A
Laser ablation
Process of removing material from the surface of an object using laser energy. The material is vaporized or sublimated without damaging the surrounding areas.
Laser annealing
Laser marking technique that modifies the metallurgical surface structure of the material without removing it. It produces a color change (usually black or dark gray) without damaging the surface, ideal for stainless steels in the medical field.
Marking area
The maximum area within which the laser system can mark without moving the workpiece. It depends on the focal length used and the system’s optical configuration.
B
Beam expander
An optical component that changes the diameter of the laser beam before it reaches the scanning head. It allows for the variation of spot size and depth of focus.
BMP (Bitmap)
A raster image file format that can be used in laser marking software to engrave logos, photographs, or grayscale images onto surfaces.
C
Carbonization
Laser marking process that burns the surface of the material, creating a dark mark. Mainly used on plastic, wood, and organic materials.
Laser class
International classification of lasers based on the level of risk to operator safety. LASIT industrial marking systems fall into classes 1, 2, 3, or 4 depending on the configuration and protections adopted.
CO2 laser
Gas laser with a wavelength of 10,600 nm. Particularly effective on non-metallic materials such as wood, glass, ceramics, plastics, and fabrics. Not suitable for direct marking of uncoated metals.
Barcode
A scanner-readable optical symbol composed of bars and spaces of variable widths. Used for industrial traceability and logistics management.
DataMatrix Code
A 2D symbol consisting of square cells arranged in a matrix. It allows large amounts of data to be encoded in a small space. A standard for traceability in the automotive, medical, and aerospace industries (ISO/IEC 16022).
D
DataMatrix
See DataMatrix Code.
Laser degating
A process that uses a laser to separate molded parts from the gates in injection molds. A precise and clean alternative to traditional mechanical cutting.
Power density
Amount of laser energy per unit area (W/cm²). Determines the effect of the laser on the material: marking, shallow engraving, or deep cutting.
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
Laser marking resolution expressed in dots per inch. The higher the DPI, the greater the level of detail that can be achieved in the marking.
And
Pulse Energy
The amount of energy contained in a single laser pulse, expressed in millijoules (mJ) or microjoules (µJ). A fundamental parameter for pulsed lasers such as MOPA and picosecond lasers.
Engraving
The English term for laser engraving. A process that removes material from a surface, creating a groove that is physically perceptible to the touch.
F
F-theta lens
A special optical lens used in laser scanning heads that ensures uniform focusing across the entire flat marking area by compensating for geometric distortions.
Fiber optics
Glass or plastic cable used to transmit the laser beam from the source to the marking head. It allows for great flexibility in laser system integration.
Field lens
See F-theta lens.
Focal
Distance between the focusing lens and the point where the laser beam reaches its minimum size (spot). Determines the marking area and the size of the spot on the workpiece.
Repetition rate
The number of laser pulses emitted per second, expressed in kHz or MHz. It affects the marking speed and the quality of the result on various materials.
G
Galvanometer (Galvo)
A system of mirrors controlled by electromagnetic motors that deflect the laser beam to direct it precisely onto the surface to be marked. It allows for very high scanning speeds.
Vector graphics
Image file type (e.g., SVG, DXF, AI) based on mathematical equations rather than pixels. Preferred for laser marking logos and text because it scales without loss of quality.
I
Laser engraving
A process that removes material from the surface using laser energy, creating physically perceptible cavities. Deeper than marking, it produces three-dimensional effects.
Robotic integration
Connecting a laser marking system to a robotic arm to automate part positioning and marking on the production line.
ISO 9001
International standard for quality management systems. LASIT is ISO 9001 certified, ensuring controlled production processes and consistent quality.
J
J (Joule)
A unit of energy. In the context of lasers, the energy of a pulse is measured in millijoules (mJ) or microjoules (µJ).
K
kHz (kilohertz)
Unit of measurement for the repetition rate of laser pulses. 1 kHz = 1,000 pulses per second.
L
Laser
Acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A device that generates a beam of coherent, monochromatic, and collimated light through the process of stimulated emission.
