Industrial Laser Processes for Metal, Plastic & Advanced Materials.

Before Knowing what process best suit your product, one must know its material, usage, Product shape, required precision, production volume, heat sensitivity of the material, traceability requirements, industry standards, surface finishes and integration with current manufacturing. By evaluating these factors, manufacturers can select the most effective laser technology and process for their specific application while maximizing quality, productivity, and ROI.

Laser Marking

What is laser marking and when should you use it?

Laser marking is a permanent, ink-free, non-contact process that uses a focused laser beam for surface treatment to acquire the required achievable results on the basis of laser absorption and possible resulting changes of substrate, making it the standard choice for serial numbers, QR codes, logos, and traceability marks on metal and plastic parts. In this process a localised surface and visual change is induced, which is why there is not much difference in the surface texture. It is a preferred method for high volume laser marking in automotive, electronic and medical device manufacturing sectors.

Quick facts

Process type

Non-contact, surface-level

Material removed

None

Typical use

Serial numbers, QR/DataMatrix codes, logos, date codes, traceability marks

Best for

Metals, plastics, and coated surfaces requiring permanent, high-volume marking

Compared to engraving

Faster, lower running cost, no depth — choose engraving instead if the mark needs to survive heavy abrasion or machining

Recommended power range

Normally below 20 W fibre laser

Laser Deep Engraving

What is deep engraving and how is it different from marking?

Laser deep engraving is a non-contact process that removes material layer by layer to make a precise, permanent mark that is a few microns to millimetres deep into the surface. These engraved marks survive wear and tear, abrasion, and repeated handling. Laser engraving uses controlled multiple passes for layer removal producing a tactile, recessed mark that is permanent, whereas laser marking only changes the surface color, which can be braised. Laser engraving is used in industries where the products are exposed to harsh industrial use.

Quick facts

Process type

Non-contact, sub-surface material removal

Material removed

Yes layer by layer, to micron/millimetre depth

Typical use

Dies, tools, moulds, high-wear components

Best for

Metals and hard materials requiring marks that survive abrasion or machining

Compared to marking

Slower and higher running cost, but far more durable.

Recommended power range

Normally 20W–70W fibre laser for smooth engraving results.

Laser Welding

What is laser welding used for?

Laser welding is a high-precision joining process that uses a focused, high-intensity laser beam to fuse materials together with minimal heat input and no filler material — producing a clean, thin HAZ, no warping, no weld marks, strong weld with almost no post-processing required.

Quick facts

Process type

Contact-free, heat-fusion joining

Material removed

None

Typical use

Metal part assembly, sealed enclosures, fine component joining

Best for

Applications needing strong, narrow, low-distortion welds

Compared to traditional welding

Narrower heat-affected zone, less warping.

Recommended power range

Approximately 2 - 3 Kw fibre laser is good for welding of steel or MS metals.

Laser Annealing

What is laser annealing and what colour marks does it produce?

Laser annealing is a controlled heat-based marking process used on carbon metals that oxidises the surface to produce a smooth, high-contrast mark mostly black, though colour can range from brown to red to green depending on the heat applied. Unlike standard marking, which alters only the outermost surface, annealing works by applying controlled heat through the laser to trigger an oxidation reaction beneath the surface. Because the surface itself isn't removed or roughened, the resulting mark is smooth to the touch and corrosion-resistant making it especially suited to medical instruments and food-contact components where a recessed or rough mark could trap contaminants.

Quick facts

Process type

Non-contact, below-surface oxidation

Material removed

None

Typical use

Medical instruments, food-grade components, precision parts requiring smooth marks

Best for

Carbon-containing metals needing corrosion-resistant, smooth, high-contrast marks

Compared to standard marking

Smoother colored finish and better corrosion resistance, but limited to carbon-containing metals only.

Recommended power range

For annealing-fiber laser 20 watt is sufficient with high frequency

Laser Ablation

What is laser ablation and how does it differ from cleaning?

Laser ablation is a precision process of removal that selectively removes layers of coating such as paint, insulation, or plating, exposing the base material beneath without damaging it.

Quick facts

Process type

Non-contact, selective layer removal

Material removed

Yes

Typical use

Paint/coating removal, mould cleaning, aerospace part restoration

Best for

Removing coatings without chemicals or abrasives.

Compared to cleaning

Ablation targets specific coating layers with precision; cleaning is broader contaminant removal (rust, oils, residues).

Recommended power range

20 watt fine laser

Laser Foaming

What is laser foaming and which materials is it used on?

Laser foaming is a laser marking technique used only on polymers, where the laser creates a molten burn on the surface that produces gas bubbles, making a raised, light-coloured tactile, durable mark without ink or material removal.

Quick facts

Process type

Non-contact, thermal (polymer-specific)

Material removed

None

Typical use

Plastic consumer goods, light-coloured marks on dark polymer parts

Best for

Polymers requiring a raised, light-coloured contrast mark

Compared to standard marking

Only for polymers, produces a textured, lighter mark.

Recommended power range

Normal 20 watt with low power for foaming

Laser Cutting

What is laser cutting best suited for?

Laser cutting is a high-precision process that uses a focused laser beam to penetrate and separate material along a defined path, producing clean edges, no burr, no warping, a narrow kerf, and minimal heat distortion — making it ideal for micro machining and high volume sheet metal or plastic production.

