High speed and high power laser scribing methods and systems
A method of scribing a graphic on a material is provided, in which laser output is applied to the material. The laser output is moved relative to the material at a high speed greater than 10 m per second, and at a high power greater than 500 W, to scribe a graphic on a surface of the material. Also provided is a system for scribing a graphic on a material. The method and system of the invention are especially useful in the scribing of building materials.
1. A method of laser scribing a graphic onto a workpiece, comprising:
applying control information from a controller operable at a controller speed in a range of 10,000 pixels per second to 50,000 pixels per second to a laser operated to produce a laser beam, and laser scribing a graphic onto a surface of a workpiece with the laser beam based on the control information, said laser scribing comprises moving the laser beam at a relative scan speed in a range of 10 m/s to 50 m/s and lasing the graphic onto the surface of the workpiece while the controller with the control information is operable to change the power output every 1 to 4 pixels without burning through the workpiece, wherein the laser is operable to produce the laser beam with a power output in a range of 500 W to 5000 W.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser is operable to produce the laser beam with the power output in a range of greater than 500 W to 5000 W.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller speed is operable in a range of 20,000 pixels per second to 50,000 pixels per second.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the relative scan speed is in a range of 30-50 m/s.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the laser is operated to produce the laser beam with the power output greater than 1000 W.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said laser scribing further comprises applying the laser beam to the workpiece over a scan length of at least 0.9 m.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the graphic has a resolution of 32 to 60 laser lines per inch.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece comprises a denim workpiece.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece comprises a leather workpiece.
10. A method of laser scribing a graphic onto a workpiece, comprising:
providing a laser operable to produce a laser beam with a power output of at least 500 W for laser scribing a graphic onto a surface of a workpiece based on control information;
providing a workpiece to be scribed;
applying control information from a controller operable at a controller speed of at least 10,000 pixels per second to the laser while the laser beam is moved at a speed relative to the surface of the workpiece of at least 10 m/s; and
laser scribing a graphic onto a surface of a workpiece with the laser beam based on the control information, said laser scribing comprises moving the laser beam at a relative scan speed of at least 10 m/s and lasing the graphic onto the surface of the workpiece without burning through the workpiece.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller with the control information is operable to change the power output every 1 to 4 pixels.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said lasing the graphic onto the surface of the workpiece comprises operating the controller with the controller using the control information to change the power output every 1 to 4 pixels without burning through the workpiece.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said lasing the graphic onto the surface of the workpiece comprises operating the controller with the controller using the control information to change the power output every 1 to 4 pixels without burning through the workpiece while operating the laser to produce the laser beam with the power output of at least 500 W.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said laser scribing is performed with the laser beam having a power output in a range of 500 W to 5000 W.
15. A method of laser scribing a graphic onto a workpiece, comprising:
providing a laser operable to produce a laser beam with a power output of at least 500 W for laser scribing a graphic onto a surface of a workpiece based on control information;
providing a workpiece to be scribed;
applying control information from a controller operable at a controller speed of 10,000 pixels per second to 50,000 pixels per second to the laser while the laser beam is moved at a speed relative to the surface of the workpiece of at least 10 m/s; and
laser scribing a graphic onto a surface of a workpiece with the laser beam based on the control information, said laser scribing comprises moving the laser beam at a relative scan speed of at least 10 m/s and lasing the graphic onto the surface of the workpiece without burning through the workpiece.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the controller with the control information is operable to change the power output every 1 to 4 pixels.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said lasing the graphic onto the surface of the workpiece comprises operating the controller with the controller using the control information to change the power output every 1 to 4 pixels without burning through the workpiece.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein said lasing the graphic onto the surface of the workpiece comprises operating the controller with the controller using the control information to change the power output every 1 to 4 pixels without burning through the workpiece while operating the laser to produce the laser beam with the power output in the range of 500 W to 5000 W.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said laser scribing is performed with the laser beam having a power output in a range of 500 W to 5000 W.