Understanding Power in Laser Marking
The following is an excerpt from our eBook, Understanding Power In Laser Marking. Request a free copy to read the entire article.
What is Laser Power?
One of the most crucial parameters in laser marking is the laser power setting. Laser power refers to the amount of energy the laser emits, typically measured in watts (W). In laser marking systems, power settings can range from a few watts to several hundred watts, depending on the type of laser and its application. Laser marking involves the absorption of laser energy by the material being marked. This leads to localized heating in the material which in turn can lead to melting, vaporization, or chemical changes. The process can produce various effects, such as engraving, etching, or color change, depending on the material and the laser’s power, speed, frequency, and focus settings.
The following pages describe the effects of low and high laser power settings in laser marking. These are general guidelines. The specific material being marked, along with the laser’s speed and frequency settings will affect the mark produced.
How Laser Power Affects Depth and Intensity of Marks:
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Low Power Settings: Using lower power results in less energy per pulse, leading to shallow marks or surface-level engravings. This is suitable for applications requiring fine detail without deep penetration, such as surface etching on metals or marking coated surfaces.
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High Power Settings: Higher power increases the energy per pulse, allowing deeper penetration into the material. This is ideal for applications needing deep engraving, cutting, or marking hard materials like metals and ceramics. However, excessive power can cause overheating, resulting in material damage or undesirable effects such as melting or burning.
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Want to learn more about laser power?
Adjusting laser power is crucial for optimizing your laser marking application. Our eBook, "Understanding Power in Laser Marking," can help you determine the appropriate power setting based on your part's material properties, your desired mark characteristics, specific application needs, laser capabilities, and the settings of your other laser parameters, such as laser speed and frequency.
Click below to request your free copy today!