Quick facts

Process type

Non-contact, full material penetration

Material removed

Yes

Typical use

Sheet metal cutting, intricate shapes, high-volume component separation

Best for

Precision cutting of metals and plastics where speed and edge quality matter

Compared to punch pressing/EDM

Lower setup cost, faster for complex shapes, smaller kerf width

Recommended power range

Normally 1-3 KW fibre laser is used for 2-5 mm sheet cutting and 40-50 KW for 50mm thick.

Laser Drilling

What is laser micro-drilling and what hole sizes can it achieve?

Laser micro-drilling is a non-contact process that uses very high-intensity laser irradiation in tight tolerances at the micro scale, to create precise holes in medical implants and tubes ranging from 1 micron to 1 millimetre in diameter, with the exact removal mechanism depending on the material, laser type, and process configuration.

Quick facts

Process type

Non-contact

Material removed

Yes

Typical use

Filters, nozzles, medical components, fine mechanical parts

Best for

Holes between 1 µm and 1 mm requiring tight tolerances and no taper

Compared to mechanical drilling

Achieves far smaller, more precise holes with no physical tool wear.

Recommended power range

For Laser drilling - 20 watt normal or 50 watt fine to drill steel tubes of wall thickness upto 0.5mm

Frequently Asked Questions

1 Do I need a different Markolaser laser machine for every laser process?

Ans: Not necessarily. Many of Markolaser's advanced laser machines (such as the URSA or HERCULES series) are all-in-one workstations capable of switching between marking, deep engraving, cutting, and ablation simply by adjusting the digital parameters (power, speed, frequency, and pulse width) within the Markomark control software.

2 What are the main industrial laser processes offered by Markolaser?

Ans:

Marking: Surface contrast alteration or color changing without material removal.
Engraving: Vaporizing the top substrate layers to form a shallow, permanent recess.
Deep Engraving: Multi-pass micron-level deep milling to carve deep into hard materials.
Cutting / Micro-Drilling: High-energy penetration to slice materials or create taper-free microscopic holes (1 µm to 1 mm).
Cleaning: Contact-free, eco-friendly removal of process surface contaminants like rust, oils, or vulcanization residues.
Ablation: Selective removal of paint, coatings, or thin insulation layers to expose the underlying base material.

3 Can Markolaser's fiber lasers cut highly reflective materials like brass, copper, and gold?

Ans: Yes. Markolaser designs specialized configurations utilizing high-peak-power European sources and fine beam spot diameters to cut detailed filigree jewelry and brass pendant art effortlessly.

4 What are the industrial advantages of choosing Laser Ablation over chemical stripping?

Ans: Markolaser's Laser Ablation is an eco-friendly, contact-free solution. It completely eliminates the need for toxic chemical solvents, ink strippers, or abrasive sandblasting media. This drastically minimizes running costs, eliminates hazardous chemical waste disposal burdens, and ensures absolute safety for delicate surface restorations such as aerospace parts, injection molds, or historical artwork.

5 which laser process should I use for my part ?

Ans:

Process	What It Does	Best For	Material Removed?	Recommended Laser Power
Marking	Induces a localised surface and visual change with no change in texture	Serial numbers, QR/DataMatrix codes, logos, traceability marks on metal & plastic	No	Below 20W fibre laser
Engraving	Removes a shallow surface layer in controlled passes	Marks requiring smooth, wear-resistant finish	Minimal	20W–70W fibre laser
Deep Engraving	Removes material layer by layer to a precise micron–mm depth	Dies, tools, moulds, high-wear components exposed to harsh industrial use	Yes	20W–70W fibre laser
Cutting	Penetrates and separates material with clean edges, no burr, no warping	Sheet metal cutting, intricate shapes, high-volume separation	Yes	1–3 kW (2–5mm sheet); 40–50 kW (50mm thick)
Micro-Drilling	Creates precise, taper-free holes at tight tolerances	Filters, nozzles, medical implants & tubes, fine mechanical parts	Yes	20W normal / 50W fine (≤0.5mm wall thickness)
Welding	Fuses materials with minimal heat input, thin HAZ, no warping or weld marks	Metal part assembly, sealed enclosures, fine component joining	No	2–3 kW fibre laser (steel/MS metals)
Annealing	Oxidises the surface beneath the metal using controlled heat	Medical instruments, food-grade components needing smooth, corrosion-resistant marks	None	20W fibre laser, high frequency
Ablation	Selectively removes coating layers (paint, insulation, plating)	Paint/coating removal, mould cleaning, aerospace part restoration	Coating only	20W fine laser
Foaming	Creates gas bubbles in a molten polymer surface	Light-coloured, raised, tactile marks on dark plastic parts	None	20W, low power

Meet Markolaser family of other standard laser marking machines.

Looking for a laser marking or laser process machine near you in India ?

Markolaser supplies CE Certified laser marking, engraving, cutting, drilling, and welding machines to manufacturers across India — including Delhi NCR, Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ludhiana, and Rajkot, Baddi and many others. Our Application engineers visit your facility or discuss in detail with you do and sample marking on your product before you commit to a machine.

Find the right Laser machine near you.