Laser Marking on Injection-Molded Parts | Laser Marking for Injection Molding

Utilizing a laser marking system for your injection-molding operations can bring with it a lot of key benefits for your business. With that in mind, let’s examine some specific marking procedures as well as how to best incorporate laser marking into your injection-molding production so you can reap the full rewards.

Laser Marking System Techniques

Laser marking systems offer several ways to mark essential parts, giving users options for determining what’s best for their products and their customers.

The available techniques include:

Laser marking – Using a laser beam, the surface of a selected material is discolored to black or dark gray, producing the chosen text or graphic design. Since oxidation occurs beneath the surface, the material itself remains smooth and intact.
Laser engraving – During this process, a selection of your chosen material’s surface area is removed by the system’s laser, creating an exposed cavity. Because of a high level of heat utilized during laser engraving, this selection is vaporized on contact.
Laser etching – This process, a subset of laser engraving, is conducted by melting a chosen material and creating a raised mark on the product’s surface.
Foaming – For this technique, also referred to as color change, a controlled burn is conducted upon a plastic’s surface. This allows for a fairly smooth surface following marking, and leaves a white, tan or dark mark upon the surface, depending upon the plastic used.

If you’d like some further insights into the differences between marking, etching and engraving, be sure to check out our in-depth post.

You can also learn about annealing, carbon migration, foaming, and colorization in our “6 Most Common Types of Laser Marking” blog post.

What Materials Are Ideal for Marking and Other Processes?

If you’re considering laser marking, engraving or etching for injection-molded materials, know that laser systems offer impressive versatility.

Our equipment is able to work with materials like:

ABS plastics
Polyethylene plastics
Glass-filled plastics
Various other plastics

Additionally, materials such as aluminum, black oxide, PCD, steel, titanium, copper and many more are also regularly marked using our systems. For full details, visit our materials page.

And for a look at a final product, visit our page for laser marking on white ABS plastic.

The Benefits of Laser Marking for Injection Molding

Laser marking systems offer a host of benefits for industries who incorporate them into their standard operations. These include:

Less wear and tear on tooling equipment due to the noncontact, focused laser beam used in the processes
A precise, repeatable process resulting in sharp resolution that can be trusted for essential part-making and design
The ability to mark or engrave difficult to access areas, including those found in concave and convex designs
An environmentally safe process since the laser utilized creates no toxic byproducts compared to a process like acid etching
A faster production speed compared to traditional methods, saving both time and money
Hand polishing of materials is often eliminated since the surface material following the laser marking process is much smoother than milled surfaces

Of course, these are only some of the benefits that our systems for laser marking on injection-molded parts can provide. For further insights, be sure to check out our laser marking for plastics and laser marking for electronics pages.

Industries That Can Benefit from Laser Marking for Injection Molding

We pride ourselves on offering systems that can mark all types of materials and surfaces, facilitating laser marking for injection molding and many other applications. Whether you’re looking to mark codes, serial numbers, logos, designs, or other information, our systems can be an essential tool for your company.

Some industries that can benefit from utilizing laser marking for injection-molded parts include:

With our exceptional customer service and perfect-fit solutions, our team is able to meet your industry’s needs with ease.

FAQs on Laser Marking on Injection-Molded Parts

What lasers are used with laser marking for injection molding?

To accomplish laser marking on injection-molded parts, you’ll typically use higher-powered MOPA fiber lasers, since they are ideal for plastics. Some plastics, however, may be able to be marked with UV lasers or CO₂ lasers. The choice of laser will depend on the materials, application, and desired marking result. Contact our team if you’re trying to determine the best system for your operations and we can assess all the details and make a determination.

What are some quality control measures used for laser marking on injection-molded parts?

Some typical measures taken to ensure accuracy and consistency include material testing and visual inspections. Visual checks are important to ensure the product meets the quality standard desired and doesn’t have any defects such as burn marks.

What type of training does TYKMA Electrox offer?

We offer a variety of training options for our customers, and to help you get the most of our systems, we’ve developed a personalized approach. If you’re wanting to receive training prior to engaging in laser marking for injection molding, our options include:

Online training – Our technicians will connect to your PC via secure support software and train you in a one-on-one setting. This is provided free of charge and is perfect if you need a quick overview or refresher on our software or systems.
Onsite training at your facility – This is our most popular option, and it includes a certified technician or sales engineer visiting your facility to train single or multiple operators for a full day or more.
Onsite training at TYKMA Electrox – Customers are welcome to come to our facility free of charge for training on their machine. After training, your system will ship to your facility. Current customers can also receive training for their existing systems.
Start-up assistance – If you’re looking for complete support from the initial application review to the first production mark, this is the perfect option.

What accessories are available with laser marking systems?

TYKMA Electrox offers a variety of accessories and options to pair with your laser system. These include fume extraction systems, safety glasses, rotary devices, linear axes, and more.

Start Laser Marking on Injection Molding with Our Efficient Systems

Have any questions about how to incorporate laser marking, engraving and etching into your injection-molding operations? Reach out to our dedicated team today because we’re ready to put our experience to work for you!