Fiber laser
A type of solid-state laser in which the active medium is an optical fiber doped with rare earth elements (typically erbium or ytterbium). Wavelength 1060-1080 nm. Highly efficient, compact, and reliable, ideal for metal marking.
CO2 laser
See CO2 laser.
MOPA Laser
See MOPA.
Picosecond laser
See Picosecond laser.
UV laser
See UV laser.
Green laser
See Laser Green.
Wavelength
The distance between two successive crests of an electromagnetic wave, expressed in nanometers (nm). It determines the color of the visible laser and its interaction with different materials.
M
Laser marking
A process of permanently modifying the surface of a material using laser energy. It includes annealing, carbonization, foaming, ablation, and engraving, depending on the material and the desired result.
On-the-fly marking
Laser marking technique that allows marking of moving parts on a conveyor belt without stopping the production line. The system synchronizes the laser with the belt speed.
MHz (Megahertz)
A unit of measurement for the repetition rate of laser pulses. 1 MHz = 1,000,000 pulses per second.
MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier)
A fiber laser architecture in which the pulse duration can be controlled independently of the frequency. It offers great flexibility in marking various materials, including non-ferrous metals such as anodized aluminum.
N
nm (nanometer)
A unit of measurement for the wavelength of light. 1 nm = 0.000000001 meters. The typical wavelengths of industrial lasers range from 355 nm (UV) to 10,600 nm (CO2).
O
OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
An optical verification system that reads and verifies laser-marked characters to ensure legibility and compliance with traceability requirements.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
In the context of lasers, this refers to laser systems designed to be integrated into third-party machinery or production lines rather than used as standalone systems.
P
Picosecond laser
Ultra-fast laser with pulse durations in the picosecond range (10⁻¹² seconds). Produces extremely precise marks with minimal thermal effects on the surrounding material. Ideal for delicate materials and high-precision applications.
Average power
Total energy emitted by the laser per unit of time, expressed in watts (W). This determines the marking speed and the achievable engraving depth.
Depth of focus
Distance range within which the laser beam maintains an acceptable spot size for marking. This parameter is important for parts with surfaces that are not perfectly flat.
Q
QR Code
A two-dimensional barcode that can be read by smartphones and scanners. It can contain URLs, text, and structured data. It is increasingly used for product traceability and linking to digital documentation.
R
Raster
Laser marking mode that reproduces images dot by dot, line by line, like a printer. Suitable for photographs, gradients, and complex images.
S
Scanner (Scan Head)
A component of the laser system that directs the beam via galvanometric mirrors. It determines the speed and accuracy of the marking.
Laser foam
Laser marking process that creates microbubbles within the plastic material, generating a light mark on a dark background. Used for marking black or dark-colored plastic.
Marking software
Application that manages the laser system, allows the creation and modification of marking layouts, parameter control and integration with production systems.
Spot
The focal point of the laser beam on the material surface. The spot size (expressed in µm or mm) determines the resolution and precision of the marking.
T
Industrial traceability
Component identification and tracking system throughout the production chain using optically readable codes (DataMatrix, QR Code, barcodes). Mandatory in sectors such as automotive, medical, and aerospace.
TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic)
A digital signal used to control the turning on and off of the laser in synchronization with other industrial automation devices.
U
UDI (Unique Device Identification)
A system for uniquely identifying medical devices using codes marked directly on the device or its packaging. Mandatory for medical devices in Europe (MDR) and the U.S. (FDA).
UV laser
Ultraviolet laser, typically 355 nm. Produces extremely precise markings with minimal thermal effects (“cold marking”). Ideal for heat-sensitive materials, glass, ceramics, and transparent plastics.
V
Vector
See Vector Graphics.
Laser green
A green laser with a wavelength of 532 nm in the visible range. Used for materials that strongly reflect infrared wavelengths, such as copper, gold, and some plastics.
W
W (Watt)
Unit of measurement for laser power. Industrial marking systems typically range from 10W to over 100W, depending on the application.
Z
Z-axis
The marking system’s vertical axis controls the distance between the laser head and the workpiece. Adjusting the Z-axis allows for optimal focus on workpieces of varying heights or inclined surfaces.