steel
A particularly special kind of marking involves colour marking on stainless steel. Due to the vast technical possibilities of the MOPA laser, reproducible and consistent colours can be narked quickly and easy with the right machine. For manufacturers of stainless-steel products, it is now possible to mark special coloured designs. This includes things like company logos and directional instructions on stainless steel fixtures.
Industrial Laser Applications:
- Product labelling as plagiarism protection
- Functional laser marking (size, diameter)
- Production information (date of manufacture, batch number, serial number)
- Codes for permanent traceability
- Data matrix codes for quality assurance
- Lasering nameplates
Industrial Colour Marking:
- Kitchen appliance manufacturers – adorn the stainless-steel fronts of their appliances with coloured logos
- Manufacturers of knives and cutlery – mark coloured logos on each piece
- Engravers and job shops who want to expand their product portfolios using new, exciting possibilities
- Processors of stainless steel trim parts from other industries who may want to stand out from their competition with coloured markings
Industrial laser marking: Examples of applications
“What is the point of buying a laser for industrial metal marking?”
Contactless, permanent metal marking:
Marking metals using a laser machine is a very precise and clean way to process metals. Serial numbers, data matrix codes and logos can easily be added to products and components quickly and perfectly. The marking or engraving is done by the powerful laser beam, so there is never any contact with the material and will never require any pre- or post-processing. Annealing marking ensures a permanent, acid, chemical and corrosion free mark.
Function & Advantages of Laser Technology
Cost Efficient
- Direct marking does not increase costs for consumables (inks, chemicals, pastes, sprays)
- No need for handling and disposing of excess material
- No pre- or post-processing
- No tool-wear
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- The SpeedMarker with a maintenance-free fiber laser can be integrated as a laser workstation or into a production line
- The robust mechanics of Trotec laser systems have been designed for many years of intensive use with minimal servicing
Quick Marking, Great Output
- High speed marking with variable data (serial numbers, codes)
- Lots of marking options with no retooling
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Simple, intelligent and intuitive marking software
- Quick, accurate positioning of components thanks to our camera system: SpeedMark Vision Smart Adjust
- Easily integrate contents from ERP files
Permanent Engravings
- Laser marking is permanent – abrasion, heat and acid resistant
- Great for traceability and quality assurance
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Product portfolio with matching fiber laser systems for any requirement
- Flatbed systems with processing areas of up to 1500 x 1250mm
- Galvo workstations with processing areas of up to 1120 x 653mm
- OEM galvo fiber lasers for integration into production lines
- Custom-built systems according to customer requirements
Fine Tools
- Tiny, precise shapes can be marked with accuracy
- Marking processes can be combined to clean the material after processing
- Marking processes can be combined to provide a higher contrast
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Ideal optics and beam performance thanks to high-quality components
- Camera-based component positioning for high precision and simplicity
Incredible Design Opportunities
- Virtually any design can be created with the laser
- You can create 1-point fonts and tiny shapes that are still clearly legible
- Complete freedom in design
- Photographs can be produced quickly and easily
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- DirectMark or JobControl software – laser marking or engraving directly from the graphics program make everything as easy as printing
Contactless Material Processing
- There is no need to firmly clamp down or fixate materials
- Achieve consistently good results
- Save time
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Broad product portfolio with the right laser system for any requirement
- Highly accurate laser marking, even on your ‘first attempt’ thanks to camera-assisted positioning
Colour Marking on Stainless Steel
- Produce coloured markings on stainless steel
- Mark coloured logos and graphics
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Consistently mark in colour with the MOPA laser
- Consult Trotec experts regarding colour applications
- Multicoloured annealing marking
Trotec Product Recommendations
for industrial laser applications
Laser Engraving for Advertising Material & Signs
Examples of Applications
Laser Marking Advertising Materials, Signs & Much More
There are many applications for laser engraving and marking metals, including individualisation, advertisement marking, gift construction, sign making and much more. There is so much you can do with metal – and it’s not all industrial!
Metal Engraving Applications
- Door Signs
- Nameplates
- Cutlery
- Thermos Flask
- Hip Flask
- Pocket Knife
- Key Fobs
- Picture Frames
- Locks
- Lighters
- Bottle Openers
- Mobile Phones / Tablets / Laptops
- Jewellery
Typical Industries:
- Advertising
- Gift Industry
- Sign Makers
- Engravers
“What is the point of buying a laser for marking advertisement material?”
