Laser marking and laser engraving innovations in the pattern or mold making industry are becoming ever more prevalent. Mold makers know that machining small cavities in molds are difficult and time-consuming, and extensive hand polishing is usually required to finish the job. If the mold is either hardened or constructed of pre-hardened materials, the job is rendered much more difficult. Deep laser engraving provides an effective form of machining without contact that is effective on hardened tool steels and can penetrate hard-to-reach areas.
Deep Laser Engraving
Deep laser engraving is generally regarded as a machining process that removes up to 30 thousandths of an inch of material. It is often used for adding details to molds such as patterns and shapes, or for adding identification marks.
Advantages of Laser Engraving
A significant advantage of using picosecond and femtosecond lasers to engrave molds is that they operate well on hardened steel surfaces. It also works wherever there is a line of sight to the point to be marked. Laser engraving gives a better finish to the surface that usually requires no hand polish. It has a lower impact on molds' surface strength and eliminates the possibility of micro-fracturing that exists with EDM.
Deep laser engraving will minimize costs and maximize work scope performed by toolmakers and die, makers. Picosecond and femtosecond laser micromachining have demonstrated their usefulness in mold engraving with their ability to successfully weld and produce exceptional features while providing an excellent finish.
About Laserod Technologies
Laserod Technologies is one of the industry’s leading experts in laser marking and engraving of polymers and other substrates for microscale applications. Our high pulse picosecond and femtosecond laser micromachining is uniquely suited for microscale-substrate machining for many applications.
Contact Laserod Technologies today at 1-888-991-9916 / 1-310-340-1343 for projects and inquiries!
