VIDEO: 3D laser engraving

Engraving, i.e. the targeted removal of material often for purpose of creating a specific relief pattern, is an application that is already very well mastered in the 2D plane using a laser beam. Very often, fiber lasers with laser spot size of around 40um are used for the application, capable of engraving a wide range of materials accurately and in great detail. However, it is more difficult to engrave more complex shapes with variable height. Application specialist from LINTECH have come up with a method that makes the approach to 3D laser engraving even more efficient.

In this case, the basic compontn is the refocusing unit, which dynamically changes the diameter of the used laser beam and consequently its focus distance. The control of the change of beam focus depends on the geometry of the 3D model of the processed part imported into laser software. The use of a 3D model is necessary here so that, according to it, the laser beam can correctly copy the surface of the processed part in a depth range of up to several tens of mm. In addition, the software pre-deform the graphic motif according to the geometry of the part so that it has the right appearance after firing on curved surfaces.

However, for the corrent positioning of the laser process, i tis necessary to precisely match the position of the graphic pattern, the position of 3D model and the physical part itself. Otherwise, the position of the pattern relative to the part may deviate, ort he pattern may be processed out of focus and therefore with reduced visibility and depth. For this purpose, LINTECH came up with a solution using a camera system that, when setting up the engraving application, transmits the image of the physical part directly to the laser software, where it is also possible to view details of individual processed areas by zooming in on the image. This then allows the operator to accurately and simply position the pattern and 3D model relative to the physically based part.

You can see how we mark with the use of camera focus in the video.