Appliance Design - September 2007 - (Page 60) DECORATION The liquid metal marking material can be applied using conventional spray equipment. Making a Mark The laser-bonded mark is as durable as the metal it is bonded to. When spray-type marking material is used, the excess can be simply washed away with plain water. Laser-marking materials meet the need for durable, high-contrast direct marking. T by sean weir Sean Weir is a scientist in Laser Marking Products R&D at Ferro Corp. Glass Systems, Washington, Pa. 60 applianceDESIGN September 2007 he idea of marking or decorating products is not new. There are several methods to decorate or apply functional markings on a substrate, some of which make more permanent marks than others. Over the years, companies have used these methods to mark products, and there are many different kinds of marks to be placed on a product. The types of markings on a given product can range anywhere from decorative designs to bar codes and serial numbers. Today, a new technique for producing durable, high-contrast markings on a variety of substrates is beginning to emerge as a preferred method for marking appliance products. This marking technique is known as laser bonding. The methods available in the marking industry employ a wide range of techniques. Each of these techniques has certain strengths and weaknesses. Taken as a group, some benefits these marking techniques offer include speed, low cost, and, in some cases, an attractive mark. There are also several disadvantages associated with this group, including indirect markings, damage to the surface, and many non-permanent marks. The marking method employed in any given situation will usually be dictated by either the requirements of the marking application and/or the cost of the marking. In many cases, a permanent marking may not be needed, and there are several inexpensive methods that can be used to provide such markings, like using a paper label. If the application requires a permanent marking, the choice of technique is more limited. Sandblasting, acid etching, metal stamping, laser etching and laser bonding are the common permanent marking techniques. Sandblasting will produce a durable mark, but it is low contrast and messy. Acid etching is also messy and time consuming. Metal stamping may cause significant substrate damage, as well as having very little aesthetic appeal. Laser etching is very fast and permanent, but it also damages the substrate, causes debris, and can often be low contrast. Laser bonding addresses a primary need to apply a marking directly on appliance surfaces that is permanent, high contrast, and doesn’t damage the substrate. The process requires no messy chemicals, produces a marking that withstands the everyday rigors of the appliance usage, and provides an aesthetically appealing decoration that also has the permanence of the other marking techniques. www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.appliancedesign.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.