Five Keys to Improving Marking Precision

Five tips are offered for setting key parameters that will help operators to optimize the machine's power, frequency, and speed settings, and so to solve problems of blurry marks, uneven depth, and the like.

Why do the parameters affect the accuracy of tagging?

The key to the effectiveness of a laser marking machine is whether the parameters are set properly.Many people who have used laser printers have had this experience: The machine seems to be working fine, but the printed image is either blurry or inconsistent in color.In fact, the problem is mostly with parameter matching--if the power is too high it can burn up the material, and if the speed is too fast it can result in incomplete marking.Today we'll talk about how to adjust five key parameters to get more accurate results.

The ideal ratio of power to energy.

The power is adjusted according to the characteristics of the material.

The absorption rate of different materials to laser radiation can vary greatly.For example, metal requires higher power, but plastic and wood require lower power to prevent carbonization.It is suggested that testing begin at 70 % of the equipment's recommended value, and then be gradually fine-tuned according to actual results.

Pulse energy and continuous mode selection.

Fine patterns are best done in pulse mode, which reduces the heat-affected zone by controlling the energy in each pulse. Large-area filling is best done in continuous mode, which ensures efficiency and uniformity.

The key role of frequency allocation.

High frequencies are good for fine lines.

When the frequency is adjusted to more than 20 kilohertz, the laser points become even more concentrated, making the system particularly suitable for etching QR codes and other fine details.But be aware that too high a frequency may cause the surface of the material to overheat.

Low frequency waves are used to respond to special materials.

When processing reflective materials, such as aluminum, it is advisable to reduce the frequency to 5-10kHz in order to reduce reflection loss.

Balancing speed and accuracy.

Faster isn't always better.

When people raise the speed to the maximum to increase efficiency, they discover that the edges of the characters become jagged.It is suggested that complex graphics should be limited to 800-1200mm / s, while simple graphics can be raised to 1500mm / s.

Slow down at corners.

The auto-slowdown feature is especially important for carving printed circuit boards.

Focusing is no trivial matter.

Check the lenses regularly for cleanliness.

Even a tiny speck of dust on the lens can cause the laser beam to scatter.Wiping the lens with a special cleaning solution once a week can maintain more than 90 % of its efficiency.

Calibrating the autofocus system.

When using equipment with automatic focusing, it is recommended that the focus be checked with a calibration plate after every 20 hours of work, especially after processing materials of different thicknesses.

Combination testing in actual warfare.

Building a database of their own.

It is also important to record the best parameters for different materials in a notebook, so that the next time a particular material is processed, the parameters can be directly set, saving half the time spent on calibration.

The three-step process for testing samples.

Before beginning to cut the material, it is necessary to test the trimmings: First, the thickness of the line is tested, then the evenness of the fill, and finally the precision of the corners.These three steps can avoid more than 80 % of the risk of mass rejection.