Rev 08/08/2018 LaserGearTM Marking Programming Manual

LaserGearTM
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Rev 08/08/2018 LaserGearTM Marking Programming Manual

Table of Contents Page

Introduction 3
Hatch Settings 3
Pen No. Settings 6

LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

General Materials 8
General Marking/Burning 8
Anneal 9
Deep Engrave 10
Ablating / Surface layer removal 11
Silver 11
Brass 12
White Mark 12
Deep Engrave 12
Burn 12
Aluminum 13
Frost 13
Deep Engrave 13
Burn 14
Plastics 14
Black ABS Lite 14
Black Nylon Lite 14
Black Delrin Lite 15
High Temp CPVC Lite 15
Nylon Lite 15
Moisture Resistant LDPE Black 16
White Delrin Raised 16
HDPE Polyethylene Black 16
Acrylic 17
Optically Cast Acrylic Contrast 17
Black Acrylic Lite 17
White Acrylic Dark 17

LaserGearTM Mark Examples

Burning / General Marking 18
Annealing / Black Surface Marking 19
Ablating / Material Removal 20
Foaming / Color Change (Plastics) 21
Frosting / White Surface Marking 22
Deep Engraving / Material Removal 23

Contact Information 24

Copyright © 2018 Tykma™ Electrox Inc. All rights reserved.

This document contains information covered by copyright. Any information contained in this manual may be subject to
change without prior notice. All product or program names mentioned in this document are registered trademarks owned
by the respective companies.

All information and contents in this document are property of Tykma™ Electrox Inc. and cannot be shown, distributed,
modified and/or reproduced through electronic, mechanical or any other way, without written consent from Tykma™
Electrox Inc.

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Rev 08/08/2018 LaserGearTM Marking Programming Manual

Introduction
This guide provides a list of general settings set within MinilaseTM Pro SE software that are used to program
lasers to make a variety of marking styles on various materials. These parameters effect the results of laser
marks on specific materials or substrate.

Parameters in this manual are based on the use of a 20W JPT fiber laser with a 160mm lens installed. Larger
lenses, such as the 254mm or 350mm, have a larger diameter laser spot and would require lower adjusted
speeds or increase in the number of loops or passes to obtain similar results. These parameters are general
guidelines and serve as a starting point.

Materials and marking preferences also will determine the final combination of settings for each application.
Adjustments to these parameters and additional settings may be required to achieve desired mark.

Hatch and Pen No. parameter settings are the two major controls used in regulating the type of laser mark
produced.

Hatch Settings
Hatch is used to fill the entire shape and area of the object as opposed to only an outline. In conjunction with
Pen No. laser settings, Fill controls the density, angle, pattern as well as other properties to obtain the desired
laser mark.

Not Filled Filled

Selecting the Hatch button in MinilaseTM Pro SE opens the Fill parameter settings window. Refer to the
MinilaseTM Pro SE manual for detailed instructions in setting Fill parameters.

Vectors – located on menu System Bar

Text – Located in text properties

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Hatch Settings
The primary Fill settings used are:
• Fill (1,2,3)
• Angle
• Type
• Line Space
• Cross Hatch

Fill (1,2,3)
Up to three independent fill parameters can be used to fill the same
object. Each set of fill parameters can be appointed a Pen No..
Multiple Fill parameters are incrementally applied to optimize final
results.

Example: Fill 1 may be used to mark at a 45o angle with aggressive

laser properties to begin the process. Fill 2 could be used to mark
the same area at a 90o angle with less aggressive settings. Fill 3
settings could then be used as the finishing laser mark.

Angle
Angle sets the direction of the laser mark. Angle can be set between
0o and 360o

Type
Type controls the pattern and direction the laser mark will follow.
Press this toggle button to change options.

Bidirectional Ring

Two-Way Gong

Unidirectional

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Hatch Settings
Line Space
Line Space sets the spacing between the laser mark lines.

Cross Hatch
When enabled, additional fill lines are marked 90o relative to the original mark angle.

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Pen No. Settings

Located at the top of the Marking Parameters section of MinilaseTM Pro SE is a list of 256 Pens that represent
unique combinations of marking parameters. These Pens are assigned to objects to be marked. Refer to
MinilaseTM Pro SE for detailed information concerning the use of Pens.

