Hans Low Power Lasers

Laser marking has grown dramatically over the last 30 years.  Why the growth? Laser markers provide an alternative method to mark or engrave a product.  Attributes of laser marking that lead to growth include non-contact marking (no physical tool touches the part), high speed (the galvanometer technology that moves the mirrors by electric coils is extremely fast and precise, with rates up to 20 characters per second), permanent marks (lasers often mark by discoloration), easily modified (computer controlled marking permits date codes, serialization, and other changes quickly and easily), detailed marking (lasers can produce 3D bar codes read by computer), stipulated (some government bodies require laser marking as the method of product identification).  In summary, there are a lot of reasons to select laser marking for your application.

The growth factors cited above consider not only the laser tool, but also the computer software, and the machinery design.  These three factors affect your laser marking machine requirements. 

You can view all the lasers types offered for industrial use on our website--fiber, diode end pumped and side pumped, lamp pump, UV, and CO2.  The primary difference between the lasers is the wavelength for which they operate.  And, different materials respond differently to these wavelengths.  Some materials respond well to heat, such as wood that carbonizes or turns black with heat.  This nice contrasting color can be laser marked in the infrared region 10,640 nm, with the lower cost CO2 laser.  Metals reflect the CO2 laser marking, so 1064nm wavelength is absorbed by the metal, discoloring it to an orange color using the lamp pump, fiber, and diode side pump.  Plastics can also be marked by all laser types, but the finest quality plastic marking can be found using the diode end pump laser that operates around 800 nm (it's green and you can see it).  The finest laser marking uses the smallest wavelength at 355 nm in the ultraviolet range.  This tiny tool can micromachine or drill electronics.  Each laser pulse removes a tiny layer of material like peeling an onion.  No heat is used in the ultraviolet or visible light wavelengths, so the laser marking is generally more time-consuming or exclusively used for fine tooling requirements.  And, most importantly, the costs are much higher for the finer tools (e.g., lower wavelengths).

Most prospective buyers contact us regarding their materials. Often, we run samples to demonstrate the quality. 

The laser machine mechanism is very important.  All laser markers use ultra-high speed mirrors for laser beam delivery in a confined area.   You need to select your laser marking area, such as 4" square, 1" square, 2" square.  Why not simply pick the largest size? A larger size means that the focused laser beam spot will be larger.  Consider the quality of your laser marking and balance to the size.

The laser mechanisms typically considered are independent work stations, or marking while moving.  The independent work stations have the operator, or robot, load and unload the parts for laser processing and run the computer.  The mark while moving machines have a connection for production line speed in order to place the laser marking properly on the product or part.

The menu on the left side of the website shows Laser Marking lasers including fiber, diode end pumped and side pumped, traditional lamp pump, ultravoilet and CO2.  These web pages shows products that are laser work stations.  For laser marking while in motion, look at the web page named "While Moving".

Please contact us to review your application and needs. 

Which laser beam is right for you?

A CO2, carbon diode, laser will mark the surface of clear glass. If operates in the infrared (heat) spectrum.

A green laser, diode end-pumped, will pass through glass. It operates in the visible spectrum.