Stainless Steel Engraving & Marking Solutions

Additional process notes:

• Heat input: Use short pulse widths and higher scan speeds to limit heat affected zones and avoid temper colors outside the mark.
• Corrosion resistance: Post mark passivation per ASTM A967 or AMS2700 helps restore chromium oxide, especially after any material removal.
• Codes/symbols: Data Matrix (per ISO/IEC 16022) and human readable text are typical for traceability.

KEYENCE’s 3 Axis beam control maintains focus on curved or height varying stainless features; built in autofocus and vision help place marks precisely and verify readability on first pass compared with a conventional laser marker that relies on fixed focus and external cameras.

From selecting mark types to meeting code standards, this guide explains how stainless steel responds to laser energy and how to tune wavelength, pulse width, and scan strategy for consistent results. It also outlines practical choices—lens selection, fixturing, and 3 Axis focus control—that affect contrast, depth, and takt time.

Mark type:

• Oxide color change (black/annealed)
• Light ablation/etch
• Engraving for tactile depth (tooling, plates)

Choosing wavelength/pulse:

• 1064 nm fiber/hybrid is the workhorse for stainless steel; picosecond like effects can be approximated using shorter pulse widths and high pulse frequencies to minimize recast.
• UV is used when adjacent plastics or coatings are present but is not typical for deep metal engraving.

Optics and field size:

• Larger fields increase throughput but enlarge spot size; select lens based on minimum feature or 2D code cell size required.

Code quality and compliance:

• Direct Part Mark (DPM) verification typically follows ISO/IEC 29158 (AIM DPM). For aerospace/defense, MIL STD 130 applies to UID marks; medical instruments often follow FDA UDI requirements with Datamatrix ECC 200.

Fixturing and focus:

• Rigid fixturing prevents motion blur; 3 Axis dynamic focus maintains spot size across features with ±Z variation, reducing the need for mechanical repositioning.

Validation:

• Internal vision and mark and read workflows support in line verification of code quality and content, reducing rework versus conventional setups that require offline checks.

Machine architecture:

• Fiber or hybrid MOPA sources (20–50 W) cover most stainless and common metals (tool steels, Inconel, titanium, aluminum). Higher peak power and adjustable pulse width widen the process window for both black marking and deep engraving.

Integration:

• Enclosure and safety: Class 1 housings with light curtains/interlocks; Class 4 heads for line integration with guarding.
• Automation: Digital I/O and industrial protocols (e.g., EtherNet/IP, PROFINET) for recipe selection, handshakes, and data logging.
• Vision: Integrated cameras enable autofocus, part presence, alignment, and 2D code grading without external hardware.
• Environmental: Fume extraction and proper airflow prevent redeposition and help maintain code contrast on stainless.

Throughput vs. quality:

• Balance average power, pulse energy, and hatch strategy. Multi pass, orthogonal hatches improve edge definition while limiting burr on hardened alloys.

KEYENCE’s 3 Axis beam shaping maintains consistent spot size across curved housings, bent brackets, or multi level weldments; full field autofocus reduces setup time compared with conventional fixed focus systems.

Use cases:

• Permanent serialization on tools, dies, and parts
• Mold inserts
• Engine and chassis plates
• High wear nameplates
• Tamper resistant marks

Parameter strategy:

• Multi pass removal with alternating hatch angles and controlled overlap.
• Defocus compensation and 3 Axis focal shift keep the laser focused inside the cavity as depth increases, improving volumetric removal rate versus a conventional system that refocuses mechanically.

Metrology and verification:

• Read/grade embedded data matrix after engraving to confirm traceability and measure depth using a surface inspection tool.