Understanding Speed in Laser Marking
The following is an excerpt from our eBook, Understanding Speed In Laser Marking. Request a free copy to read the entire article.
What is Laser Speed?
Laser speed, often referred to as marking speed or scanning speed, indicates how quickly the laser beam moves across the material surface during the marking process. It is usually measured in millimeters per second (mm/s). Laser speed determines how much time the laser spends on a specific area of the material, which influences the depth, quality, and overall appearance of the mark. The laser’s parameters—power, frequency, and speed—must be carefully controlled to achieve the desired marking effect. Power and frequency determine the energy delivered; speed determines the duration of laser exposure on any one part of the part’s surface.
The following pages describe the effects of low and high laser speed settings in laser marking. These are general guidelines. The specific material being marked, along with the laser’s power and frequency settings will affect the mark produced.
How Laser Speed Affects Depth and Intensity of Marks:
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Low Speed Settings: At lower speeds, the laser beam dwells longer on each point of the material, delivering more energy to the area. This increased exposure results in deeper and more intense marks, which can be useful for engraving applications requiring significant material removal or high contrast.
High Speed Settings: Higher speeds reduce the time spent on any one point, leading to shallower and less intense marks. This is suitable for surface marking applications where only a slight alteration of the material is desired, such as light etching or marking coated surfaces. When marking depths of .005” or deeper is required, making multiple passes with high speed settings can be more efficient than marking at lower speed settings.
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Want to learn more about laser speed?
Adjusting laser speed is crucial for optimizing your laser marking application. Our eBook, "Understanding Speed in Laser Marking," can help you determine the appropriate speed 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 power and frequency.
Click below to request your free copy today!
