A New Fixture for Laser Marking on Curved Surfaces

In response to the problem of the laser constantly going out of focus when marking on curved surfaces, a highly efficient clamping solution has been developed.The system uses an optimized fixture design and adaptive positioning technology to effectively solve the problems of laser focus drift and blurry markings, thus improving the precision and efficiency of curved surface marking. It can be used with a variety of materials including metal and plastic.

Why does the laser always go out of focus when I mark a curved surface?

Many of our friends who use laser marking machines to process curved surfaces often encounter the problem that the focus is just right, but then when they turn on the machine, the image goes out of focus.In particular, with uneven or irregular surfaces, the depth of the marks can vary greatly, or they can even become "abstract art.The key to the problem is the instability of the workpiece. Traditional fixtures either clamp too tightly, causing deformation, or too loosely, allowing the piece to slide. With the curvature of the surface changing, the laser focus naturally loses track.

These are the three core design elements of the clamping system.

Adaptive curved surface fitting structure.

Like fitting a curved surface with a custom-made bra, we use a flexible silicone pad with a multi-point air suction design.In practice, simply placing the workpiece on the fixture and lightly pressing it causes the fixture to automatically adapt to the workpiece's curvature. This not only distributes the clamping pressure and prevents deformation, it also keeps the workpiece's surface at a fixed distance from the laser's focal point.

Dynamic balance adjustment module.

Don't look down on this matchbox-sized device! The micro-sensor inside can monitor the vibrations of the workpiece in real time, and by making micro-adjustments in the opposite direction, can cancel out any deviations caused by the vibrations.During the last test, even if the workbench was intentionally shaken, the marking lines remained continuous, just like they were drawn with a ruler.

A rapid changeover system.

The most time-consuming part of the process is changing the clamps.We designed the base with a honeycomb pattern of positioning holes. We also use magnetic, modular components.A customer reported that it used to take them two hours to change their fixtures four times a day, but now it only takes them 20 minutes. The improvement in efficiency is clearly visible.

Suggestions on practical application.

First, a surface curvature scan is done.

Don't rush to get the part on the machine! First use a 3D scanner or probe to collect data on the surface of the workpiece. Then, after inputting the data into the fixture control system, the distribution density and pressure value of the suction points will be automatically optimized.Our senior craftsmen always say, "Sharpening the knife doesn't slow down the chopping of wood. The more detailed the data, the steadier the punching.The Chinese word for a Chinese-style restaurant is "chuan-fang," or "Chinese room.

Calibrate the pressure sensor regularly.

It is recommended that the machine be calibrated after every 500 units or once a week.The method is simple: In the empty state, press the green button on the side of the clamp and wait until the indicator light changes from red to green.Remember to avoid strong magnetic fields. Last time we had a factory calibrate next to a big motor and they ended up with a 0.3 mm error.

It is a flexible laser parameter.

Fixtures solve the physical alignment problem, but the software parameters must also be adjusted.By reducing the power of the laser by 10-15 % and increasing the number of scans by two or three times, even if there is a slight fluctuation, it will still be possible to guarantee the clarity of the marking.It's like writing with a brush: the steadier your hand, the lighter your touch.

After reading this article, the next time you encounter a situation where a laser marking system is unable to focus on a curved surface, you might want to give this solution a try.After all, if you want to do a good job, you have to use the right tool. Choosing the right fixture really does make a complex problem simple.