Laser Marking

Marking & decoration · Laser

Laser marking uses focused fiber, CO2, or UV energy to create permanent text, logos, serials, UDI, and machine-readable codes.

CNC machining Sheet metal Injection moldingBudget cost $Unchanged

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What is Laser mark?

Depending on material and settings, it anneals, engraves, ablates a coating, carbonizes, or foams plastic.

How it works

Galvanometer mirrors scan a focused beam over the artwork. Fiber lasers couple well into many metals and can anneal stainless steel, engrave metal, or remove anodize and paint. CO2 lasers couple well into many organics and glasses, while UV lasers use short wavelength and low heat input for fine polymer marking. Polymer response may be dark carbonization, light foaming, colour change from an additive, or shallow engraving. Focus, pulse energy, speed, hatch spacing, and atmosphere control contrast and depth.

Why specify it

Creates variable serials and UDI without a physical printing tool
Supports about 0.10 mm minimum line width
Annealed colour-change marks add no depth; shallow engraving is typically 5–50 µm
Can mark Data Matrix ECC200 codes for traceability
No ink, foil, or curing consumable

Where it falls short

Contrast depends strongly on alloy, coating, pigment, and laser wavelength
Deep engraving increases cycle time and heat input
Reflective copper alloys need appropriate source and process development
Machine-readable codes require grading on the finished geometry

Laser mark at a glance

Laser mark is strongest on cosmetic quality (70 of 100), at a budget cost. It adds little corrosion protection or lubricity. Surface hardness is not rated: the finish leaves the part's own surface.

Corrosion protectionMinimal0 / 100

Surface hardnessNot rated—

Cosmetic qualityVery good70 / 100

LubricityMinimal10 / 100

Relative costBudget18 / 100

Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion comes from salt-spray life (ASTM B117, log scale) and hardness from the finish layer's Vickers or pencil hardness; cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Economy on the radar is the inverse of cost.

Laser mark key numbers

Typical values from the governing specifications and shop practice; bars are this finish against the highest value among marking & decoration finishes.

Thickness0–50 µm0–2 mil

Thickness

0 µm depth for annealed colour change or coating ablation at the interface; up to 50 µm depth for shallow engraving. Polymer foaming may create slight positive relief.

Electrical

Unchanged

Colours

black
white
grey
substrate contrast
limited colour effects on selected materials

Appearance

High-resolution dark, light, frosted, or recessed marks; appearance depends on material response and wavelength.

Specifications for Laser mark

The documents a drawing cites to define this finish, with the Type / Class rows that apply. Each links to a page explaining the standard, and US Government documents are free to download there.

Standard	Type / Class	Thickness	Requirement / test	Status
MIL-STD-130 Identification Marking of U.S. Military Property · DoD	Human-readable information	—	Free-text identification containing the required enterprise identifier and part or identifying number, plus other contract data. · Visual legibility, content, location, permanence, and workmanship.	Active
	Machine-readable information	—	Linear or two-dimensional machine-readable marking, including IUID data when required. · Data syntax, symbol verification, readability, permanence, and contract-specified quality grade.
	Item Unique Identification	—	Machine-readable unique item identifier constructed from approved enterprise and item data elements. · UII construct validation, data-content verification, symbol quality, and permanence.

Test and related methods: ISO 15415 (Automatic Identification and Data Capture Techniques — Bar Code Symbol Print Quality Test Specification — Two-Dimensional Symbols), ISO 15416 (Automatic Identification and Data Capture Techniques — Bar Code Symbol Print Quality Test Specification — Linear Symbols), AS9132 (Data Matrix Quality Requirements for Parts Marking).

Drawing call-out

LASER MARK PER MIL-STD-130, DATA MATRIX ECC200, 6 × 6 MM, 0.10 MM MIN CELL, CONTRAST ≥ 30 %, GRADE 2.5 MIN PER ISO 15415

Pattern: MARK PER MIL-STD-130, METHOD <LASER|DOT PEEN|ELECTROCHEMICAL ETCH|LABEL>, CONTENT <DATA ELEMENTS>, LOCATION AS SHOWN, [IUID/MRI REQUIREMENTS]

Which materials take Laser mark?

Verdict per material family, with the grades that behave differently. Each family links to its datasheets in the material library.

