Complete Information About Titanium Laser Engraving Technology

If you want to engrave a logo on the surface of a titanium product, you will use titanium engraving technology. Titanium laser engraving technology is one of them. Please follow my article to learn more about how titanium laser engraving technology operates?

The principle of titanium laser engraving

Fiber laser engraving

Fiber laser engraving has a special fiber engraving machine, firstly fiber laser engraver hits a high-energy laser beam, and the titanium metal will react with oxygen to form a titanium oxide film, when the high temperature generated by the laser beam comes into contact with the film on the titanium surface, it will instantly melt or vaporize the film. You can control the energy and scanning speed of the fiber laser engraver, which affects the thickness and color of the titanium surface film. In the end, many laser beam points made by the fiber optic engraving machine form an engraving pattern.

In this process, because the material converts the energy generated by photons into heat, this can also be called “thermal processing” laser engraving. Moreover, titanium and oxygen react to form titanium dioxide, so it can also be said that it is titanium dioxide laser engraving.

UV laser engraving

UV laser engraving mainly uses ultraviolet laser with short wavelength and high frequency, which has a very high energy and can break the chemical bonds of the material on the surface of titanium, so that the molecules on the surface of the titanium material are directly shed. After the UV laser beam is swept over the surface of the titanium material, it forms an engraving pattern.

This engraving process does not produce heat energy, so it is also called “cold processing” laser engraving. The result is a fine mark that does not produce color, and the final result is usually black, white or titanium primary.

Process flow of titanium laser engraving

Step 1: Pattern design. Use computer graphics software to design the text, patterns, logos and other information that needs to be engraved.

Step 2: Clean the surface of the titanium material, no dust, fingerprints, etc.

Step 3: Adjust the parameters. Adjust the model of titanium material according to the desired effect, choose the appropriate type of laser engraving equipment, and set the laser power, speed, frequency, filling method and other parameters of the equipment. These operations are essential for the best results.

Step 4: Focus Adjustment. Fix the workpiece to the machining platform and adjust the laser focal length to the most suitable position.

Step 5: Start engraving. Start the laser engraving machine and complete the engraving action according to the computer instructions.

Step 6: Post-treatment: If there are fine particles on the surface, they need to be cleaned. Finally, check the quality of the finished product.

Characteristics of titanium laser engraving

• Permanent preservation: The laser-engraved logo, text, and patterns are corrosion-resistant and will not fade, and can be preserved intact for a long time.
• High precision: Because the laser beam can be focused into a small point of light, micron-level engraving can also be done, if you need to engrave complex graphics, fine QR codes or small text, you can use it to achieve it.
• Small damage: The laser head will not touch the surface of the titanium material during the working process of the laser engraver, so it will not damage the workpiece when engraving.
• Environmental protection: The engraving process is controlled by computer, no chemical reagents are required, etc., which is a very environmentally friendly and green engraving method.
• Efficiency: Engraving is fast. If you need to produce large quantities, laser engraving is a good choice.
• Diverse colors: Laser engraving can form gold, blue, purple, green, red and other colors on the surface of titanium materials, and the color can be maintained for a long time.

Color of titanium laser engraving

When titanium laser engraving, a layer of interference film is produced when the laser beam hits the surface of the titanium material, and the color will change due to the different thicknesses of the interference film. Usually because the energy is from low to high, the color will be gold-purple-dark blue-light blue-blue-blue-yellow-green-yellow-red-gray/black.

If you want to achieve uniform and consistent color, you need very precise control equipment, which is very demanding on the operator.

Application of Titanium Laser engraving

• Medical field: Mainly used in medical devices Permanent marking, such as: dental implants, surgical instruments, orthopedic implants, these devices need to be engraved with brand logos, product models, serial numbers, batch numbers, etc. will be laser engraving.
• Aerospace field: used for engraving mark numbers, material information, quality inspection marks and other information of aircraft engine components, fasteners and other parts.
• High-end consumer goods: such as: titanium glasses frames, titanium watches, mobile phones, laptop shells and other products engraved with brand logos, patterns, serial numbers, etc.
• Jewelry: Mainly engraving patterns, text or other and personalized designs on titanium jewelry (e.g. rings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces, etc.).
• Industrial manufacturing: engraving logos, logos, etc. on various titanium products, For example, engraving brand logos, patterns, etc. on the titanium scooter bar；laser engraving pure titanium；laser engraving titanium alloy products, etc.
• Gifts: For example, titanium cups, titanium bookmarks, pens, etc. are laser engraved with logos, or personalized patterns, etc.

Other engraving methods for titanium

• • CNC engraving

This engraving method mainly uses hard diamond to engrave on the surface of titanium material, and the process is controlled by a computer machine. Its engraving accuracy is very high, if you need to engrave complex or precise patterns, text and three-dimensional modeling, then it is best to use CNC engraving, and its engraving efficiency is very high, which can be mass-produced. But it is more expensive to use, mainly because of the wear and tear of CNC machines and tools.

Usually, this engraving method is applied to aerospace, medical part implants, souvenir engraving logos, etc.

• Chemical etching

Chemical etching and engraving methods obviously use chemical reagents. It corrodes the surface of titanium with a highly corrosive chemical solution (e.g., hydrofluoric acid or other mixed acid solutions containing hydrofluoric acid), resulting in a recessed image.

The cost of this engraving method is very low, but it will use hazardous chemicals, which is very not environmentally friendly, and the depth range of engraving is limited, and the engraving accuracy is not as good as laser engraving and CNC engraving.

• Hot processing engraving

This engraving technique applies voltage to the surface of the titanium material to generate an oxide film on the surface of the titanium to form the desired pattern or text. This process requires controlling the area and thickness of the oxide film formation. Thus forming different colors.

Conclusion

Titanium laser engraving is an environmentally friendly and efficient engraving method that causes little damage to titanium. And it is most often used in titanium products. If your product needs to be engraved with patterns, text, logos or other personalized customization, then titanium laser engraving is the best choice.

FAQ

• • Does titanium engraving affect the structure and composition of titanium metal？

If you are using laser engraving technology, the impact on titanium is minimal; If you are using CNC engraving or chemical etching, the impact on titanium is also very small.

• Which titanium products are commonly used in laser engraving technology？

Titanium scooter bars, titanium bike , titanium plates, titanium tubes, titanium rods, titanium fasteners, medical titanium products, aerospace titanium products, etc. will all use laser engraving technology.

• Which is the most commonly used engraving technique for titanium?

The most commonly used engraving technique is, of course, laser engraving.

THT has decades of titanium manufacturing experience, we could make titanium laser engraving on required titanium product, if you require laser engraving titanium plate, titanium bar, titanium tube, titanium scooter bar, titanium fastener, titanium pipe fittings , titanium flange etc, welcome to contact us freely.