Type of Laser Marking/ Lasers (YAG Laser and CO2 Laser)
Types of Laser Marking
= Removing printed surface =
= Removing a surface layer =
= Changing color =
Remove the coating or print on the target surface to bring out the contrast between the base material and surrounding area.
Cut a groove in the surface layer of the target.
Change the color of the target material to bring out contrast.
Laser Types(YAG and CO2 Laser)
Industrial laser markers are divided into two types: YAG laser markers and CO2 laser markers. The difference is the wavelength of the laser beam. Wavelength of YAG laser: 1.064 µm Wavelength of CO2 laser: 10.6 µm
The wavelength of a YAG laser is one-tenth that of a CO2 laser. This allows less reflection of the laser beam on a metal surface, reducing loss of energy. A CO2 laser has a wavelength 10 times longer than a YAG laser. It is suitable for marking on glass or other transparent objects because the laser beam is easily absorbed into the target. Note that the difference in wavelength is only one of several guidelines. In a real situation, the resulting mark will also vary depending on the power output of the laser device.