Batch Marking Polypropylene

One of the more powerful features designed into the WinMark Pro laser marking software is the ability to mark a batch or tray of products at a single time. For example, you can create a single object and then create an array of identical objects with a few keystrokes. If these objects are serialized, you can choose to mark each part in the batch with the same, or different, part numbers.

This feasibility test was to mark lot codes on a 6-up polypropylene part that is later cut into six individual pieces. It began by creating two text objects using the European stroke font and set a Text Height of 3.9 mm (0.15”) with 0.5 mm (0.02”) Extra Character Spacing. After rotating both objects to the correct angles, an array of one column and three rows using Array Columns and Array Rows properties were created and set Row Spacing to 29 mm (1.14”).

On the Marking tab, a mark Velocity of 1651 mm/second (65”/s) was set, a Power, duty cycle percentage, corresponding to 10 watts, set Off Vector Velocity to 3810 mm/s (150”/s), and finally set the following delays to achieve crisp text marks at the specified galvo speed: Pline Start Delay—250; Pline End Delay—200; Interseg Delay—0; and Off Vector Delay to 100.

To mark the parts shown, a FH Series head was fitted with the standard 200 mm lens that produces a 290-micron (0.011”) spot with a 5 mm (0.196”) depth of focus. Using 10 watts of power, the polypropylene part was marked with six separate lot codes in a cycle time of 0.23 seconds per 6-up part. In an application with a continuously moving conveyor, these parts can be marked at a rate of 26.1 meters per minute (85.6 ft/min).

Laser Lines Ltd
Beaumont Close,
Banbury,
Oxon
OX16 1TH
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1295 672500
Fax: + 44 (0) 1295 672550

Email: info@laserlines.co.uk
Website: www.laserlines.co.uk

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