Laser Marking Plastics

Laser Marking Sysems for Laser Marking on Plastics

Plastic cards are important in many types of business. Badges for staff, name-tags for conference delegates, office signage, labeling of manufacturing and automotive parts, credit cards, user cards and staff identification passes – all these need to be marked on plastic using a durable, water-resistant form of marking. Non-contact laser marking is the solution to enable you to produce professional cards in a short time, using a state-of-the-art laser marking system.

Plastic Uses

Used for unique identification, traceability and accountability of assets in environments such as the Department of Defense, laser marking systems are capable of producing bar codes, data matrix codes and text that can be read by humans. The lasers perform abrasion-resistant, permanent laser marking on plastic items including the keyboards of mobile phones, vehicle dashboards and illumination components for the automotive and aerospace markets.

Software Driven Laser Marking Systems

Plastic laser marking uses no acids, ink or solvents, and is a high precision process that makes it possible for you to produce clear, exact markings. The laser marking system is integrated with software, which guides the outline and controls the direction, speed and spread of the beam. You can also personalize the plastic cards with the laser marking programwhich includes a selection of more than 100 fonts and images.

How Laser Marking on Plastic Works

In the engraving process, the laser removes a layer of the material’s surface, effectively cutting the mark into the plastic. This can result in a laser mark in a contrasting color, particularly if the material used contains more than one layer of plastic. Another form of laser marking is to change contrast on the plastic by heating the base material to the point that it melts, then bubbles or foams. The bubbles trap cool air and harden, leaving a raised surface that contrasts with the background material.

Cost Benefit of Laser Marking

Non-contact laser marking costs significantly less than printing, partly because there is no need for ink and other consumables and partly because of the exceptional lifespan of the machinery. Traditionally, credit and identification cards were produced using the appropriate type of plastic, with a photo printed in color or a name and account number “punched in” so it is embossed on the surface of the card. Now it’s possible to do all this using standard sheets of hard plastic and the right laser marking system for your application.

To learn more about laser marking, contact LaserStar Technologies today!