How to Judge Whether Fiber Laser Marking Machines Are Suitable for Your Production Line

When determining whether a fiber laser marking machine is suitable for a production line, the key points to consider are the type of materials, production efficiency and cost.The advantages of equipment in metal processing are obvious, but it is necessary to test the stability of batch processing.We recommend that you combine an analysis of daily production with a calculation of the speed needed, and also calculate the lifetime costs of the equipment.Before purchasing, make sure to test the samples and perform continuous running tests.

Is your material suitable for fiber laser marking?

Fiber-laser marking machines are extremely effective at working with metals, such as stainless steel and aluminum, but they may not be as reliable as other kinds of laser equipment when it comes to plastics, ceramics or glass.If the production line requires frequent switching of different materials, we suggest first testing the effect of a sample.In most cases, these types of machines are more suited to factories specializing in metal processing.

Can production keep up with demand?

If a production line needs to treat more than 1000 products a day, the efficiency advantage of the fiber laser marking machine becomes even more pronounced.The laser marking process usually takes between 0.5 and 3 seconds, which is five times faster than traditional mechanical marking.However, you have to be careful, because if the product is large or the design complex, it will affect the rhythm of the whole.

A batch of processed products is subjected to stability tests.

He suggests that buyers require suppliers to provide a prototype that has been tested for eight hours or more, so as to observe whether there are any problems with light decay or misalignment after prolonged use.Some of the lower-priced models perform well at first, but after continuous operation they are apt to "drop the ball.

How do you calculate the budget and long-term costs?

The initial investment for fiber-optic equipment is higher than for pneumatic marking machines, but the energy consumption and maintenance costs are lower.If it runs for 10 hours a day, the electricity costs will be less than one-third of those of a conventional system.But you should pay special attention to the replacement cycle for the lenses and laser. High-quality models will not need their core parts replaced for two to three years, while lower-end models may need to be serviced in as little as half a year.

Watch out for hidden costs.

Don't just look at the price of the equipment, but also inquire about the specifics of the after-sales service.Some manufacturers will bury the costs of adjustments and software upgrades in the fine print of the contract, so these hidden expenses might account for 15 % or more of the total cost.