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.
Robotic Laser Marking System
The system in the video was built for marking titanium drill bits used in the dental industry. Featuring a four-axis SCARA robot from EPSON® and fiber laser, the system can process two trays containing 64 drill bits each — a total of 128 — before requiring new parts. The integrated robot greatly increases throughput and eliminates human error in marking medical instruments.
Robot-Assisted Laser Marking Process
The robot picks a drill bit from the tray and drops it into one of two registration stations. The first station is used for positioning the jaws of the robot on the drill bit so that the gauge size can be marked on both sides of the handle. Next, the robot places the bit into the second station in order to register the spot to mark the depth bands along the shaft. The bit is then transferred to the marking area for the application of high-contrast depth bands along the bit shaft.
Laser Automation Solutions
Our engineering department employs a vast array of automation components to deliver total laser marking solutions for our customers. We have extensive experience integrating a selection of four- and six-axis robots from EPSON® and Fanuc® with our laser technology to deliver automated system solutions to our customers. Robots can provide pinpoint accuracy to perform the high-speed operations needed in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Adding robots and machine vision to your system also enables complex laser marking tasks. We’ve built systems with vision cameras mounted directly to the robot head to recognize a part’s orientation. The robot can then pick up the part and present it to the laser accurately, reducing the need to place parts in a certain way in a fixture pallet.
If you’re looking for a turnkey solution for marking your medical instruments, our engineers are happy to help. Contact us today to discover your next high-tech laser solution for your manufacturing challenges.
For more information and videos of systems that include robots in application processes, visit our robotic capabilities page.