The decorative thermoplastics with laser markings took longer than expected 10 years ago to gain recognition. Despite this, laser technology has replaced ink printing techniques (such as imprinting and inkjet printing) in some applications, and the situation has changed. The so-called "non-aesthetic" applications currently account for 90% of the plastic laser markings. Some of the markings are made using a CO2 laser machine, including the part number, date of manufacture, and expiration date.
Usually these markings are black letters and numbers on a transparent or light background, or pure white markings on a black background. “Aesthetics” laser marking accounts for 10% of the market and has great potential for replacing ink technology. This is a typical white marking on black engineering plastics. It is printed on a solid-state Nd:YAG laser. This type of laser is very easy to program and is suitable for clear marking of articles in any shape.
Applications that have been successfully commercialized for laser marking include ABS keyboards for commercial machines, HDPE, ie, PET and PVC rigid containers and closures, nylon and PBT automotive and non-automotive electrical connectors, hood components such as fuse boxes and gas caps. . There are other applications including TPE ear tags for cattle and pigs, electrical devices such as HDPE switch buttons on cleaning and drying equipment, PVC fittings such as fittings and fittings.
The initial applications include light switch covers, cosmetic packaging materials, automotive interior buttons and door handles, and instrument panels. In recent years, the latter has become an important application market. In the last decade, technological advances in computer-programmed
Laser Marking Equipment have been accompanied by the development of a wider variety of laser-markable resins. Specially-made colorants and packaging additives can be used in a wide variety of plastics. Such as polyolefins, ABS, PVC, polyester, polycarbonate, nylon, polyoxymethylene and thermoplastic elastomers.
Today's laser marking plastics have a high contrast ratio. Sometimes it is not so much black and white as a contrasting color. Even dark contrast is possible. According to Patrick Schlather, marketing manager of Rofin-Baasel, a major supplier of plastic laser equipment, these color variations are one of the trends that are giving rise to greater interest in laser decorative plastics.
Laser marking applications include light switch covers, cosmetic packaging materials, automotive interior buttons and door handles, and instrument panels. In recent years, the latter has become an important application market, but also meets the development needs of printing large amounts of data on even smaller plastic parts. For example, two-dimensional barcodes with a data density of 10 times that of conventional barcodes have been studied. Compared with previously used barcodes, printing two-dimensional barcodes requires more precision and higher resolution. According to Schlather, laser marking satisfies these requirements. In the 0.001-inch range, dot size and position can be repeated - these properties are difficult to achieve for imprint or ink printers.
Environmental issues are another driving force for the development of laser marking. Laser marking does not use inks or solvents, nor does it require high-intensity energy drying processes such as ink marking. Schlather said that for a three-shift printing production, inks and chemicals cost between 20,000 and 40,000 U.S. dollars, while printing plates costs 100,000 U.S. dollars per year or more. In contrast, a three-shift
Laser Marking Machine costs less than $3,000 a year for electricity, and other costs such as lamps and filters cost less than $3,500.
