Engraving Production Improvements | KEYENCE Laser Marking

Engraver/Laser Marking Characteristics

	Advantages	Disadvantages
Engraver characteristics	- Low initial cost - Able to mark deeply engraved characters that do not fade	- Long marking tact time - Difficult to change the marking details - Difficult to mark rough surfaces and curved surfaces - Difficult to mark small characters - Applies a load to the product
Laser Marking Characteristics	- Capable of high-speed marking - Easy to change the marking details, which supports multiple models - Able to cleanly mark characters on rough surfaces and curved surfaces - Able to mark characters 1 mm in size or smaller - Can mark the product without applying a load to it	- High initial cost - Difficult to perform deep-engraving (excluding the MD-F3000)

Comparison of Engraving and Laser Marking

Comparison details	Laser marker	Engraver
Lack of hassle when changing the mark	Very good	Poor
Marking on rough surfaces and curved surfaces	Very good	Poor
No impact applied to product	Very good	Very poor
Marking small characters	Very good	Acceptable
Support for high-speed lines	Good	Acceptable

Example of Improvement from Engravers

Engravers are most commonly used to mark metals. However, when people switch to a laser marker, engravers are also the most common device that is left behind. Engravers can be used for products manufactured in small quantities and when there is no need to worry about damaging the product. Recently, there has been a trend for products to require high accuracy and short deadlines, and the advantages of laser marking fit these requirements well. Laser marking contributes to the support for the production of small lots of a wide variety of products as well as to major improvements to operation efficiency.

1. Example of Improvement from Engravers

Laser Marker Application Examples

Faucet fixture

Key Points to the Improvement

1Quality: Clear marking can be performed on products requiring high accuracy. There is no reason to worry about damaging the products.
Small characters can be marked as well, which enables accurate traceability.

2Cost: There is no need to create a different plate for each model. Foreign languages and logo marks can be marked straight from their data.

3Work efficiency: It is possible to obtain major reductions in required work such as tooling change work, changes to the marking details, and engraving time.

4Environment: There is no need to worry about developing tendinitis from repetitive operations. This leads to major improvements to the work environment.

Improvement from Die Grinders

Die grinders are used as a method for performing simple marking on metal and precision components. The most common concern with this method is that the marking quality varies greatly from operator to operator. The marking quality varies on flat surfaces, but even skilled operators have difficulty marking curved surfaces and small products.
Laser markers enable anyone to easily perform accurate marking, so they lead to major improvements to work efficiency.

2. Improvement from Die Grinders

Laser Marker Application Examples

Implants

Key Points to the Improvement

1Quality: Accurate management can be performed with no variations between operators. Clear marking is possible even on curved surfaces and small products, which contributes to product image improvements.

2Work efficiency: Tens of characters are marked in an instant, which greatly reduces the amount of work that is required.

3Environment: Cutting waste is eliminated, which improves the surrounding environment.

Improvement from Pin Markers

Pin markers, which perform marking by oscillating at high speed, are also used in automated lines. The pin tip strikes the product forcefully, so problems such as pin tip wear, drive component deterioration, and noise occur. Laser markers require no maintenance, do not use consumable parts, and generate no noise, so they can lead to major improvements to the work environment. They also greatly contribute to stable reading of 2D codes.

3. Improvement from Pin Markers

Laser Marker Application Examples

2D code marking

Key Points to the Improvement

1Quality: The marking quality does not vary due to deterioration of the pin tip. Also, it is possible to perform stable reading of 2D codes due to the marking that uses a clear contrast between white and black, not shading.

2Cost: The costs of constructing soundproof walls as a countermeasure against noise, periodically purchasing consumable parts, and performing maintenance can be greatly reduced.

3Work efficiency: The marking tact time and the work required to perform periodic maintenance can be greatly reduced.

4Environment: No noise is generated, which greatly contributes to work environment improvements.

Improvement from Galvanic Corrosion and Etching

In galvanic corrosion (etching), an electrolyte is applied to the metal and a current is made to flow through the metal, which blackens it. This method is appropriate when it is desirable to provide the product with marking that will not fade in a manner that does not damage the product. However, this method leaves much to be desired in terms of improvements to the management of the chemicals, the work required to create the plate, and the time required to perform operations. With a laser marker, it is possible to mark black characters on a product without damaging it and without using chemicals or a plate. This greatly contributes to improvements to the amount of work required and to the work environment.

4. Improvement from Galvanic Corrosion and Etching

Laser Marker Application Examples

Precision metal component

Key Points to the Improvement

1Quality: Clear marking that does not damage the product is possible on flat surfaces and curved surfaces.

2Cost: Increasing the operating time of the laser marker leads to major reductions in labor costs.

3Work efficiency: It is possible to greatly reduce the process of plate creation, chemical application, masking, etching, and then cleaning (neutralizing). Short deadlines can be met even when manufacturing a large number of products.