Recently, we’ve received numerous customer inquiries: “How can I speed up my fiber laser marking machine to meet delivery deadlines?” or “Even though I bought a high-power device, the marking efficiency still can’t keep up with production demands?”
In fact, the core value of fiber laser marking machines is to help enterprises reduce costs and increase efficiency. However, many people overlook that “speeding up” isn’t just about adjusting parameters—it first requires understanding “what affects the speed.” Today, we’ll break down the reasons for slow marking speeds of fiber laser marking machines, from equipment selection to practical operation, and teach you targeted optimizations to meet deadlines without compromising marking quality.
I. First, Understand: What Affects the Speed of Fiber Laser Marking Machines? (2 Core Dimensions)
The marking speed of a fiber laser marking machine is determined by both “inherent equipment performance” and “post-processing operations.” The former affects the “speed ceiling,” while the latter determines “actual efficiency”—neither can be ignored.
(1) Internal Equipment Factors: Choose the Right Model to Gain a Head Start in Speeding Up
Many enterprises struggle to speed up later because they made mistakes in early equipment selection—incorrect internal parameters mean even optimal operation can’t break through bottlenecks. When purchasing, it’s advisable to align with processing needs, follow laser engineers’ advice, and focus on these 4 points:
1. Laser Frequency**: Excessively high frequency → low single-pulse energy, requiring multiple scans to meet standards, slowing speed. Too low frequency → potential precision issues. Balance based on material (e.g., medium-high frequency for metals, moderately lower for plastics).
2. Laser Spot Mode + Beam Divergence Angle**: Prioritize lasers with TEM00 mode spots (concentrated energy) and small divergence angles. These reduce energy loss, enable “precise laser focus,” and improve marking efficiency per unit time—ideal for fine marking.
3. Laser Power: Higher power isn’t always better! Power must match processing needs: e.g., 30W-50W suffices for thin metal marking. Blindly choosing 100W increases costs and may cause material deformation due to excess power, slowing speed instead.
4. Optical Shaping + Auxiliary Accessories**: High-quality optical shaping systems (e.g., imported galvanometers, field lenses) optimize light paths and reduce energy attenuation. For metal processing, pairing with inert gases (e.g., argon) accelerates surface reactions, increasing marking speed by 10%-20%.
(2) Workpiece Processing Factors: These Operational Details Directly Slow Down Marking
After selecting the right equipment, daily processing parameter settings become the “key variables” affecting speed. Many customers overlook these details, leaving equipment “underperforming”:
1. Marking Density: With the same area, spot size, and depth, higher density (e.g., text spacing <0.1mm, complex textured patterns) increases actual marking area, slowing speed by over 30%. Suggestion: Avoid ultra-high density unless necessary; ensure core marks (e.g., QR codes, model numbers) are clear.
2. Marking Area: Larger areas require wider galvanometer deflection and longer movement time—e.g., 300mm×300mm marking is 20%-40% slower than 100mm×100mm. Tip: For batch processing, split large areas into smaller ones and mark in zones.
3. Marking Depth: Each 0.1mm increase in depth may require 1-2 additional laser scans, significantly slowing speed. Suggestion: Set a “minimum effective depth” based on customer requirements (e.g., 0.05mm for metal marking suffices for visibility; no need for excessive depth).
4. Laser Spot Size: Spot size correlates positively with speed—larger spots (e.g., 0.1mm → 0.2mm) cover more area per pulse, speeding up marking. However, oversized spots reduce precision; balance “speed” and “accuracy” (e.g., small spots for logos, larger spots for batch numbers).
II. Practical Tips: 3 Ways to Quickly Increase Fiber Laser Marking Speed (for Meeting Deadlines)
Based on the above factors, here are 3 immediate speed-up tips for enterprises rushing to meet deadlines:
1. "Lightweight” Parameter Settings**: Simplify marking content before processing—delete irrelevant patterns, widen text spacing, and reduce unnecessary marking areas (e.g., switch from “full-area marking” to “local core area marking”). This can increase speed by over 20%.
2. Match “Optimal Power and Frequency”**: Refer to a “parameter table” based on material (available from equipment manufacturers). For example, use 50W power + 30kHz frequency for stainless steel, and 30W power + 50kHz frequency for plastics. Avoid parameter mismatches that waste efficiency.
3. Batch Processing in “Small Batches”**: For large batches (e.g., 10,000+ pieces/day), avoid large-area marking in one go. Split into 50-100 pieces per batch, keeping each batch’s marking area within 150mm×150mm to reduce galvanometer fatigue and maintain stable speed.
III. Note: Avoid These 2 Pitfalls When Speeding Up! (Quality Is Key)
1. Don’t blindly pursue “high power”: Excess power beyond processing needs causes material burning or deformation, requiring rework and delaying deadlines.
2. Don’t overly reduce “marking depth”: Insufficient depth leads to easily worn marks, increasing costs from customer returns. Use “scratch resistance (with nails)” as the minimum standard.
IV. Summary: Speeding Up Fiber Laser Marking Machines Relies on “Right Selection + Proper Tuning”
To speed up your fiber laser marking machine, select the right model based on processing needs (with correct internal parameters) and optimize operations based on workpieces (with proper processing parameters). Combining these ensures meeting deadlines while maintaining quality, truly unlocking the device’s cost-saving and efficiency-boosting value.
