Laser Marking Application by Laser Type

These use a fiber laser (typically 1064 nm wavelength) and are the workhorse for marking metals. They are known for high electro-optical efficiency, excellent beam quality, and long service life (up to 100,000 hours) . They are ideal for marking stainless steel, aluminum, copper, titanium, and other alloys, as well as some plastics. Common applications include serial numbers, barcodes, QR codes, and Data Matrix codes for traceability in automotive, aerospace, and general manufacturing .

CO₂ lasers operate at a far-infrared wavelength of 10.6 μm and are best suited for non-metallic and organic materials . They are widely used for marking on glass, acrylic, wood, paper, cardboard, leather, and certain plastics. Typical applications are date codes and lot numbers on food and beverage packaging, as well as marking on electronic components and craft items . They are available in various power levels and can achieve very high line speeds on production lines .

UV lasers (typically 355 nm) use a "cold processing" mechanism. Their high-energy photons break chemical bonds in materials rather than relying on heat, which minimizes thermal damage to the surrounding area . This makes them ideal for heat-sensitive materials such as delicate plastics (e.g., HDPE, LDPE, PP), glass, and ceramics, as well as for high-precision marking on electronics like PCBs . They are commonly used in medical devices, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical packaging where substrate integrity is critical.