Speedy series: Laser engraving and cutting machines for formats up to 1016 x 610 mm
⚫ Engrave | ⚫ Cut | ⚫ Mark |
Laser type: | CO₂, Flexx or Fiber laser |
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Work area: | 610 x 305 up to 1016 x 610 mm |
Max. workpiece height: | 125 - 305 mm |
Laser power: | 20 - 120 watts |
SP series: CO2 laser cutter for large-format materials.
⚫ Engrave | ⚫ Cut | ⎯ Mark |
Laser type: | CO₂ laser |
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Work area: | 1245 x 710 up to 3250 x 3210 mm |
Max. workpiece height: | 50 - 112 mm |
Laser power: | 40 - 400 watts |
Marking laser stations with galvo marking heads. Marking area up to 44.1 x 25.0 inch.
⚫ Engrave | ⎯ Cut | ⚫ Mark |
Laser type: | CO₂ or Fiber laser |
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Max. work area: | 190 x 190 up to 1300 x 450 mm |
Max. workpiece height: | 250 - 764 mm |
Laser power: | 20 - 100 watts / 20 + 100 watts MOPA |
for polyamide, polyethylene, ABS and many other plastics
There are many options for laser engraving and laser etching plastics. With a fiber laser, you can mark a variety of different commercially used plastics, such as polycarbonate, ABS, polyamide, and many more with a permanent, quick, high-quality finish. Thanks to the low set-up times and flexibility offered by marking lasers, even small laser marking plastic jobs become economical.
Suitable materials for laser engraving
Applications
When laser engraving and laser etching plastic, it is possible to achieve a permanent mark on a number of different types of material, although the various raw materials as well as colour pigments and other additives (e.g. fillers, additives, flame retardants) react very differently.
For laser marking plastics a fiber laser offers you a range of different methods, such as dyeing, carbonation or foaming. Prior to laser engraving, laser cutting or laser marking plastic you should always use a test piece as different materials react differently to processing.
Here are some applications:
"Trotec were able to customise the product to suit our industry requirements and they delivered exactly what we needed in record time. We are already working with Trotec on a second system."- Fearghal McEvatt - owner of Tocana Ltd -
"Everything about our Trotec experience has been straightforward and enjoyable, from the simple sales process to how easy it is to operate our laser machine. Compared to the previous laser machine we had, Trotec is miles ahead in terms of the quality of engraving and cutting it can provide."- Stuart Menges - Managing Director of Universal Espresso Care -
"The Trotec machine enabled us to offer a two day service for jig making where previously it took two weeks. It is very easy to use and so far has been trouble-free. The laser has been a great asset to our company, enabling us to offer a better service to our customers which in turn allows them to offer a better service to their customers."- Philip Allingham - Managing Director of Copytrax -
More options for marking plastics
Many plastics can be marked with the conventional fiber laser. Most of the time, the marking result is very good, but for some plastics, the same level of homogeneity cannot always be achieved. These types of plastics can then be marked with a MOPA laser, which results in much more contrast and homogeneity. The adjustable pulse durations, which allow either short or long pulses, also help.
With dark plastics (such as PA 66 GF, PA 6 GF, PP GF, etc.), the surrounding material is less heated thanks to the short pulses and the associated low pulse energy. The plastics foam less and the marking is more homogeneous. Other plastics require more energy to heat up the material sufficiently. In this case, the long pulses help to optimize the foaming of the material. In both cases, marking with the MOPA laser leads to a more clear contrast and therefore to better (machine) readability.
Foaming is a process which leaves a tangible mark on the material. It can be seen as laser-induced boiling, which melts the surface of the material. Due to rapid cooling bubbles are encapsulated in the material which leaves a positive, tangible mark.
When laser marking with this process the laser works on a low power level with longer pulses. Foaming works on all polymers and on some metals. The selected material determines whether the mark is light or dark.
Carbonising is used to create strong contrasts on bright surfaces. During the carbonising process the laser heats up the surface material material (minimum 100° C) and oxygen, hydrogen or a combination of both gases is emitted. What's left is a darkened area with higher carbon concentration.
The laser works with lower energy, which leads to slightly longer processing with a laser marking machine compared to other methods. Carbonising can be used for polymers or bio-polymers such as wood or leather. Carbonising always produces a dark mark, meaning that the contrast achieved on dark materials will be minimal.
Colour change in the material guarantees the highest legibility. Laser marking with colour change is essentially an electrical process, which reorders the macromolecules (by changing the direction). No material is removed during this process but partial foaming is possible.
The laser works with a maximum pulse rate and low energy per pulse as otherwise material would be removed or foaming might occur. Colour change works on all polymers and the change of colour can be bright or dark, however most are dark.
Removing is a process used with multilayer plastics (laminates). When using the removal process in laser marking the laser beam removes the top layers, which had been applied to the base material. This results in contrasting colours due to the colour differences in the layers.