Parameters for Marking Five Common Metals

The table includes key settings such as power, speed, and frequency, helping operators to quickly match parameters and improve the efficiency and clarity of the marking process. It is suitable for use in industrial processing and marking of parts.

Why should we be concerned about the parameters of metal marking?

Many people, when they first start using metal engraving, think that "if you just turn the power up high enough, you can engrave clearly." But the result is usually either that the metal gets burned or the engraving is too shallow.In fact, the properties of different materials are very different. For example, copper conducts heat quickly, while stainless steel is very hard. If the parameters are not set correctly, the results could be poor, or the equipment itself could be damaged.Today we'll just jump right into the meat of the matter. We've put together a table of five common metals and their "golden parameters," which should be useful to beginners.

The five metals and their difficulties.

It's stainless steel.

The surface is easily reflective, and if the power is too low, the laser will "slip" when it tries to cut; if the power is too high, the material will burn.A gas such as compressed air can be used to improve the contrast.

Aluminum alloy.

The material is soft and heat conducts quickly, so high frequency and low power are needed to avoid melting the edge.Anodized materials should be run at a lower frequency to avoid peeling off the coating.

Purple copper / yellow copper.

The laser must be used at a high power level and with a low scanning speed to keep the heat from spreading.

Titanium alloys.

After marking, a colorful oxidized layer is formed. To keep color stable, strict control of temperature is necessary, and it is suggested that nitrogen be used.

Carbon steel.

The most effective material, but the higher the carbon content, the more likely it is to produce metal spatter, so remember to clean the lens regularly.

Parameter comparison chart (example 20W fiber laser machine).

Material Type Power (%) Speed (mm / s) Frequency (kHz) Pitch (mm)

The table below shows the results.

Stainless Steel 65-75 800-1000 30-50 0.03

Aluminum alloy 40-50 1200-1500 20-30 0.05

Copper 80-90 300-500 100-120 0.02

Titanium alloy 70-80 600-800 50-70 0.04

| Carbon steel | 55-65 | 1000-1200 | 40-60 | 0.03 |

Three tips for adjusting the settings.

1. **First make a small test piece.** Cut a 5 × 5 mm square from the edge of the material. Observe the burning state and then proceed with the main piece.

2. Ambient temperature has a large effect: When the humidity is high, the manufacturer of the stainless steel suggests that the power be reduced by 5 %.

3. **Old equipment must be compensated for**: For lasers that have been in use for over 2000 hours, the power output must be increased by 8-10 %.

Frequently Asked Questions.

What do you do if the parameters aren't right?

First check whether the focusing lens is dirty, then check whether the light path is off.If the marking is blurred, 80 % of the time the problem is here.

How do you deal with surfaces that are too reflective?

For emergency repairs, you can use a matte-finish tape, but for long-term solutions I recommend using green or ultraviolet lasers.

Why do different batches of material react differently to the same parameters?

The purity of the metal, and the surface treatment (such as the thickness of the coating) can affect the result, so remember to ask for a material report when buying.