Material family	Verdict	Notes
Aluminum	Yes	Fiber marking and anodize ablation are common.
Brass	Yes	Common; contrast depends on alloy and laser source.
Stainless Steel	Yes	Annealed dark marks can preserve a smooth surface when the recipe is controlled.
Steel	Yes	Engraving and coating ablation are common.
Titanium	Yes	Annealed or engraved marks are standard aerospace and medical practice.
Ceramic	With care	Markability depends on glaze and ceramic composition.
Copper Alloy	With care	High reflectivity needs a suitable wavelength and process development.
Glass	With care	CO2 and UV can frost or engrave glass, with crack risk controlled by recipe.
Magnesium Alloy	With care	Possible with a low-heat recipe; avoid deep engraving that raises fire-risk fines.
Polymer	With care	CO2, fiber, or UV response depends on resin, pigment, and laser additive. Some grades burn or melt without useful contrast
Zinc Alloy	With care	Common on zinc die castings; contrast is alloy- and coating-dependent.

How Laser mark is applied, and what it does to the part

1Verify material and finish
2Fixture to datum
3Load artwork and variable data
4Set focus and laser recipe
5Mark
6Clean residue if needed
7Inspect content, contrast, and code grade

Dimensions	Annealing and colour change have negligible depth; specify engraving depth when material removal up to 50 µm matters.
Masking	Rarely needed. Fixture and software define the mark; exclude sealing faces, fatigue-critical edges, and functional coatings unless approved.
Electrical	Unchanged
Appearance	High-resolution dark, light, frosted, or recessed marks; appearance depends on material response and wavelength.
Added lead time	1–3 working days on top of the bare part

Design rules for Laser mark

What to decide on the drawing before the part goes to the finisher.

Use 0.10 mm minimum line width for general production artwork.Beam spot, focus, material response, and scanner accuracy limit finer robust features.
Put the mark on a locally accessible surface within the lens field.Focus error and steep curvature change spot size and contrast.
Specify anneal, coating removal, colour change, foaming, or engraving.The same artwork can produce different depth and durability.
Grade Data Matrix on the finished part to ISO 15415.Cell geometry, glare, and background affect readability.
Provide a flat quiet zone around machine-readable codes.Adjacent texture and curvature interfere with decoding.
Keep engraving away from highly stressed thin sections.Material removal and local heat can create a stress raiser.

Laser mark versus the alternatives

Finishes engineers weigh against Laser mark, and when each wins.

Finish	Hardness	Cosmetic	Cost	Thickness	Choose it when
Laser mark this page	—	70	$	0–50 µm	—
Dot Peen Marking Laser mark vs Dot Peen Marking →	—	35	$	50–500 µm	for robust indented codes on rough metal
Pad Printing Laser mark vs Pad Printing →	—	72	$	5–10 µm	for coloured graphics on curved plastic

Laser markDot Peen Marking

The radar overlays Laser mark with Dot Peen Marking, its most common alternative — chosen for robust indented codes on rough metal. Scores in the table are 0–100 across every finish in the catalog.

Cost, lead time and compliance

Relative cost

Laser Marking is a budget-cost finish ($): cheaper than about 81 % of the finishes FabDigit quotes.

Finishing is priced per part with a lot minimum, from FabDigit's own China-side rates cross-checked against US job-shop pricing. The exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.

Lead time and compliance

Added lead time	1–3 working days
RoHS	Compliant
Notes	No ink or foil is added; extraction is needed for ablation fumes and particulate, especially from polymers and coatings.

What Laser mark is used for

Serial numbers
UDI on medical devices
Data Matrix traceability codes
Regulatory labels
Logos and control legends

Laser mark — frequently asked

Laser marking vs engraving: what is the difference?

Laser marking is the broad process and can create contrast with nearly zero depth by annealing, colour change, or coating removal. Laser engraving removes substrate; this record covers shallow engraving from 0 to 50 µm.

Can you laser mark anodized aluminum?

Yes. A laser commonly removes or modifies the dyed anodic layer to create a light mark against dark anodize, with essentially no added film thickness; validate contrast without cutting through more coating than intended.

Fiber vs CO2 vs UV laser marking: which should I use?

Fiber lasers are the usual starting point for metals, CO2 for many organic materials and glass, and UV for fine low-heat polymer marking. The correct source still depends on absorption, pigment, additives, coating, and required 0–50 µm depth.

Can laser marking make a MIL-STD-130 UID Data Matrix?

Yes, when the content, construction, location, and permanence meet the drawing and MIL-STD-130 requirements. Grade the finished direct-part mark to ISO 15415 and state the minimum acceptable grade.

Does laser annealing reduce corrosion resistance of stainless steel?

A controlled anneal mark changes the oxide colour without deliberate material removal, but excess heat can disturb the passive surface. Qualify the laser recipe on the alloy and service environment when corrosion performance is critical.

How small can laser-marked text and lines be?

Use 0.10 mm as a robust minimum line width for general job-shop work. Smaller features may be possible with UV systems and controlled surfaces, but must be proven by sample and, for codes, by ISO 15415 or ISO 15416 grading.