There are five primary Pen No. parameters

outlined in the manual that effect the marking
result:
• Loop Count
• Speed
• Power
• Frequency
• Wave

The remaining Pen parameters are set during

manufacturing and should not be changed without
consulting a TykmaTM Electrox technician.

Loop Count
The number of passes the laser will mark using the current Pen.

Speed
The scanning speed in which the beam is traveling across the surface during processing. This speed is
controlled by the laser scan head beam delivery system. This speed can range from as slow as 10 mm/sec to
7000+ mm/sec
Power
The percentage of available laser power you are utilizing. Running a laser at 50% power is running at
approximately half the available power of the laser.

Frequency
The pulse repetition rate of the laser. The laser light is delivered in pulses, and the frequency controls the
number of pulses delivered per second. In general, lower frequencies produce less heat but are more
aggressive while higher frequencies produce more heat but are less aggressive.

Wave
Determines the waveform to be used which dictates the pulse duration of the laser.

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Pen No. Settings

Pen Parameter Library
When marking parameters are set to the desired settings, use the option to save those settings in the
Parameter Library. This allows you to give the settings a name to easily identify what type of marking the
settings are used for.

1. Press the “Select Param From Library” button.

2. Press the “Save current param as” button.
3. Enter a name in the “Input param name” window and click OK.

Once saved in the library you can press

the “Select Param From Library” button,
select the named saved parameter from
the Param Library list and click OK to
apply.

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

Using a combination of laser Pen No. and Fill parameters, different types of marking results can be achieved.
The following section of this guide describes laser markings on various types of materials and the settings
required to attain similar results. Settings are listed according to a 20W laser.

General Materials
Materials: Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Brass, Copper, Titanium, Carbide
Mark Type: General Marking / Burning
Result: Color varied from medium brown to black or black/grey

General Marking or Burning aggressively burns the

surface of the material. Depending on the substrate,
the mark will vary in color from medium brown to
black or black/grey. The surface of the material will
feel rough to the touch and feature areas of rise and
fall of material.

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 1 100 100 20 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

General Materials
Materials: Stainless, Steel, Titanium
Mark Type: Anneal
Result: Black smooth surface

Annealing applies a large amount of heat to the

surface of the material while minimizing the
aggressiveness of the mark. The result is a solid
black mark with a smooth surface finish. This type
of marking is very common for medical
applications.

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 180 0.02 2 100 50 125 0

2 315 0.02 2 100 50 125 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

General Materials
Materials: Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Brass, Rubber, Various others
Mark Type: Deep Engrave
Result: Embossed surface

Deep Engrave removes considerable amounts of

material to create a mark that has depth. The
resulting mark has an embossed look. Depth can
vary depending on the time allowed for the marking
process. Stripping away small layers at a time to get
the desired depth is preferred.

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.02 Yes 25 1500 100 35 0

2 315 0.02 5 2000 100 75 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

General Materials
Materials: Anodized, Black Oxide, Painted or Coated Materials
Mark Type: Ablating / Surface layer removal
Result: Contrasted smooth mark

This type of mark is created by removing a coated

layer of material. This usually results in a bright or
white colored mark contrasting with the surface or
coating. The mark is relatively smooth with minimum
surface penetration.

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 Yes 1 2000 100 55 0

Materials: Various metals, Carbide

Mark Type: Silver
Result: Silver color mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 2 2000 100 65 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

Brass
Materials: Brass
Mark Type: White
Result: White mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 Yes 4 2000 100 60 0

Materials: Brass
Mark Type: Deep Engrave
Result: Embossed surface

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.02 Yes 25 1500 100 35 0

2 315 0.02 5 200 100 125 0

Materials: Brass
Mark Type: Burn
Result: Color varied from medium brown to black or black/grey

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 1 100 100 20 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

Aluminum
Materials: Aluminum
Mark Type: Frost
Result: Bright or white colored mark with a slight texture

This type of mark is created by marking the material surface at

high speeds. This usually results in a bright or white colored
frosted mark which may have a slight texture to the touch, but the
surface or coating penetration is minimal if any.

