Ultra violet (UV) Laser marking is accomplished by the absorption of the laser radiation on the surface of the wire insulation that creates a reaction with the UV-sensitive pigments known as titanium dioxide or TiO2. This reaction causes the TiO2 particles that are contained within the wire insulation to change colors by rearranging their crystalline structure on a microscopic scale. Thus, it leaves a high contrast blackish color on white insulation. The mark is embedded about 20 microns (0.0008 inch) into the wire creating a durable marking with resistance against abrasion and fluids.
Our laser wire system is designed for ease of use, increased productivity and reduced labor costs. The high speed On-The-Fly (OTF) marking has a throughput in excess of 80 inches/second and will effectively mark on white or colored insulation including PTFE (Teflon®), ETFE (Tefzel®), XLETFE and FEP. These fluoropolymer materials can generally be marked on in all forms such as dispersion topcoats, extruded polymers and thin tapes. In addition, single core wires, twisted pair wires, multicore cables and round cables can be accommodated.
Our wire marking system can print graphics and images, and text can be laser marked in various fonts and sizes, either vertically or horizontally, with no masking required. The text can originate from the laser wire job/assembly file, or can optionally originate from an MES system over a high-speed network connection.
Other features include infinite text lengths, infinite variable end mark distances, and infinite variable continuous mark distances. Identical text marking on each wire or optional programmable text for each end of the wire can also easily be accomplished. With the serialization option set, the date code and time stamp can automatically be marked on each wire for tracking purposes.
UV laser marking is the specified method of marking wire and cable used in civil and military programs of aircraft manufacturers and their subcontractors, maintenance organizations and wire manufacturers worldwide.
Our laser wire system can process stripping lengths from 0 up to 4 inches on various types of insulation materials, such as enameled coatings, epoxy, ETFE, fiberglass, Formvar, Kapton, Kynar, Milene, Mylar, nylon, silicone, polyester, polyesterimide, polyethylene, polyimide, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, silicone and Teflon.
Our stripper can remove insulation from many types of wire and cable including single-core wire; twin leads; shielded twisted pairs; multiconductor cables; shielded and screened wire and cable; ribbon cable; coaxial cable; and complex 2D- and 3D-shaped conductors, such as coils. In addition, a wide range of wire sizes can be processed without requiring tool changes and wire sizes can range from less than 0.001 inch OD (50 AWG) to 1 inch OD. Ribbon and flat cable can be up to 11.4 inches wide.
Other stripping features of the laser wire system include a variety of wire stripping modes to allow slugs to remain on the wire strands, mid-wire (windowing) laser strip capabilities, on-the-fly stripping options, and excellent precision with a strip length accuracies within +/- 0.30 inches.
With this innovative technology there are no disposal issues of hazardous chemicals, no costly blades to replace or sharpen at regular intervals and no high electrical currents to contend with. Laser wire stripping provides outstanding levels of quality, reliability and productivity in addition to meeting the high standards for conductor damage set by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration.
