Laser marking and laser etching are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably, but they’re quite different methods. Below, we’ll explain the basic differences between laser marking and laser etching and the setting in which they’re most often used.
Laser marking—along with laser etching and engraving—is one of the most common services used for marking materials. To mark material with a laser, a low-powered beam is brought across the material to cause discoloration.
With discoloration and other types of laser marking, high-contrast marks are produced without damaging the material or weakening its structural integrity. Instead of destroying the material, the laser heats it and causes oxidation to change its color and leave the surface intact.
There are four main types of laser marking: annealing, carbon migration, foaming, and coloration. Choosing the right laser marking method typically depends on the material being marked. Annealing and carbon migration are typically used on metals and heat the material to bring carbon to the surface. Carbon migration uses more intense heat in a shorter time.
Foaming and coloration are more often used for plastics, with the foaming method melting the material to create gas bubbles (foam) that create a light color contrast in the material. Coloration uses oxidation to create contrast in dark and lighter materials.
Laser etching is different from laser marking in that it materially affects the material’s surface more than marking. Laser etching is often considered a subset of laser engraving but differs in some key ways.
In laser etching, the laser beam uses extreme heat to melt the material’s surface. The melted material then expands, producing a raised mark on the material while also altering the material’s reflectivity. This melting removes about 0.0001″ of material and produces a high-contrast mark typically used on metals, ceramics, and polymers.
Each laser service method has its advantages, and the best method mainly depends on the material and the intention of the mark. Laser marking is more suited for materials like wires that can’t be damaged or harmed during the process.
For instance, the aerospace industry only uses laser wire marking because it produces high-quality and durable marks on fragile materials like wire insulation. But laser etching is more useful for jewelry engravings and metalwork because the method works better on harder materials and surfaces.
We hope our guide has helped you learn more about laser marking and etching. Keep reading US News Zone for more interesting news and topics.
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