Technical Blog

When you need to safely and permanently add identifying marks to wire and cable, ultraviolet (UV) lasers are hard to beat. The titanium dioxide typically found in white wire insulation reacts with the UV laser energy to make a black, high-contrast mark on the cable. Other colors of wire insulation can be marked using different […]

Creating permanent marks on organic materials like wood, leather or paper using laser technology is a common application. But when high production rates, complex automation and precision alignments are required, the job can become more challenging. At Control Micro Systems, Inc. (CMS), we can design and manufacture laser systems to overcome these challenges for any […]

When designing new plastic parts, having the ability to quickly perform welding tests in-house can save significant expense and time. At Control Micro Systems, we can custom-design an R&D laser welding machine that provides maximum flexibility for welding many different types of plastic parts. Laser welding systems can vary in sophistication: They can be as […]

Laser welding of plastic polymers has many advantages over traditional welding methods. These benefits allow you to weld complex part designs and path variations without the challenges of other welding methods, such as fixed weld paths, mechanical stress on sensitive parts due to direct contact and a fixed heat input rate. Laser welding overcomes all […]

Originally invented to print dials on wristwatches, pad printing has become a popular method for marking logos, text and other information on consumer, industrial and medical products. Also known as tampography or tampo printing, pad printing requires four elements: pad, cup or doctor blade, ink, and printing plate (cliché). Like intaglio printing, pad printing requires […]

Permanently labeling medical devices and products with a unique identifier to track them from initial production through patient use is an important part of manufacturing control in the medical industry. In our previous blog posts, we discussed Laser Solutions for UDI-Compliant Stainless Steel Marking and Cold Marking With UV Lasers for Plastic Medical Device Manufacturing. […]

The use of robotics in industrial laser marking, cutting and welding systems continues to grow as advanced manufacturing challenges emerge. Many complex material handling efforts can be solved with multi-axis robots. From laser texturing bone implants to laser drilling irregularly shaped plastic medical devices, robots are highly versatile tools for laser marking complex materials.   […]

Laser marking of plastics has become common in industrial equipment, medical devices, aerospace components, automotive parts and common household appliances. However, medical device manufacturing (MDM) suppliers are required to track their products using unique device identification (UDI) codes, data matrices and other tracking information. They must also meet strict Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and […]

Coated wires are used throughout the medical industry and need to be end stripped and window stripped to exacting tolerances for eventual soldering, brazing or welding. Insulating coating types such as polyimide, urethane, lacquer, Kapton® and formvar are commonly used on medical wires and require unique methods to be cleanly removed. These materials can’t be […]

Rapid advancements in the medical industry are leading to smaller, less-invasive instruments, with correspondingly reduced feature and aperture sizes. While device manufacturers can choose from various drilling methods, ultrafast (picosecond and femtosecond) laser drilling is the best choice for exacting quality control requirements and demanding production goals. Some of the devices that can benefit from […]