KOENIG K30MOPA

Compatible Materials for Fiber Laser Marking Machines

Fiber laser marking machines are designed primarily for high-speed metal engraving and marking applications, while also offering compatibility with a range of engineering plastics and coated materials commonly used across industrial manufacturing, signage, jewellery, and engineering industries.

Fiber laser systems are ideal for:

• Industrial part identification
• Compliance plates
• QR codes and barcodes
• Product branding and labelling
• Jewellery engraving
• Permanent traceability marking
• Serial number marking
  

Different materials respond differently depending on composition, reflectivity, coatings, additives, alloy content, and laser power settings.

Metals That Mark Extremely Well

The following materials typically produce strong contrast, sharp detail, and consistent engraving results:

• Mild Steel
• Stainless Steel
• Titanium
• Brass
• Nickel & Nickel-Plated Metals
• Anodised Aluminium
  

These materials absorb fiber laser energy efficiently and are commonly used in industrial identification, manufacturing, tooling, engineering, and production environments.

Anodised aluminium performs exceptionally well, with the laser removing the anodised layer to create extremely high-contrast markings.

Materials That Benefit from Parameter Optimisation

Some metals are fully compatible but require refined settings due to reflectivity or thermal conductivity:

• Raw Aluminium
• Polished Aluminium
• Copper
• Gold
• Silver
• Platinum
• Coated or Painted Metals
  

With correct setup, fixturing, frequency control, and parameter optimisation, these materials can still achieve clean and consistent results.

Reflective materials may require slower speeds, additional passes, or adjusted focal positioning depending on the desired finish.

Precious Metals & Jewellery Applications

Fiber laser systems are commonly used for engraving precious metals including:

• Silver Gold
• Platinum
  

These materials are typically best suited to:

• Fine detail engraving
• Surface marking
• Branding
• Personalisation
• Jewellery serialisation
  

Due to their reflective nature and high thermal conductivity, deep aggressive engraving may vary depending on material composition and surface finish.

Marking inside rings or curved jewellery surfaces requires additional consideration, as angled beam interaction may affect consistency. With correct fixturing and setup, excellent results can still be achieved.

Engineering Plastics Compatible with Fiber Laser Marking

While fiber lasers are optimised primarily for metal processing, many engineering plastics also respond well — particularly those designed for industrial identification applications.

Plastics That Mark Well

• ABS
• HIPS
• Polycarbonate (PC)
• Nylon (PA)
• PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate)
• 2-Ply / Traffolyte Materials
  

These materials are commonly used for:

• Electrical housings
• Industrial labels
• Switchboards
• Compliance plates
• Connector bodies
• Consumer product casings
  

Black and darker coloured plastics generally produce stronger contrast due to improved laser absorption.

Plastics That May Require Additives

Some plastics can still be marked successfully but may require laser-sensitive additives for optimal results:

• PE (Polyethylene)
• PP (Polypropylene)
  

Many industrial-grade plastics are specifically formulated for fiber laser compatibility to produce high-contrast white or light markings on dark substrates.

Acrylic & Wood Notes

• Standard clear acrylic is generally better suited to CO2 laser systems rather than fiber lasers.
• Fiber marking machines can also be used for marking onto wooden surfaces, however the finish will generally be less consistent than a CO2 laser system.
  

For customers primarily working with acrylics, timber, signage materials, or organic substrates, a CO2 laser is typically the preferred solution.

Surface Finishes That Produce Excellent Contrast

Fiber laser systems perform exceptionally well when removing coatings or surface finishes, making them ideal for industrial identification and branded product marking.

Compatible Finishes

• Painted Surfaces
• Powder Coated Metals
• Anodised Finishes
• Coated Metals & Plastics
• Oxide-Coated Metals
  

In these applications, the laser removes the top coating layer to expose the base material underneath, producing strong visual contrast with excellent durability.

Metal Cutting Notes

Thin metal can be cut using higher-powered fiber marking machines, particularly with 50W systems, however this generally requires multiple passes and slower processing speeds.

For regular or production-level metal cutting applications, we strongly recommend a dedicated fiber cutting machine for:

• Faster processing
• Cleaner edge quality
• Greater cutting thickness capacity
• Improved efficiency
  

General Fiber Laser Marking Notes

• Matte or brushed finishes typically produce stronger contrast than mirror-polished materials
• Material composition and alloy variations influence engraving behaviour
• Engineering plastics respond differently depending on fillers and additives
• Results vary depending on artwork detail, speed, frequency, focal distance, and power settings
• Material testing is recommended where engraving depth or finish quality is critical
• Fiber laser systems are optimised primarily for metal engraving and marking applications