UV laser marking for plastic medical device manufacturing (cold light source laser marking machine)

Plastic laser marking has become common in industrial equipment, medical devices, aerospace components, automotive parts, and common household appliances. However, medical device manufacturers  suppliers need to track their products using unique device identification codes, data matrices, and other tracking information. They must also meet strict Food and Drug Administration guidelines. If a rare malfunction or other adverse event occurs, tracking where and when a product was manufactured can go a long way toward identifying what went wrong and taking steps to prevent it from happening again.

鈥楥old marking鈥?using a UV laser provides a smooth mark within the surface

When marking plastics, the first thing to consider is the type of mark required. Methods range from melting or foaming the surface to photochemically altering the material using UV and green lasers. For medical-grade plastics, the UDI mark must feel smooth to the touch, eliminating areas where bacteria could grow. That鈥檚 where 鈥渃old marking鈥?with UV wavelengths comes into play. Using a UV laser in the cold laser marking process changes the molecular structure of the material, which is ideal for applications that are sensitive to heat damage. This heat damage outside the marked area is called the heat-affected zone. Additives in white plastics, such as TiO2, strongly absorb UV light and chemically change in the plastic, causing it to darken. This process produces a smooth, highly legible mark inside the plastic, not just on the surface.

We have extensive experience in the medical device industry and have developed advanced solutions for laser marking, cutting and drilling applications.

Reduce costly manufacturing errors through laser automation, and combining vision and automation systems can reduce manufacturing errors and significantly contribute to comprehensive quality assurance. We have built our reputation on leveraging machine vision to reduce costly manufacturing errors by verifying parts, adjusting applications, and post-verifying processes and data. Full automation with robots and conveyors also eliminates human error and improves overall production.