The Science of Laser Marking

The word LASER is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser beam begins as an atom that is stimulated to release particles of light. This light can be concentrated and directed toward a laser marking area. The energy that is released is measured in wavelengths or nanometers (NM). The higher the wavelength, the more powerful the laser beam.

For example, a UV laser marker, which has a wavelength of around 355NM, offers a lower power for marking heat-sensitive materials such as plastic and glass. Because UV laser markers and other machines in the "cold laser" category emit less energy, they are great solutions for many organic or soft products, as they are  less likely to burn the material. A fiber laser, on the other hand, operates at 1070NM, delivering significantly higher power to mark harder materials, such as metal.

Compared to other non-permanent marking processes such as printing or labeling, laser marking uses no consumables and requires less maintenance.