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 2 2000 100 45 0

Materials: Aluminum
Mark Type: Deep Engrave
Result: Embossed surface

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.02 Yes 25 1500 100 35 0

2 315 0.02 5 2000 100 75 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

Aluminum

Materials: Aluminum
Mark Type: Burn
Result: Color varied from medium brown to black or
black/grey

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.04 1 50 100 20 0

Plastics
Materials: Black ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
Mark Type: Lite
Result: Light contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 Yes 1 2000 20 45 0

Materials: Black Nylon

Mark Type: Lite
Result: Light contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.02 1 2000 65 35 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

Plastics
Materials: Black Delrin
Mark Type: Lite
Result: Light contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.02 Yes 1 4000 30 55 0

Materials: High Temp CPVC

Mark Type: Lite
Result: Light contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.02 Yes 1 4000 22 200 0

Materials: Nylon
Mark Type: Lite
Result: Light contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.02 Yes 1 2000 26 55 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

Plastics
Materials: Moisture Resistant LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)
Mark Type: Black
Result: Dark contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.02 Yes 1 1000 100 20 0

Materials: White Delrin

Mark Type: Raised
Result: Dark contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.01 10 25 100 20 0

Materials: HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)

Mark Type: Black
Result: Dark contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.02 4 2000 100 20 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Type and Results

Acrylic
Materials: Optically Cast Acrylic
Mark Type: Contrast
Result: Contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 7 2000 100 200 0

Materials: Black Acrylic

Mark Type: Lite
Result: Light contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 10 2500 22 20 0

Materials: White Acrylic

Mark Type: Dark
Result: Dark contrasted mark

Laser Wattage: 20W

Fill Settings Pen No. Settings
Fill Angle Type Line Space Cross Hatch Loop Count Speed Power% Frequency Wave

1 90 0.03 10 2500 73 55 0

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LaserGearTM Mark Examples

Burning General Marking

Materials: Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Brass, Copper, Titanium, Carbide
This type of mark is created by aggressively burning the surface of the material. Depending on the substrate,
the mark will vary in color from medium brown to black or black/grey. The surface of the material will feel rough
to the touch and feature areas of rise and fall of material.

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LaserGearTM Mark Examples

Annealing / Black Surface Marking

Materials: Steel, Stainless Steel, Titanium
This type of mark is created by applying heat to the surface of the material staying below the melting point to
produce a superficial tempering or annealing. The chemical reaction a solid black mark with a smooth surface
finish. Anneal marking is very common for medical applications.

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LaserGearTM Mark Examples

Ablating / Material Removal

Materials: Anodized, Black Oxide, Painted or Coated Materials
This type of mark is created by removing the coated layer of a material, such as burning the anodized layer off
of aluminum. This usually results in a bright or white colored mark when contrasted with a coating. The mark is
relatively smooth with minimum surface penetration.

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LaserGearTM Mark Examples

Foaming / Color Change (Plastics)

Materials: Various Plastics
This type of mark creates small gas bubbles under the surface without vaporizing the material. The laser uses
controlled micro burns that produces a slightly raised surface area. This results in a white, tan or dark colored
mark depending on the plastic. The mark is relatively smooth with minimized surface penetration. Controlling
the heat is very important.

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LaserGearTM Mark Examples

Frosting / White Surface Marking

Materials: Carbide, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Chrome Plated, Nickel Plated, Galvanized.
This type of mark is created by frosting the surface of the material at high speeds. This usually results in a
bright or white mark that may have a slight texture to the touch, but the surface or coating penetration is
minimal if any.

The photo below shows an example of the frost look being used to create a white background with burned
laser marking over the top to create high contrast.

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LaserGearTM Mark Examples

Deep Engraving / Material Removal
Materials: Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Rubber, Various Other Substrates
This type of mark is created by removing material to create a mark that has depth. The resulting mark has an
embossed look. Depth can vary from minimum to extreme depending on the time allowed for the marking
process. Stripping small layers at a time to get desired depth is preferred.

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Support Information

The service and support line at our US headquarters is available 24/7, 365 at +1 (740) 779-9918 or email us at
[email protected]. If you purchased your system from your local distributor, you may also contact them for support.

It’s recommended that the computer running your LaserGear TM is connected to the internet to deploy Citrix™ remote
support tools if necessary.

US Headquarters
370 Gateway Drive
Chillicothe, OH 45601
Phone: +1 (740) 779-9918
Fax: +1 (740) 779-9910
[email protected]

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