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Article: Marking plastics with laser light.(tutorial by Dr. Volker Pfeufer)(Tutorial)
- Article from:
- British Plastics & Rubber
- Article date:
- April 1, 2001
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Euro Publishing Consultancy. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Laser marking of plastics started in the 1970s and has developed into a well-established technology. It has the advantages of being contact-free, clean and dry, flexible and economical in use. Laser marks are permanent, heat, chemical and light-resistant, abrasion-proof and secure. Here Dr Volker Pfeufer of German laser systems manufacturer Alltec describes the basic structure of laser marking, and how its potential is being exploited.
LASER marking today is dominated by [CO.sub.2] and Nd:YAG lasers because of their unsurpassed combination of output power, reliability and cost- effectiveness. The wavelength of [CO.sub.2] and Nd:YAG laser light is in the infra red ...