The right wavelength for any material: Marking lasers from the TruMark Series

Ditzingen, October 13, 2009 – At the FAKUMA trade show in Friedrichshafen TRUMPF will demonstrate the many diverse applications of its marking lasers. Among the machines to be shown are the marking lasers from the TruMark Series 3000, 5000 and 6000 for marking plastics and further materials. Visitors to the TRUMPF booth will also be able to see the advantages of the TruMark Station 1000 and 5000 workstations marking connector strips.

High application potential for marking lasers with plastics
It is no longer possible to imagine the industry without the laser as a marking tool. Laser marking is a high quality, productive and very flexible method of writing information on plastic parts and other materials. With the increasing prevalence of double and triple frequency systems as well as the variety of possible material and processing combinations, laser marking is constantly tapping into new plastics processing industries.

UV marking lasers expand areas of application
Marking lasers normally emit light in an infrared wavelength range of 1064 nanometers. TRUMPF has also made available lasers in the TruMark Series 6000 with green (532 nm) and ultraviolet light (355 nm), specifically for users processing plastics and semiconductor materials. The UV wavelength in particular expands the application potential in plastics marking. This shortwave UV light reacts directly with polymers without heating up the material and consequently damaging it. With critical materials especially, these lasers achieve a much greater, high-contrast marking quality and higher processing speed. While at 1064 nanometers, thermal reactions (carbonization) dominate the laser marking process, the marked part reacts mainly photochemically at 335 nanometers (triple frequency). This means that the chemical bonds are broken up through high photon energy. Therefore, markings produced at 355 nm are often also referred to as “cold marking.” This is particularly suited for marking flame-resistant plastics used in the electronics industry as housing materials, for example.

Fiber marking laser TruMark 5020 with high processing speed
The new TRUMPF fiber marking laser TruMark 5020 is ideal for applications, which require reliable pulses with excellent pulse-to-pulse stability at extraordinarily high frequencies. The highly dynamic scanner module is able to convert pulse frequencies of up to 1 megahertz into a correspondingly high processing speed. In turn, thanks to MOFPA technology (Master Oscillator Fiber Power Amplifier), the pulse duration of the TruMark 5020 can be adjusted such that laser processing is perfectly adapted to the application. A focal point adjustment ensures that the laser’s focus point adjusts to the different component heights. The TruMark 5020 shows special strength in marking metal by, delivering high quality customized marking or engraving in short processing times.

TruMark 3010 is the ideal starter model
The TruMark 3010 marking laser is the ideal starter model for all users who have small batch or individual marking needs. It offers TRUMPF marking technology at a low investment cost. The TruMark 3010 diode-pumped solid state laser stands out because of its user friendliness. Like all lasers from the TruMark Series 3000 and 5000, the convection air-cooled TruMark 3010 stands out due to its modular and compact design. Scanner, laser head and power supply unit are connected to a hybrid cable by a plug-in connector so that the marking laser can be easily integrated into existing production systems. For customers who want to conserve space or who need a mobile marking system, the TruMark 3010 can be combined with the TruMark Station 1000 workstation.

Marking software for diverse applications
With the TruMark marking software, TruTops Mark, it is easy to take advantage of the many options offered. The fact that the laser is simple to program also permits versatile marking options, including texts, serial numbers, data matrix and bar codes, logos and drawings. The software module “Quickflow” and “Marking on the Fly” further expand the use of TRUMPF laser markers into specialized application areas. “Quickflow” facilitates simple icon-based programming of complex marking tasks and added peripherals. In the case of non-synchronized, continuous production processes, products must be marked while they are moving. With “Marking on the Fly,” the deflection mirror’s movement causes the position change of the workpiece to be marked to be superimposed, thus allowing inscribing without distortions. The speed of the transport device is continually recorded to achieve an even and smooth inscription even with stops and starts.

Thanks to the new laser parameter assistant Navigator, a world first, even users without special laser expertise can mark metals or plastics with high quality results. The module Navigator is an optional component of the TruTops Mark marking software and is available for all TRUMPF TruMark lasers. Using the intuitive menu navigation, the user selects materials and the desired marking process. Navigator determines several potentially suitable laser settings with which a test matrix can be generated on the workpiece using different marking fields. From the fields, the user can select the one with the best result and – with a mouse
click – import the chosen parameter set into the marking program. The laser is now set for that workpiece, and marking can begin. With Navigator, the user can quickly and easily achieve high quality marking results without in-depth laser technology expertise.

Laser marking is economical and extremely flexible
Just as the laser as a marking tool has many diverse functions for the user, the road to using it in integrated application solutions is highly individual. The best way to find the most suitable laser and the optimal process parameters is through a close working relationship between the user and the laser manufacturer. In TRUMPF’s application labs, engineers take into account the entire product range for the user when optimizing the respective application, so that laser marking can be best integrated as a production step into existing production flows.

About TRUMPF
With sales totaling US $ 2.45 billion (€ 1.66 billion) and about 8,000 employees (preliminary figures for the 2008/09 fiscal year), the TRUMPF Group ranks among the leading manufacturing companies worldwide. The three following business divisions are combined under the umbrella of a holding company: Machine Tools/Power Tools, Laser Technology/Electronics and Medical Technology. Its core business are machine tools for flexible sheet metal processing for punching and forming, laser processing and bending. In the field of industrial lasers and laser systems, the company is the technological leader on the world market. With about 50 subsidiaries and branch offices, the Group is represented in almost every European country, in North and South America as well as in Asia. Production locations can be found in Germany, Austria, China, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Switzerland and the USA.

TRUMPF Group
Laser Technology Division
Press and Public Relations

TRUMPF GmbH + Co. KG
P.O. Box 14 50
71252 Ditzingen
Germany

Holger Kapp
Phone +49 (0)7156 303-31559
Holger.Kapp@de.trumpf.com
www.trumpf.com

This release was published on openPR.