Classification of Laser Marking Machines by Laser Medium

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Classification of Laser Marking Machines by Laser Medium

I. Introduction
A laser marking machine is a device that uses a laser beam to mark the surface of materials. It is widely used in industrial production, medical devices, electronic components, and the food and beverage industry. There are many types of laser marking machines, and a key classification method is based on the laser medium. The laser medium is the crucial substance inside the laser that generates the laser beam. Different laser media have distinct physical and chemical properties, which in turn affect the laser's wavelength, power, beam quality, and application range. This article will provide a detailed introduction to several main types of laser marking machines classified by their laser medium and their respective characteristics.

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II. Fiber Laser Marking Machine

# (I) Working Principle
The core of a fiber laser marking machine is a fiber laser. A fiber laser uses a fiber doped with rare-earth elements (such as erbium or ytterbium) as the gain medium. Under the action of a pump source (usually a semiconductor laser), the rare-earth ions in the fiber are excited to a high-energy state, and then generate laser light through stimulated emission. The laser wavelength produced by a fiber laser is typically 1064 nanometers, which falls within the near-infrared range.

# (II) Features
1. High Beam Quality: Fiber lasers produce a high-quality laser beam that can be focused into an extremely small spot, making them suitable for high-precision marking applications.
2. High Electro-Optical Conversion Efficiency: Fiber lasers have high electro-optical conversion efficiency, typically exceeding 30%. This means that for the same input power, a fiber laser can produce more laser energy with lower energy consumption.
3. Maintenance-Free: Fiber lasers have a compact structure, require no complex optical adjustments or maintenance, and have a long lifespan, generally tens of thousands of hours.
4. Suitable Materials: Fiber laser marking machines are suitable for marking on metal materials (such as stainless steel, aluminum alloys, copper, etc.) and some non-metal materials (such as plastics and ceramics).

# (III) Application Scenarios
Fiber laser marking machines are widely used in electronic components, mechanical parts, medical devices, and automotive components to mark information such as model numbers, specifications, production dates, and trademarks.

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III. CO? Laser Marking Machine

# (I) Working Principle
The core of a CO? laser marking machine is a CO? laser. A CO? laser uses carbon dioxide gas as the gain medium. Within a discharge tube, an electric stimulus excites the CO? molecules to a high-energy state, and they subsequently generate laser light through stimulated emission. The laser wavelength produced by a CO? laser is 10.6 micrometers, which is in the far-infrared range.

# (II) Features
1. High Power Output: CO? lasers can output a higher power, usually ranging from dozens to hundreds of watts, making them suitable for large-area or deep engraving.
2. Suitable for Non-Metal Materials: CO? lasers have good absorption properties for non-metal materials (such as plastics, wood, leather, and glass), enabling clear marking and engraving effects.
3. Small Beam Divergence Angle: The beam divergence angle of a CO? laser is small, making it suitable for long-distance transmission and large-area processing.
4. Larger Equipment Size: CO? lasers require a larger discharge tube and cooling system, so the equipment size is relatively bigger.

# (III) Application Scenarios
CO? laser marking machines are widely used in food and beverage packaging, handicraft production, advertising signs, and architectural decoration to mark information such as production dates, shelf life, trademarks, and patterns.

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IV. Semiconductor Laser Marking Machine

# (I) Working Principle
The core of a semiconductor laser marking machine is a semiconductor laser. A semiconductor laser uses a semiconductor material (such as gallium arsenide or indium gallium arsenide) as the gain medium. When current is injected, electrons and holes in the semiconductor material recombine to generate a laser beam. The wavelength produced by a semiconductor laser is typically between 808 and 1064 nanometers, in the near-infrared range.

# (II) Features
1. Small Size and Light Weight: Semiconductor lasers have a compact structure and are small in size, making them suitable for miniaturized equipment.
2. High Efficiency: The electro-optical conversion efficiency of semiconductor lasers is high, often exceeding 50%.
3. Tunability: The wavelength of a semiconductor laser can be tuned by adjusting the composition and structure of the semiconductor material, making it suitable for marking various materials.
4. Shorter Lifespan: The service life of semiconductor lasers is relatively short, generally ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of hours.

# (III) Application Scenarios
Semiconductor laser marking machines are suitable for small electronic components, jewelry, and precision instruments to mark information such as model numbers, trademarks, and serial numbers.

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V. Solid-State Laser Marking Machine

# (I) Working Principle
The core of a solid-state laser marking machine is a solid-state laser. A solid-state laser uses a solid crystal (such as a yttrium-aluminum-garnet crystal doped with rare-earth elements) as the gain medium. Under the action of a pump source (usually a xenon lamp or a semiconductor laser), the rare-earth ions in the solid crystal are excited to a high-energy state and subsequently generate laser light through stimulated emission. The laser wavelength produced by a solid-state laser is typically 1064 nanometers, in the near-infrared range.

