Investigation of Laser Parameters Influence of Direct-Part Marking Data Matrix Symbols on Aluminum Alloy

Abstract:

Different laser parameters and the interactional production can affect the barcode grade profoundly. In order to mark barcodes on aluminum alloy with a laser effectively, it is important to search out the optimum parameters and establish a relationship between critical laser parameters and the quality of the symbol. In this research, a Nd:YAG laser was utilized to produce 3136 Data Matrix symbols onto aluminum substrates. The experiment focuses on all interval values of the vector step, inter-step time, laser Q frequency and laser Q release time. From the experiment results, the optimized parameters are the vector step of 0.005~0.009 mm, the inter-step time of 29~43 μs, laser Q frequency of 7~10 KHz, and laser Q release time of 13~19 μs. And then, by analyzing the higher and the lower power density processing module SEM images and EDS data, it was found that the microstructure and micro-components of formations that created by the interaction between the laser and the aluminum alloy can affect the barcodes grade level significantly.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 314-316)
• Pages: 41-47
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.314-316.41
• Online since: August 2011
• Authors: Hua Dong Qiu, Wen Shuang Bao, Chang Hou Lu, Xue Yong Li
• Keywords: Al Alloy, Data Matrix, Direct-Part Mark, Laser Processing, Optimum Laser Parameters

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DOI: 10.3403/30401701u

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