The 6 Most Common Types of Laser Marking

If your manufacturing company is in need of a laser marking system, there are many things to keep in mind prior to purchasing. Primarily, it is important to know which marking system is the most valuable for your industry’s application. Additionally, each of our laser marking machines offer different functionality and will produce varying types of marks.

To determine which of our laser marking systems would be the best fit for your company’s production needs, you’ll need to decipher between the six most common types of laser marking, which are:

Annealing laser marking
Carbon migration laser marking
Foaming laser marking
Coloration laser marking
Ablation laser marking
Frosting laser marking

In this post, we will examine each of these laser marking types and present the following:

A basic definition of each laser marking process
The ideal functionality of each marking system
The differences each marking system offers in comparison to the others
Industry applications for each laser marking machine

1. Annealing Laser Marking

Some key points:

Used on carbon-containing metals
Oxidation process can result in a variety of colors
A slower, more drawn-out process
Common in the medical industry

Annealing marking refers to an oxidation process of applying heat to a surface material (without applying a high amount of aggression). This type of laser marking generally results in a solid black mark with a smooth finish, but based on the temperature at the surface of the mark, colors can also vary between shades of yellow, red and green.

This process is typically slower because the annealing relies solely on heat to bring carbon from the metal to the surface and make the markings. Once the metal is heated, you must also allow it to gradually cool.

Common metals used during the process of laser annealing include the following:

Titanium
Steel
Stainless steel
Iron

In addition, this process can be used for a variety of industries. However, it is most commonly used in the medical industry with applications such as internal tracking and branding.

If you’d like to learn more about our annealing marking products or if you’d like to know if annealing is the most ideal laser marking process for your industry, reach out to one of our representatives today.

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2. Carbon Migration Laser Marking

Some key points:

Can be applied to metals and metal alloys
Carbon migrates to the surface via a heating process
Produces dark markings
Heat is applied at a rapid pace

Carbon migration is another type of laser marking in which a metal or metal alloy is heated, causing said metal to chemically bond with its carbon molecules. This bonding brings the carbon properties to the surface of your material. When this occurs, it will often result in a dark laser marking that can even be black.

This type of marking is a faster process than annealing because it provides a high amount of heat to a smaller area within a more rapid time period.

Only metals containing carbon can utilize this type of laser marking. Common metals that carbon migration applies to include:

Steel
Stainless steel
Carbide
Titanium

Industries that have used carbon migration for beneficial applications include but aren’t limited to:

Aerospace
Jewelry engraving
Metalworking

To learn more about the process of carbon migration laser marking, or inquire about our products’ use in your company’s application, contact one of our team members.

3. Foaming Laser Marking

Some key points:

Is used on plastics instead of metals
Produces light markings
Material is melted, creating foam and gas bubbles
Results in relatively smooth marking

Foam laser marking is used when a plastic is darker and the desired end result is a lighter color (usually white, gold or various tan shades). This change in color occurs by creating a molten burn on the surface that is both contained and controlled. When the surface is melted, it creates an atmosphere of foaming gas bubbles.

These bubbles change the light refraction properties of the material, making foaming a desirable process when light effects, lettering, symbols and more are requested for a product’s surface.

Foaming is not used on metal; rather, it is used only on plastics, making it a valuable asset within the plastics industry and sectors which regularly utilize plastics in their operations.

Examples of applications that foam laser marking can be used for include:

Marking on ink cartridges
Marking on keyboards
Marking on cosmetic packaging

To learn more about the process of foaming laser marking, be sure to reach out to our team members because our machines can be a valuable solution for your plastics operations.

4. Coloration Laser Marking

Some key points:

Can be utilized for both metals and plastics
The process for coloration varies, depending on your material
Creates contrast in both colored and black-and-white materials
Color results are based on an oxidation process

The process of adding color to a plastic or metal, or coloration laser marking, is created by heating specific parts of a surface based on the anticipated outcome. Modifying the surface by controlling its pulse frequency, width, and more will result in varying colors and shades, so it is important to know what your desired results are beforehand.

When coloration is applied to a plastic material, it can be done so via a foaming process. When polymers within the plastic are manipulated, it results in a wavelength of colors, usually ranging from infrared to ultraviolet.

Metal coloration occurs with an oxidation process that can be applied to surfaces that have previously been both treated and untreated. This gives users more freedom with their coloration outcomes, and can even be used for decorative applications.

As a result, lasers used for coloration marking often are able to operate at a broad range of frequencies, speeds, power levels, and so on.

Examples of industrial applications in which laser coloration marking can be used include:

Creating decorative jewelry
Color coating ear tags for cattle
Marking colors on a bottle cap

If you have any questions about coloration on plastics and metals, our representatives can help you. Contact us today to learn more about our laser marking options.

5. Ablation Laser Marking

Some key points:

The process of removing coatings or surface layers
Commonly used on anodized aluminum
Used to remove layers and coatings from a variety of materials without causing damage to the surface itself
Produces little waste because the material removed is vaporized

Ablation laser marking is used to remove coatings or the top layer from objects and substrates of various material compositions. The result is a bright or white mark that contrasts deeply with the surface or coating.

It is often used to mark anodized aluminum, black oxide, painted materials, and more. Furthermore, ablation can be used to strip rubber, paint, and other coatings from materials.

Other examples of applications that use ablation laser marking include the following:

Implementing part traceability with matrix codes, QR codes, serial numbers, and more
Personalizing painted and coated cups, mugs, and tumblers with names, logos, and beyond
Cleaning rust, oxide, and paint from surfaces by breaking the chemical bond that holds them together
Creating current pathways for change resistance levels in electronics

6. Frosting Laser Marking

Some key points:

Commonly used on metals to form a bright, white mark
Requires minimal surface penetration
Can be combined with other techniques to create high-contrast results

In the process of laser frosting, the laser is moved at a high rate of scan speed that slightly disrupts the surface to create a bright white contrast. The mark may have a slight texture to the touch, but the surface penetration is minimal.

This technique is mainly used on metal, but is also effective for aluminum, steel, stainless steel, and carbide. Combining this process with annealing can result in a high-contrast white background with dark marks over the top.

Examples of laser frosting applications include:

Minting dies for coins or metals
Polishing molding tools
Frosting glass for privacy or design

Which Laser Marking Machine Is Right for You?

Now that you have a better understanding of annealing, carbon migration, foaming and coloration laser marking, and more, you should be able to distinguish which of our machines would be the best fit for your company’s needs. Remember, though, that our line of laser markers is versatile and continually growing. Each of our products can be used on a variety of materials in varying industries.

If you’d like to learn more about our current line of equipment, or the six types of laser marking, feel free to contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.