Permanent & cost-effective metal marking
Laser engraving and marking metal is a very precise form of processing. Advertising material and metal signs can be cost-effectively and permanently marked with text, logos or images, with and without colour. The metal marking or engraving itself is completed by the laser, so there is never any contact or damage to your material. It is acid, chemical and corrosion resistant, and will never fade or lose its crispness.
Function & Advantages of Laser Technology
Diverse Designs
- Practically any design can be implemented with the laser
- Complete design freedom (texts, logos, designs, barcodes, serial numbers)
- Photographs can be implemented quickly and easily
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- JobControl® laser software: easy, intuitive. Use it like a printer
Contactless Material Processing
- Material does not need to be firmly clamped or fixed
- Consistently great results
- Save time
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Broad product portfolio with a suitable laser system for any requirement
Cost Effective Production
- Direct marking = no costs for consumables (inks, chemicals, pastes, sprays)
- Handling and disposing of expensive materials is not necessary
- No pre- and post-processing
- No tool changes
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Speedy flexx laser machines, ProMarker or SpeedMarker machines with maintenance-free fiber lasers
- The robust mechanics of the Trotec laser systems are designed to deal with years of intensive use and minimal servicing
Permanent Marking
- Metal engraving is permanent, abrasion-resistant, thermally and chemically resistant
Advantages of a Trotec laser
- Broad product portfolio with a suitable laser system for any requirement
Trotec Product Recommendation
for the laser marking of promotional items, signs and much more
Laser engraver Speedy flexx
CO2- and fiber lasers in one laser machine for maximum flexibility and endless applications.
Marking laser - ProMarker Series
Perfect for personalising promotional items. High-speed laser marking of many metals and coated metals as easy as printing.
Contact us
Still Interested in Trotec Lasers & Applications?
Our laser experts and engineers are always happy to answer any questions you may have. We want to help you discover all the possibilities of laser technology. So, you can always get in contact and learn about this amazing solution! Additionally, you are invited to come on down and see our laser machines in action. Check out our event calendar to see when our next open house in… why not come in for a free, no obligation demonstration?
Laser Marking Metal & the Possibilities!
There are many different methods for marking and engraving metal. Depending on the material you are using and the quality requirements, aluminium, stainless steel and many other types of metal can be engraved, marked or polished with the innovative laser beam. Each method has specific advantages and disadvantages. Read on to lean more…
"How does metal engraving work?"
Engraving and (depending on the amount of material removed) removal of metal leaves a tangible, noticeable marking. The material physically evaporates, and the colour of your workpiece will change and create a mark. Due to the intense energy of the laser engraver, materials like stainless steel and titanium can be directly vaporised. The brown colour that is left behind on the metal can be tidied up using other metal marking processes (see polishing).
"How does metal polishing work?"
Polishing leaves a clean, white mark on stainless steel, as well as many other kinds of metal. Polishing is a ‘lighter’ type of engraving process. The energy of the laser machine is reduced so that hardly any material can evaporate. This results in less material removal and a white mark being left behind.
"How does laser marking work?"
Laser marking / annealing marking is an imperceptible process that doesn’t affect the surface of your material. No material is ever removed during this procedure. By heating the metal in a controlled way, however, you produce a colour change. For example, the colour of a piece of stainless steel changes at a temperature of 200-300°C. Different colours can also be achieved when you use differing temperatures. Even though the standard ‘goal’ when marking metal is 100% black, sometimes it is desirable to mark something with different colours. However, perfect black markings are only possible on stainless steel and titanium – not on any other metal. But, you can get very close.
Engrave & Mark Metals with CO2 or Fiber Lasers?
The best tool for productive and quality metal marking is easily the fiber laser. There is no pre- or post-processing involved and the marking result is always uniform and precise, even for fine details.
Uncoated metals can only be marked with a CO2 laser machine with the use of laser marking solutions, like pastes and sprays. This must be applied to the workpiece prior to the laser process. It needs to dry completely so it can thus be burned into the material. Then, once the laser process is over, the leftover paste needs to be carefully washed off.
Marking sensitive surfaces, like expensive workpieces or unique pieces from customers, can become somewhat risky when using engraving consumables likes engraving pastes and sprays. Marking solutions are also technically classified as hazardous materials. Henceforth, the corresponding safety regulations must always be adhered to when using these products.