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Laser marking systems: Questions to Jens Heidel

cab Laser

Hens Heidel

Jens Heidel
Sales Director North
Laser Marking Systems

What are the benefits of laser marking compared to ink or thermal printing?

Anyone who chooses direct marking with a laser decides for the carefree package. The markings are durable, smear-proof and no additional materials are applied to the product. Thanks to the high beam quality, even component shapes such as radii and uneven surfaces can be marked with a resolution up to 1,000 dpi. The results are markings that are highly resistant to environmental influences and dissolvers as well as abrasion. Since laser marking is a non-contact method, clamping the components is not necessary. The purchase investment is comparatively high but pays off as no consumables such as ribbons or labels are needed.

Is it possible to laser-mark any material?

In principle, yes. Customer applications are usually with metals or plastics and laser markable foils.

Why are cab marking lasers highly regarded in industrial automation?

On the one hand, this is because of the rugged design and the high laser beam quality. However, the crucial point is that our fiber lasers have been in all respects developed for easy integration. Their performance level d and all required safety and communication interfaces make them a perfect integration component when it comes to solving industrial tasks with marking.

What about the beam source?

In any case, this is an important factor. All our marking lasers are pulsed fiber lasers. This means that integral components guarantee high beam quality, high availability and a long service life of the device. We offer fiber lasers with 10 watt, 20 watt and 30 watt CW output power.

Is the flexibility of FL+ systems a key argument?

Absolutely! Marking lasers FL+ are universally applicable. Imagine large numbers of parts to be marked in fully automatic production lines, the LM+ for laser label marking or THS+ for marking metal or plastic typeplates – we offer solutions for almost every application. Enclosed by the safety housing LSG+ 100E, the FL+ acts as a manual workplace at which individual parts or smaller series of components can be marked. Its workspace is large enough to accommodate parts up to 49 centimeters in height. Functions such as the electrical driven operation door, additional axes and the ergonomic assembly of a monitor and a PC keyboard on a pivot arm make the LSG+ operation comfortable. All FL+ systems are controlled by the mature marking software cabLase.

Why is XENO1 not mentioned in this summary?

XENO1 is cab‘s only laser marking system that is based on a fiber laser other than FL+. Before developing XENO1 we internally talked about what users might need that we cannot already provide. A popular point had been a marking system “out of the box”, to be used as a desktop device with intuitive operation. It should as well provide the features and functionality of a premium system. All this resulted in XENO1, with which we complete the range of cab laser marking systems in the lower price segment. 

What are three major factors deciding upon the choice of the laser system?

Three factors are not that many – but I will try. First in line is the component that has to be marked, its material and surface construction. Then it comes to the “where?“ and “how?“ of the marking. Is there a single workplace or a full production line? In case of the latter, it is decisive whether the object is in motion or not in motion during the laser marking. I would value business and customer specific requirements as the third and final point in this series. Each industrial sector has its own demands associated with marking. From my personal experience I can tell you that product traceability plays an increasingly important role. Codes and markings on automotive components or medical instruments have to meet all requirements for quality assurance, counterfeit prevention and process safety. The same applies to alphanumeric characters on electronic components, clamps or electrical switches. It is our job to clearly evaluate customer demands and the different general conditions, apply them to the specifications of our devices and accessories and provide a solution.


August 2017

cab Produkttechnik GmbH & Co KG

Wilhelm-Schickard-Str. 14
76131 Karlsruhe
Germany

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