Metals
Metals represent the largest group of elements, comprising around 80% of all elements. All metals except mercury are solids at room temperature. They feature a few shared properties, such as electrical conductivity and the characteristic lustrous metallic appearance.
In order to cater for the wide range of uses for metals in industrial applications, ACI Laser offers the ideal solutions for high quality markings on metals. The laser systems suitable for this application emit radiation at a wavelength of 1064 nm. This wavelength is absorbed exceptionally well by metallic substances, which is the fundamental requirement for high-quality laser markings.
Plastics
Polymers, also known as plastics, imitate natural substances. However, this does not mean that they are inferior; instead, thanks to their special qualities, they are indispensable and even surpass natural substances in many areas. A plastic is a material manufactured artificially from macromolecules that are organic in origin.
ACI Laser offers plastics processing solutions that are well-suited to marking organic and carbon-based materials. The wide range of applications for various plastics is matched by the wide range of products offered by ACI Laser. From engraving to foaming or simple colour changes – put the finishing touches on your plastic semi-finished parts with the perfect laser!
Ceramics
Ceramics are oxidic and silicate materials with structures consisting of crystals or composites of crystalline and vitreous components. They are non-metallic, polycrystalline and inorganic.
The interaction between lasers and ceramics is generally complex. This complexity means that it is vital to use specifically shaped laser beams to process the material. ACI Laser GmbH has developed lasers for these applications that penetrate deep into the material with their sharp beam profile, achieving exceptional results.
Paints and varnishes
Paint and varnish are liquid or powder coating materials that are applied in thin layers onto objects and build up to form a continuous film by means of chemical or physical processes (e.g. evaporation of solvents). This generally results in a highly glossy surface finish. Paints and varnishes are used to protect objects or achieve a pleasing colour effect.
Great care must be taken when working with paints and varnishes. There are broadly two approaches to creating a marking on a paint or varnish surface: The first is to apply a marking onto the paint or varnish without damaging the surface. The other is precise removal of specific portions of the paint or varnish layer. ACI Laser offers the perfect solution for either application. We recommend laser systems that can achieve the desired result depending on the approach required thanks to their beam properties.
Glass
Glass is a non-crystalline, brittle, inorganic, primarily silicate/oxidic material, the properties of which are affected by the type and quantity of oxide used. The marking processes for glass separate the wheat from the chaff. The main challenge when marking glass is that these materials are generally transparent to the wavelengths typically used in industrial lasers. It is therefore necessary to not only use the correct wavelength, but also develop an appropriate method and process. ACI Laser has addressed this challenge and developed multiple solutions for marking glass.
Films and labels
Laser films are an alternative for materials that are difficult or impossible to mark directly. Ablation films developed specifically for laser marking consist of multiple layers: A base layer, a film with adhesive layer, a contrast colour layer and a top colour layer. The laser beam initially removes the top colour layer, revealing the contrast colour layer underneath. In a second step, the laser system can cut through the entire film. This enables any possible 2D image to be reproduced as a label. The completed label can be effortlessly separated from the base layer following processing.
Colour change films, unlike ablation films, have a transparent laminate layer. This prevents gases and dust leaking out during the marking process. The marking is created under the laminate layer and can feature just as much contrast as ablation films.
Laser films are used on a huge scale as information media suitable for industrial applications. They have become indispensable for the vehicle industry in particular. Due to the huge quantities used, it was necessary to develop a process enabling these films to be marked with high contrast in short cycle times. The wide range of products and services offered by ACI Laser GmbH meets every need in this area.
Wood
Wood is one of the earliest known materials. This organic structure is delicate and only a few industrial lasers are suitable for achieving high-quality markings or structuring using it.
ACI Laser offers a solution for marking wood with detailed and complex content using lasers. With this technology alone, you can quickly adjust the content of markings and implement information or design elements in accordance with your requirements.
Leather
Two things that leather and plastics have in common is that they are organic in nature and not all lasers can be used to mark them. In response to this situation, the wide product range offered by ACI Laser includes one or more solutions for applying high-quality markings to your leather materials.