Financial and ID Technologies

Lasers in manufacturing and packaging

22 August 2019

Sponsored content

It is said that there is strength in numbers. That old adage also applies to numerical tracking, which, along with other types of marking systems, is a cornerstone of the manufacturing and packaging industries for accurate inventory control.

Thanks to the wide range of materials they can engrave with accuracy and permanency, lasers are an ideal tool for creating identification systems. Candidates for laser engraving include batch numbers, typically applied to groups of products sharing selected characteristics; and serial numbers, which can be used to precisely identify individual products. The laser’s high-resolution quality also makes it possible to engrave codes that can be read by scanners. These include one-dimensional barcodes, such as universal product codes (UPCs), used in the vast majority of saleable products; two-dimensional data matrix codes, widely used in the aerospace industry; and QR codes, which began their life in the automotive industry and have since expanded to cover branding and marketing applications that rely upon user smartphone interactions.

Figure 1: Engraving barcodes is one of many laser capabilities. Source: Epilog Laser Figure 1: Engraving barcodes is one of many laser capabilities. Source: Epilog Laser The marking of metal parts is common in the manufacturing realm. There, it has traditionally been accomplished through chemical etching — an involved process requiring an investment of time and resources. Generally, there are five steps involved:

· cleaning the part surface with a solvent

· applying a maskant via electrostatic deposition, or liquid allowed to dry on the part

· removing the maskant only from areas to be etched

· immersion in a bath filled with a corrosive etchant

· washing and deoxidizing the part to remove etchant and maskant

Several variables affect the choice of materials for each step of the chemical etching process. First is the composition of the part itself. Next, the time spent in the corrosive bath, determined by the engraving depth required; this often requires a trial-and-error approach before arriving at a set formula. Finally, disposal of the chemicals involved, which necessitates the use of wastewater treatment equipment.

By contrast, laser marking is a simple and straightforward process that can be done in a fraction of the time without using consumables that must regularly be replenished. The process offers far more consistent and repeatable marking abilities than its traditional, chemical-based counterpart. The laser also offers the flexibility to produce several different types of marks, each of which can be precisely controlled.

Moreover, while metal parts used in manufacturing may be resilient to chemical treatment, the same quality is not often found in packaging materials. Because the laser produces minimal contact when marking, it can easily be used on materials such as paper, cardboard and plastics. Packaging applications for lasers extend beyond marking, as well — into scoring tear lines, micro-perforating for extended shelf life of perishables and other value-adding enhancements.

The advantages of the laser over traditional processes is particularly relevant to smaller shops and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) suppliers as a way of reducing costs for small production runs. American Brother Designs, based in Carson City, Nevada, is an aftermarket automotive accessory supplier that began using an Epilog laser to cut adhesive backings for its custom badges. The company discovered that the laser could also be used for custom engraving tasks, freeing up its CNC machine and producing cleaner results. In addition, the laser can quickly create three-dimensional mockups and prototypes for custom parts, superseding the time-heavy investment of CNC prototyping.

Integrating lasers into production workflows — whether in small-scale facilities or large industrial operations — opens unique opportunities to transcend resource-heavy traditional techniques, reallocate machines to tasks for which they are best suited, and to discover new prospects for what a facility can create.

To learn more about the many possibilities, contact Epilog Laser.



Powered by CR4, the Engineering Community

Discussion – 0 comments

By posting a comment you confirm that you have read and accept our Posting Rules and Terms of Use.
Engineering Newsletter Signup
Get the GlobalSpec
Stay up to date on:
Features the top stories, latest news, charts, insights and more on the end-to-end electronics value chain.
Advertisement
Weekly Newsletter
Get news, research, and analysis
on the Electronics industry in your
inbox every week - for FREE
Sign up for our FREE eNewsletter
Advertisement