Fiber laser technology is the need of the hour today because of its super fast speed and razor-sharp etching and cutting properties. The industry relies on Fiber laser cutting and fiber laser marking machines for various manufacturing purposes. However, these complex machines have distinct differences in their applications and capabilities. Here are the major differences between fiber laser cutting and fiber laser marking machines:
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Purpose:
To what purpose are we using the machines is where the difference lies! Fiber laser cutting machines can make precise and sharp cuts through various materials. This quality of high precision makes it very useful for industrial applications such as cutting pipes, metal sheets, tubular, and cutting other materials into desired shapes. On the other hand, Fiber Laser marking machine uses the laser beam to etch, engrave or permanently mark the surface of different materials. This technology method works excellent for engraving bar codes, text, logos, serial numbers, and other information on ceramics, metals, plastics, and other materials.
Cutting vs. Marking:
A focused laser beam melts and vaporizes material in a Fiber Laser Cutting machine. The melting and vaporization cut the workpiece into the desired shape. The fiber laser cutter can cut through materials of any size with high precision and accuracy.
On the other hand, instead of cutting or slicing through the material, the fiber laser marking machine engraves or modifies the material&#;s surface to leave a mark. This can be seen by a texture or color contrast on the material and is done through engraving, annealing, or foaming processes. Only the appearance of the material is changed, and there is no material removal during the marking process.
Power and Speed:
The fiber laser cutter needs high power levels to generate the laser beam to cut the materials. The high power can range from to 10,000 watts and works at super sharp speed to cut the material effectively.
Fiber Laser Markers operate at much lesser power levels, usually 10 to 100 watts. They aspire to make detailed and precise markings rather than shape or cut the material through and through. The cutting process is much faster than the marking process.
Versatility:
Fiber laser marking devices can work and leave marks on plastics, ceramics, metals, glass, and other organic materials and, thus, is irreplaceable in the electronics, medical, automotive, jewellery, etc. industry.
Fiber-cutting machines can easily cut brass, copper, stainless steel, aluminium, steel, etc., and other materials. High-intensity rays can seamlessly penetrate and vaporize a wide range of materials of any thickness, making them very important to the industrial world.
Fiber laser cutters can handle large work pieces with great ease. Hence, it is ideal for metal plates, sheets or tubes, and other thick materials. They can smoothly melt and penetrate thick metals of varied thicknesses. Marking machines have more versatility and can handle smaller objects like jewellery, electronics, and tools and larger things like automotive parts. But remember where the material is just being marked, and the markings are surface-based, not deep penetrations.
With the development of laser technology, the types and performance of laser equipment are constantly improved. At present, the common laser marking equipment on the market includes laser engraving machine and laser marking machine. Many friends said that these two machines feel the same. So, what is the difference between laser marking machine and laser engraving machine?
1. Different working principles
Laser marking machine uses laser beam to make permanent marks on the surface of various materials. The function of marking is to expose deep substances through the evaporation of surface substances, or "carve" traces through the chemical and physical changes of surface substances caused by light energy, or burn some substances through light energy to display the required etching patterns and words.
Laser engraving machine is a kind of laser equipment that uses the heat energy of laser to engrave and cut materials. Also known as laser cutting machine, laser etching machine, etc.
2. Different lasers are used
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Laser marking machine laser marking machine is mainly divided into CO2 laser marking machine, semiconductor laser marking machine, optical fiber laser marking machine and YAG laser marking machine. The service life of various lasers is different, such as metal tube lasers and YAG solid-state lasers. The service life is generally about hours. Of course, the service life of fiber laser marking machine laser is the longest, up to hours.
Laser engraving machines can be divided into CO2 non-metallic laser engraving machines and optical fiber metal engraving machines. The laser of CO2 non-metallic laser engraving machine is generally carbon dioxide glass tube, and the service life of glass tube laser is generally - hours. The fiber laser can be used continuously for more than 10W hours.
3. Different applicable materials and application industries
CO2 laser marking machine laser marking machine is applicable to a wide range of non-metallic materials. All kinds of materials can be permanently marked with high quality. It is used in clothing accessories, pharmaceutical packaging, wine packaging, building ceramics, beverage packaging, fabric cutting, rubber products, shell nameplate, craft gifts, electronic components, leather and other industries. However, optical fiber laser marking machine can be widely used in metal products.
Laser engraving machines can be roughly divided into: non-metallic laser engraving machines and metal laser engraving machines. Therefore, it can be used in both metallic and non-metallic materials, with a wide range of applications. For example, non-metallic materials such as bamboo, wood, crystal, horn, cardboard, plexiglass, marble, cloth, leather, rubber and plastic can be processed by laser. Clothing, embroidery, fabric toys, home fabrics, handbags, gloves, leather, leather cutting and surface carving in the toy industry. Precision cutting of acrylic board, medium density decorative board and other non-metallic plates in crafts, models, advertising, decoration, electrical appliances, plastics and other industries.
4. Different processing depth
The laser marking machine only marks the surface of the material, and the depth is very shallow, generally less than 0.5mm, while the depth of the laser engraving machine can mark very deep, ranging from 0.1mm to 100mm, and can go deep into the interior of the object. Even if it is opened, the specific depth still depends on the material.
5. Different processing speeds
The engraving speed of the laser engraving machine is generally the fastest cutting speed of 200mm/s and the engraving speed of 500mm / S; The speed of laser marking machine is generally three times that of laser engraving machine.
6. Different processing technologies:
The laser engraving machine can be equipped with an electric lifting platform and a rotating shaft, and can engrave regular or irregular objects such as cylinders, special shapes, spheres, etc. Due to the stability control of Q head and the optical path setting of laser marking machine, the platform can adjust the focal length from left to right, up and down, so it is mostly suitable for plane carving.
7. Different prices
Different configurations, such as different lasers and different powers, will have different final prices. Generally speaking, the laser engraving machine has deeper engraving depth and higher power. However, the printing depth of general laser marking machines is very shallow, and the laser power is low. For non-metallic laser engraving and cutting machines, the price of small power is much cheaper than laser marking machines, but high-power laser engraving machines are also more expensive.
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