Which lasers work best?
A broad range of Lasers can be used for this application, but the redENERGY 20W RM-Z is most commonly used in conjunction with a 163mm F-theta lens. The process is extremely quick taking <1s to produce a simple logo and some alphanumeric characters.
What is the laser marking process for hallmarks?
The marking is typically a 2 pass process where the main mark is made using low speed (400mm/s) with high pulse energy (0.8-1mJ at low rep rate (20kHz). The mark is then subsequently cleaned by a faster (4000m/s) higher frequency (100kHz) lower pulse energy (<0.2mJ) cleaning pass to remove debris and discolouration.
What are the Benefits of using a fiber laser?
There are numerous benefits of using a fiber laser for hallmarking. The process is entirely contact-free, which is safer for the user and reduces the risk of contamination. None of the surrounding material is removed, which is important with the valuable material, which is being hallmarked (e.g. gold, silver, platinum).
Additionally, hallmarks made are 100% precise and accurate, which is especially important when applying a mark as important as a hallmark.