Five Practical Tips for Laser Marking Stainless Steel

The article covers five practical tips for setting parameters for laser marking on stainless steel, including power, speed, and frequency, and helps solve problems with blurry marking and low efficiency.Through the analysis of actual cases, we will teach you how to optimize parameters for different materials, thus improving marking results and equipment life.

Why is parameter setting so important in laser marking stainless steel?

Laser marking can be used on stainless steel, but if the parameters are not set correctly, the mark will either be so faint it is hard to see or will burn a hole in the metal.A lot of people new to the field complain, "There's nothing wrong with the machine, but the results are just no good." In fact, the problem is usually in the combination of parameters.Here are five tips that will help you avoid 80 % of the pitfalls.

First, he has to get a handle on the material.

Don't be in a hurry to start working, first check the material identification tag.

The difference in absorption rate between 304 and 316 stainless steel can be as high as 15 %. Materials like 201, which has a high manganese content, can easily turn black if the laser power is set too high.It is suggested that you first check the materials handbook, or use a small sample to make a gradient test.

The surface condition is very important.

The parameters for marking on mirror-finish stainless steel are completely different from those for marking on brushed stainless steel.For mirror-like materials, the power must be raised by 10-20 %, while for sandblasted surfaces, the frequency must be lowered to avoid excessive erosion.

The golden ratio of power and speed.

If the power is too high, it will burn through the material; if the speed is too fast, it won't cut deeply enough.A simple rule of thumb is that for thin materials (less than 1 mm) use medium to low power (30-50 %) with a high speed (800 mm / s or higher). For thicker materials or deeper engravings, set the power to 70 % and reduce the speed to 400 mm / s.

Hidden techniques of frequency and spacing.

The higher the frequency, the better.

When marking black, use the low frequency of 20kHz, and when marking white use the high frequency of 80kHz.In cases of oxidation, try the 50 kHz medium frequency band, which produces a more natural color transition.

The size of the gap determines the fineness of the detail.

A space of 0.05 mm is sufficient for ordinary text, but for complex logos we recommend a space of 0.02 mm.But be careful: For every 0.01-millimeter reduction in the space between the holes, the processing time increases by 15 %. Don't blindly chase perfection.

The three-part test.

1. Print a 5 mm x 5 mm block to see if the color is even.

2) After adjusting the parameters, clean the lens and retest.

(3) Check thermal drift after 20 minutes of continuous marking.

Details of maintenance that are easily overlooked.

It is recommended that the laser head be shut off and allowed to cool for 15 minutes every eight hours of operation, and that the focusing lens be wiped with a dust-free cloth soaked in alcohol once a week.Many times, abnormal parameter readings are caused by dirty lenses or poor heat dissipation. Don't rush to adjust the parameters; first do some basic maintenance work.