Marking and Kiss-Cutting Labels

Laser-markable labels provide an elegant solution for many labeling challenges including equipment faceplates, bar-coded inventory tags, custom signage, and piping labels to list a few.

For this application, the setup consisted of a 25W laser, FH Series marking head, and WinMark Pro laser marking software. A 200 mm focusing lens - chosen to accommodate the 4.5" × 2" final label size - provided a 290-micron (0.011") spot size with a 5 mm (0.2") depth of focus.

WinMark Pro's Simple stroke font was selected for text objects that vary in height from 0.1 to 0.2 inches high. The company logo was created using a TrueType® font. Indicator lines were drawn and rotated in WinMark Pro, which now allows line rotation in increments of 0.01 degrees. All label text and indicator lines were marked with 6 watts of power at a velocity of 15 inches per second (IPS). Kiss cuts for label outline, switch, and LED cutouts were done using 22 watts at 15 IPS. Overall cycle time to mark and cut is 6.47 seconds per label.

The faceplate shown here was created entirely
in WinMark Pro. Some label elements such as
switch and LED indicator cutouts are kiss cut to
create clean holes through to the backing paper;
while text elements are marked at lower powers,
creating crisp, legible text and switch position
guides. The last kiss cut is one that trims the
labelstock to the exact size of the equipment
faceplate.

This close-up photo of the nylon airbag hub
illustrates a typical CO2 laser cut – clean,
sealed edges with no discoloration and
no mechanical stressing of the fabric.

Welding Pyrex Glass Pipettes

Pyrex® is a tough, durable low-expansion borosilicate glass widely used in many consumer and scientific applications. In the kitchen, your glass measuring cups, baking dishes, and serving plates are likely made from Pyrex; in laboratories worldwide there are benches filled with pipettes, flasks, and other Pyrex glassware.

This unique application request calls for sealing Pyrex glass pipettes by welding one end closed. This is an ideal CO2 laser application since the laser provides an excellent pin-point heat source capable of generating up to millions of watts per square centimeter depending on laser output power and focused spot size.

These after (left) and before (right) photos show
a sealed spherical end after “welding” the glass pipette with 50 watts of power for 1.8 seconds.

Our glass welding setup consists of a rotary stage suspended beneath a gas jet manifold. The manifold holds a 63.5 mm (2.5”) positive-meniscus focusing lens that provides a 100-micron (0.004”) spot with a 1.8 mm (0.07”) depth of field. A gas jet fitting below the optic provides a connection for the assist gas, which in this case is 0.07 bar (1 PSI) of clean, dry air. 

Each pipette has an outside diameter of 2.1 mm (0.0825”) with a wall thickness of 0.25 mm (0.01”) and is spun at 330 revolutions per minute by the rotary stage. After we fired 50 watts of power at the end of the pipette for approximately 10 revolutions (1.8 seconds) we achieved a perfectly welded spherical end.