# (II) Features
1. High Beam Quality: Solid-state lasers produce a high-quality laser beam, which is suitable for high-precision marking.
2. High Power Output: Solid-state lasers can output higher power, making them suitable for large-area or deep engraving.
3. Complex Equipment: Solid-state lasers require a complex optical system and cooling system, resulting in a larger equipment size and higher maintenance costs.
4. Long Lifespan: The service life of solid-state lasers is long, generally tens of thousands of hours.

# (III) Application Scenarios
Solid-state laser marking machines are widely used in high-end manufacturing, aerospace, and military fields to mark information such as model numbers, serial numbers, and parameters on critical components.

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VI. UV Laser Marking Machine

# (I) Working Principle
The core of a UV laser marking machine is a UV laser. A UV laser typically converts an infrared laser into a UV laser through frequency doubling technology, resulting in a wavelength of 355 nanometers, which is in the ultraviolet range. The high photon energy of UV lasers can directly break the chemical bonds of materials, enabling "cold processing."

# (II) Features
1. Cold Processing: The high photon energy of a UV laser can directly break chemical bonds in materials, generating minimal heat during processing. This makes it suitable for heat-sensitive materials.
2. High Precision: UV laser marking machines can achieve extremely high marking precision, suitable for marking fine patterns and text.
3. Wide Range of Suitable Materials: UV lasers have good absorption properties for various materials (such as plastics, glass, and ceramics), making them suitable for marking on a wide range of materials.
4. High Equipment Cost: The manufacturing cost of UV lasers is higher, making the equipment relatively expensive.

# (III) Application Scenarios
UV laser marking machines are widely used in electronic components, medical devices, and food and beverage packaging to mark information such as model numbers, trademarks, and production dates.

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VII. Comparison of Laser Marking Machines by Laser Medium

When choosing a laser marking machine, it is crucial to understand the advantages, disadvantages, and applicable ranges of different types. Here is a detailed comparison of several common laser marking machines:

Fiber Laser Marking Machine
The core of a fiber laser marking machine is a doped fiber, with a laser wavelength of 1064 nm. This type of machine features high beam quality, high efficiency, and is maintenance-free, enabling high-precision marking. Its disadvantage is a relatively high price. It is suitable for metal materials and some non-metals like plastics and ceramics. Fiber laser marking machines are widely used in fields such as electronic components, mechanical parts, and medical devices to mark information like model numbers, specifications, production dates, and trademarks.

CO? Laser Marking Machine
The core of a CO? laser marking machine is CO? gas, with a laser wavelength of 10600 nm. This machine offers high power output and is particularly suitable for processing non-metal materials. The disadvantages of a CO? laser marking machine are its larger equipment size and more complex maintenance. It is suitable for non-metal materials like plastics, wood, leather, and glass. CO? laser marking machines are widely used in areas such as food and beverage packaging, handicraft production, and advertising signs to mark information like production dates, shelf life, trademarks, and patterns.

Semiconductor Laser Marking Machine
The core of a semiconductor laser marking machine is a semiconductor material, with a laser wavelength typically between 808 nm and 1064 nm. This machine is characterized by its small size, light weight, and high efficiency, making it suitable for miniaturized equipment. Its disadvantage is a relatively shorter lifespan. It is suitable for small electronic components and jewelry to mark information like model numbers, trademarks, and serial numbers.

Solid-State Laser Marking Machine
The core of a solid-state laser marking machine is a solid crystal, with a laser wavelength of 1064 nm. This machine offers high beam quality and high power output, making it suitable for both high-precision marking and large-area processing. The disadvantages of a solid-state laser marking machine are its complex equipment and higher maintenance costs. It is suitable for both metal and non-metal materials and is widely used in high-end manufacturing, aerospace, and military fields to mark information such as model numbers, serial numbers, and parameters on critical components.

UV Laser Marking Machine
The core of a UV laser marking machine is its frequency doubling technology, with a laser wavelength of 355 nm. This machine features cold processing and high precision, making it suitable for processing heat-sensitive materials. The disadvantage of a UV laser marking machine is its higher equipment cost. It is suitable for a wide range of materials, including plastics, glass, and ceramics, and is widely used in fields such as electronic components, medical devices, and food and beverage packaging to mark information like model numbers, trademarks, and production dates.

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As seen from the comparison above, different types of laser marking machines each have their own advantages and limitations. In practical applications, users need to select the appropriate type of laser marking machine based on their specific processing needs and budget to achieve the best marking results and economic benefits.

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Classification of Laser Marking Machines by Laser Medium