Laser marking of stainless steel and aluminum

The marking of components using laser technology is a permanent process that utilizes a beam to create a mark, or even engrave, on the surface of a component. Based on the potential for a high marking quality, this process is increasingly employed across various industries (semiconductors, electronics, medical, automotive, aerospace, etc.) for engraving serial numbers, logos, barcodes, QR codes, and more. Several laser processing parameters influence the marking quality as well as penetration. Depending on the component and material involved, these parameters must be adjusted to determine the optimal settings for each component/material. This study investigates the influence of laser beam parameters on marking quality to achieve the best set of laser marking conditions for different metals. A 30 W fiber laser was utilized, and the parametric study focused on power, frequency, marking speed, and the number of passes. The materials studied included aluminum alloy AW-6082-T6 and stainless steel 304 2B. The results demonstrate that the markings varied in color and quality, and it was possible to identify the optimal parameter sets for each material to ensure the best marking quality, even at high marking speeds. Overall, the marking strategy also influenced the marking quality, including the presence or absence of contours and the fill method used. This investigation also identified the degradation mechanisms associated with each material and how to mitigate undesirable effects, ensuring that the markings comply with industrial standards.