The challenges of industrial laser marking on your parts

Marking a part means identifying it permanently without affecting its properties. Yet every part is a special case. To achieve a permanent marking that respects the surface, three factors must be considered together:

• The material: stainless steel, titanium and plastics do not react in the same way to the energy of the beam.
• The machine: the choice of laser source must match the intended application.
• The settings: ultimately, they determine whether or not the part is preserved.

Laser marking and thermal reaction: a contact-free solution

Laser marking relies on a thermal reaction. Unlike dot peen or scribing, no tool touches the part: the beam transforms the surface directly.

Properly set, the laser does not degrade the part. We see this in particular on two materials widely used in industry:

• On stainless steel: laser annealing preserves the protective passive layer.
• On titanium: the laser simply modifies the oxide layer, with no material removal.
• No contact: no mechanical stress is applied to the part during marking.

Settings: the key to laser marking that preserves your parts

That does not mean the risk is zero. On some sensitive plastics, uncontrolled heating can cause browning or an unwanted change in colour. With the right settings, however, the same plastic receives a clean, legible marking with no visible degradation.

So it is not the technology that damages the part, it is the settings. Adapted to the material, the laser marks without compromising the part’s integrity.

That is why we never decide on paper. Since every part is a special case, the best way to be sure is to test directly on yours. We carry out trials on your samples to determine the right marking solution and the settings that preserve your parts.

Optimise your industrial laser marking with SIC Marking

A question about your application? Any doubts about one of your parts, its material or its sensitivity to heat?

We support you from study to commissioning, starting with practical trials on your samples. That way, before making any investment, you know which solution to choose and which settings to apply.

It is not the technology that damages the part, it is the settings.

Article written with the expertise of Lionel Battaglini, Test Laboratory Engineer at SIC Marking.