Process Date: February 2004

  We obtained easily readable, engraved marks after marking this 90-pin plastic connector with a Synrad 25 watt laser and FH Series marking head. The beam was directed through a 125 mm FH lens, providing a focused spot size of 180 microns with a three mm depth of field.  

   The ten-digit text string was marked using 23 W of Power at a Velocity of 40 inches per second (IPS). We used a built-in WinMark Pro stroke font (Simple) at a Text Height of 0.0728 inches, increased Extra Character Spacing to 0.0039”, and set a Resolution of 750. To reduce cycle time and increase legibility, we increased the default Pline Start Delay to 250, reduced Pline End Delay to 350, and increased Off Vector Velocity to 157.

The ten-digit 2D Data Matrix code, measuring 0.0945” square, was marked using seven W of Power with a Velocity of 15 IPS. 2D Barcode Bitmap was set to No (so that cells were marked using unfilled vector circles instead of filled squares) and 2D Barcode Circle Radius was reduced to 20%. After marking, the non-contrasting barcode data was verified using both Microscan Quadrus EZ and RVSI CM4000 readers.

 
Total cycle time for both 2D code and text objects, on the plastic connector above, was 0.22 seconds.The photo shows examples of both black and white PVC tubing marked with a Synrad CO2 .