Laser Marking, Etching and Engraving Service
Advanced Laser Marking, Etching and Engraving of Stainless Steel, Some Plastic, and Ceramic Parts
As government and industrial regulations for clearly legible, permanent marks and serial numbers on medical and aerospace parts increases, laser marking, laser etching and/or laser engraving or scribing, is rapidly growing in need. We use YAG and CO2 systems to professionally laser mark, etch and engrave metals, ceramics, plastics, Teflon, wood, medical tubes and surgically implantable parts for the biggest names in medical devices and aerospace subsystems. We also offer a wide variety of metal coatings and finishes for preservation of markings and serial numbers. We have many years of knowledge about how to achieve the most durable markings on medical and other critical components that will endure sanitation and withstand the test of time.
Our laser machining expertise includes:
- Marking field diameters of up 6 inches
- Table travel up to 18 inches
- Tiling capability
- Numerous selection of character fonts
- Several bar-code sets
- Variable character widths from 1% to 500%
- Variable character heights from .008 inches to 4.00 inches
- Variable character spacing
- Justification (left-center-right)
- Italics (-26 to +26)
- Mirror imaging
- Ring marking (inside and outside readable)
- Line marking in any direction at any angle
- .0008 inch programmable resolution
- Rotary engraving, marking, etching capability of tubes and cylinders
- Variable etch depths (with certification)
Advanced Laser Marking, Etching and Engraving to Meet Sanitization and Durability Requirements for the Medical Industry
The rigorous sanitation requirements for many reusable medical and other critical appliances and tools frequently require the tools to be placed in extremely harsh sanitization chemicals or under high heat circumstances and moisture environments. Most marking technologies, and even early laser marking approaches, had difficulty maintaining permanent marking that didn’t flake, erode, or develop oxides or produce corrosion byproducts. Our latest laser marking techniques are precise and controlled enough to produce permanent marks that don’t produce debris or fade away even after many sanitation cycles. Many single-use or implanted medical devices that require laser marking and appliances require marking that is highly durable, pigment free, and debris free.
Learn more in our Tech Brief: "Eight Benefits of Laser Machining to Designers of Medical Tools and Devices"
What’s the difference between laser marking, etching and engraving?
These laser machining terms are often used interchangeably but they each offer slightly different results.
Laser marking or laser printing on metals are terms typically used for marking various metals needing serial or model numbers. Our alpha-numeric laser marking and barcoding is done via computer-controlled optics with rotary capabilities. This means we can mark any variation of flat, curved or round surfaces (such as stainless steel tubes) with sequential serial numbers, alphanumeric (including OCRA-A) variations, and bar codes.
Laser etching comes in handy when we need to etch away a certain material, such as laminates, ceramics, and plastics to create labels or other identifiers.
Laser engraving is also included in this category, but is mostly reserved for when we’re talking about wood, metal plaques and plates, jewelry, firearms, automotive emblems and the like.
Advanced Laser Marking, Etching and Engraving to Meet the Durability Requirements for the Defense and Aerospace Industry
We're also the "go to" industry-leading AS9100 registered, materials processing partner for Aerospace Laser Machining and Aerospace laser marking. Learn more about our aerospace laser cutting and aerospace laser marking.
We're located just north of Boston, Massachusetts in Devens, MA, and proudly service the entire US with many laser cutting, laser welding, laser etching and marking, ablation, precision lapping and polishing, and secondary processing services. All of our materials are stocked in-house for optimal convenience.
