The standard wavelength of a CO₂ laser marking machine is 10.6 μm. This wavelength possesses the following characteristics and is suitable for the following applications:
Wavelength Characteristics
High Absorption Rate in Non-Metallic Materials: The 10.6 μm wavelength is situated near the infrared absorption peaks of non-metallic materials-such as wood, leather, plastics, rubber, glass, and ceramics-thereby enabling highly efficient energy coupling.
Excellent Beam Quality: CO₂ lasers output a fundamental mode beam (TEM₀₀), characterized by a small spot diameter and low divergence angle, making it ideal for high-precision marking applications.
Non-Contact Processing: This method induces no mechanical stress, thereby preventing material deformation and ensuring long-lasting marking results.
Applications of Specialized Wavelengths
9.3 μm and 10.2 μm Wavelengths: Optimized for specific materials, such as:
9.3 μm: Suitable for high-contrast marking on PET plastics. It produces a minimal Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ) during cutting, making it ideal for the precision processing of materials such as electronic screen protectors and polarizer films.
10.2 μm: Significantly increases the cutting speed of Polypropylene (PP) films (by 2.5 to 4 times) while simultaneously enhancing marking contrast on glossy cardboard packaging.
Criteria for Wavelength Selection
Material Type: The 10.6 μm wavelength is the preferred choice for processing general non-metallic materials; however, for specialized materials (such as PET or PP), the processing efficiency and quality offered by the 9.3 μm or 10.2 μm wavelengths should be evaluated.
Processing Requirements:
Marking: The 10.6 μm wavelength is sufficient to produce clear markings on the majority of non-metallic materials.
Cutting/Perforating: The 9.3 μm or 10.2 μm wavelengths can significantly improve both the processing speed and edge quality when working with specific materials.
