Laser Marking
Foil handling for labels a laser can't mark directly
Video courtesy of ACI Laser.
Overview
FoilStar is a foil handling system for the jobs where the material itself cannot take a laser mark. It marks and cuts special films and labels in volume, to any 2D contour — no shape or size limit of the kind pad printing and thermal transfer impose. The labels resist heat, abrasion, chemicals and weather without the colours smudging or fading, and the film's strong adhesive tears at built-in break points if anyone tries to lift a label, which is what makes it a defence against warranty fraud and counterfeiting.
Laser films are the answer for materials that are difficult or impossible to mark directly. An ablation film is built up in layers — a base layer, a film with an adhesive layer, a contrast colour layer and a top colour layer. Set the parameters correctly and the beam removes only the extremely thin top colour, revealing the contrasting colour beneath; a second pass cuts through the whole film so the finished label lifts off the backing and goes straight onto the part.
Colour change films work differently: a transparent laminate covers the marked layer, so no gas or dust escapes during marking, and the contrast is as good as an ablation film's.
The volumes involved are considerable — laser films are an industrial information medium the vehicle industry in particular now depends on, which is why the process was developed to mark them at high contrast on short cycle times.
Film transport and the marking process are controlled by Foil Manager, the software included with FoilStar. Templates load and a job starts from a single click, and the number of labels per length of film — and the total run — is configurable. Anyone already familiar with the system can operate it without further training.
It ships in two versions:
Every ACI system is driven by Magic Mark, the supplier's own marking software. It handles text, graphics, barcodes and Data Matrix codes, serial numbers and logos, and will mark right around a cylindrical part without a rotary attachment.
Operator permissions are set per user group, so a machine on the shop floor can be locked to running jobs while programming stays with the people who own it. On an automated line Magic Mark runs unattended and exchanges job data with your existing systems; plug-ins add code generation and scripting where a process needs them.
FoilStar is a turnkey Class 1 system, so it guarantees operator safety without any additional safety equipment on your side.
Extraction and filter systems for the fumes produced during marking are available as an accessory, with the connection for an external unit built in.
FoilStar handles the film; the mark comes from whichever laser is fitted. These are the systems it can be paired with.
Experience since the 1960s
Our years of experience in the sheet metal manufacturing and engineering business stretches back to the 1960s. This means you receive expert advice and service from experienced engineers who understand the needs of your business. GWB Machine Tools is Australia's sole distributor for LVD quality machinery, Lissmac handling and processing machines, MSS nitrogen generators and Kohler leveling machines.
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