METHOD FOR MARKING COMPONENTS EMPLOYING OVERLAPPING AND SUBSEQUENTLY BARELY OVERLAPPING LASER PULSES

• US 20150028004A1
• Filed: 02/12/2013
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Giese, Mario
• Application Number:
  US14/382,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.66
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/007 Marks, e.g. trade marks
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/56 semiconducting semiconducting devices B23K2101/40
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0006 taking account of the properties of the material involved B23K26/32, B23K26/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0622 by shaping pulses
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/354 by melting
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/355 Texturing
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/3576 Diminishing rugosity, e.g. grinding; Polishing; Smoothing
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/361 for deburring or mechanical trimming B23K26/351 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/442 using lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/586 outside the space between the races, e.g. end faces or bore of inner ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/64 Special methods of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7826 of the opposing surface cooperating with the seal, e.g. a shoulder surface of a bearing ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means

Abstract

A method for marking components (2) by a plurality of pulses (4) of a pulsed beam of a laser is disclosed. At first, a melted burr is formed when the marking (2) is being created. Subsequently, the melted burr is removed, whereby the pulsed laser beam is moved over the melted burr at a second speed. The sequential pulses (4) hardly overlap or not at all.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A method for marking components by a plurality of pulses of a pulsed beam of a laser directed at a surface of the component, the method comprising the following steps:

forming a melted burr at side edges of the marking when the marking is being created whereby, during the creation of the marking, the pulsed laser beam is moved relative to the component at a first speed, so that the pulses overlap; and

removing the melted burr, the pulsed laser beam being moved over the melted burr at a second speed so that the sequential pulses do not overlap or overlap insubstantially.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein, after the removal, edge areas of the marking are subsequently melted, the laser beam is defocused and, at the same time, guided over the side edges of the marking at a third speed.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the third speed amounts to 400 mm/sec at a pulse frequency of 200,000 Hz.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the second speed is 2500 mm/sec at a pulse frequency of 50,000 Hz.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the melted burr is formed by material of the component not evaporating completely when the marking was made.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the component is a roller bearing that is provided with the marking.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the melted burrs of the marking of the roller bearing are removed in such a way that the surface of the roller bearing can still function as a sealing surface.