How to specify a laser marking process that doesn't fit AS478.

[KirbyWan]

Howdy all,

I'm trying to figure out how to callout this marking process, since nothing in AS478 seems to cover it. We want to mark a part using a laser to cure a coating onto stainless steel sheet. The process is to apply dry moly lube or a specialty product like CerMark and then cure the material using a ~60W CO2 laser similar to what Omtech makes. After cure the part is cleaned and the un-cured coating wipes away leaving a clear dark mark. For my limited testing the marking seems stable and solvent/skydrol resistant.

Thanks,

-Kirby

 

[WKTaylor]

My experience...

AS478 Rev S... LASER marking ref 'is as good as it gets'.

MIL-STD-130N w/C1 Seems to have better definition for LASER marking.

 

[mfgenggear]

Also run some samples. I don't recall laser marking coated parts.
Bare steel or Chem filmed aluminum.
Coated has been tag or rubber stamped.
Or engraved .but I think it will work.

 

[KirbyWan]

A CO2 laser can't significantly etch stainless steel which is what I think the AS478 process is indicating which gives minimum/maximum limits for material removal. The process I'm using is more like fusing the coating onto the metal and everything else gets wiped away.

This is what it looks like:

 

[mfgenggear]

A CO2 laser can't significantly etch stainless steel which is what I think the AS478 process is indicating which gives minimum/maximum limits for material removal. The process I'm using is more like fusing the coating onto the metal and everything else gets wiped away.

This is what it looks like:

View attachment 15920

It's good, very proffesional and visible

 

[3DDave]

This is typically handled by an in-house specification for the process. Take the AS478 / MIL_STD-130 as a basis for selecting durability requirements and include any requirements for material cleaning and handling of the pre-cured material with regards to shelf life.

I would contact CerMark for their inputs on process requirements. They should have a motive to get included in AS478 and MIL-STD-130 as a recognized process.

Until then you will need to convince the end user that this is sufficiently permanent for the duty the item is subject to.