SYNRAD, INC. - http://www.synrad.com |
Applications at a glance |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
SYNRAD's sealed CO2 lasers are used in a variety of industrial processes including cutting, welding, drilling, and marking. This news brief showcases some of the interesting materials and products that are processed daily by Synrad's line of CO2 lasers and marking heads. |
|
The serialized data in both black anodized rectangles was marked using 40 watts of power at a velocity of 2.5 inches per second in an overall cycle time of 23.8 seconds per label. |
|||
To eliminate the possibility of data entry or data transmission errors when multiple mark objects require the same information, WinMark Pro provides two Auto Text Type automation properties - From Another Object, and Assign From - that allow users to link, or assign, the text caption from one object (entered via a keyboard, serial port, or text file) to another object or objects in the mark file. These properties ensure that sets of data remain synchronized throughout the mark session. To mark the label plates, we chose an FH Series marking head and a 125 mm focusing lens. This lens provides the smallest possible spot size (180 microns or 0.007") over a mark field large enough to place all three objects on the label. All objects were marked using 40 watts of power at a Velocity of 63.5 millimeters per second (2.5 inches/second) in a cycle time of 23.8 seconds per label. After marking was complete, the bar code was read and verified using a Microscan MS-Q Quadrus Handheld Imager. |
||||
Cutting Automotive HeadlinersCO2 lasers continue to excel in automotive applications as manufacturers strive to improve vehicle quality and cost savings during manufacturing. Integrating a laser with an industrial robot or flatbed cutting table provides a consistent method to accurately cut part after part, and the laser's non-contact cutting method means there is no need to schedule down time for mechanical cutter adjustment or replacement. The purpose of this application test was to demonstrate the cut speed and quality achieved while using a Firestar f-Series laser to cut automotive headliners. This particular semi-rigid headliner material is comprised of several layers of synthetic fibers, with a total thickness of 1.3 mm (0.050") bonded to a 1.4 mm (0.056") thick paperboard base for an overall thickness of 2.7 mm (0.106"). |
This 0.106" thick composite headliner material was cut using 400W of power at 14 meters per minute (550 in/min).
|
||
The cutting head on our flatbed XY table contains a 63.5 mm (2.5") positive meniscus lens that provides a 100-micron (0.004") spot with a 1.8 mm (0.07") depth of focus. During the cutting process, we delivered 4.1 bar (60 PSI) of clean, dry air coaxially with the beam for gas assist. Our Firestar lasers achieved cut rates of 14 meters per minute (550 in/min) using 400 watts and speeds of 7 meters/minute (275 in/min) using 200 watts of power. In both cases, the synthetic fiber was cleanly cut while the paperboard base exhibits slight charring of the cut edge. |
|||
|
|
||
In order to complete the manufacturing process, each encoder disc is cut or trimmed from a larger printed sheet. Fortunately, polyester film reacts as well to CO2 laser energy as it does to ink. For this application, we were asked to trim 15-mil (0.38 mm) thick polyester discs using 60 watts of power. Based on the sheet size and overall ease of integration, we chose to use a Firestar t-Series laser for power and an FH Series marking head for beam delivery. Equipped with a 125-mm High-Power focusing optic, the FH head can place a 180-micron (0.007") diameter beam anywhere within a maximum mark field of 80 mm x 99 mm (3.2" x 3.9") with a position accuracy of 0.02 mm (0.0007"). |
|||
|
|
|
|
SYNRAD and Synrad product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of SYNRAD, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |