Laser marking of polymer materials
US8911658B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 2012 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 15, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41M5/267
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for efficiently laser marking a polymer target material, and more particularly a transparent polymer target material, is presented. The system includes a visually transparent polymer target material comprising a surface and a near 2 μm fiber laser, the fiber laser having a peak power equal to or greater than 10 kW, a pulse repetition rate equal to or greater than 1 kHz, and an average power equal to or less than 20 W. In certain embodiments, the fiber laser may be a Q-switched fiber laser having a pulse width equal to or less than 200 ns or a mode-locked fiber laser having a pulse width equal to or less than 100 ps. The method includes producing, using the fiber laser, a mark that is not transparent to visible wavelengths on the surface of the polymer target material without damaging it.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.