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 |
The vanadate laser, chemically Nd:YVO4 is a (usually diode-pumped) solid-state laser similar to the Nd:YAG laser, but with a different host crystal (YVO instead of YAG). A neodymium-doped yttrium-vanadate crystal is used in the vanadate to generate the laser beam. As the excitation or laser emission takes place via the neodymium doping, the vanadate laser has the same wavelength as the YAG laser (1064nm).
The vanadate pump is easier to pump, the absorption band being significantly wider than that of the YAG laser. This has the advantage that the wavelength drift of the pump diodes (e.g. through heating) causes less fluctuations in the output power. The optical - optical efficiency is higher than that of the YAG laser, therefore the removal of waste heat is less critical or the output power (with the same crystal volume and same crystal geometry) is higher.
A vanadate laser can be used to mark a wide range of different materials - largely the same as what a YAG laser can mark. The laser marks virtually all metals, plastics and partly organic materials. The vanadate laser can deliver more pulses per second than the YAG laser. This can be advantageous for fast markings on plastic, as there is still pulse overlap.
A laser can generally only interact with a workpiece if it has sufficiently high absorption. Reflected or transmitted power is - obviously - useless for material processing.
As the laser emits in near infrared, as a rule of thumb it can be stated that any material that is transparent to the human eye cannot be processed with near infrared. Therefore, non-colored glasses, Plexiglas, polystyrene and the like cannot be processed. This is possible with a CO2 laser.
The YVO4 laser requires no additional operating costs besides electricity costs. Thus, the laser system is considered very cost-effective in daily use and is increasingly replacing conventional marking systems that use ink and labels. With both the YAG and the vanadate laser, however, the pump diodes should be replaced after approximately 15,000 - 20,000 operating hours. This is a disadvantage compared to fiber lasers whose pump diodes are not subject to regular maintenance intervals.
Unlike inkjet printers, laser systems offer higher print quality, lower running costs (no consumables, no blocked nozzles, etc.), and extremely low maintenance. However, the investment is significantly higher.
If pre-printed cardboard is marked with the laser system, a well-contrasted marking with a short marking time is produced on the substrate.
Laser markings generally have a very high durability, as the marking often takes place in the volume of the material - and not just on the surface. Unlike printed images, texts or barcodes, laser markings are resistant to abrasion and completely smudge-proof. Even solvents, oil, weak alkalies and acids, as well as high temperatures, cannot affect the marking. This is one of the reasons why laser marking systems have become increasingly relevant in recent years when it comes to the safety-relevant marking of components - for example, to prevent counterfeiting.
In cars too, there are more and more components that have been marked using a laser. This includes dashboard switches, data plates, markings for safety-relevant (e.g. seat belt buckles) and expensive components (engine components e.g. camshafts).