OFAT Experimental Study of Laser Direct-Part Marking of Data Matrix Symbols on Titanium Alloys

Abstract

To identify critical laser marking parameters which have a statistically significant effect on the contrasts of laser marked Data Matrix symbols on titanium alloy substrates, a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was used in the laser marking process. The influence of six laser marking parameters (i.e. electric current, effective vector step, delay between the effective vector step, Q-switch frequency, Q release time, and laser line spacing) on the contrasts of laser marked Data Matrix symbols were studied. Single-factor analysis of variance(ANOVA) tests with a 95% confidence level were employed to determine whether a laser parameter had a statistically significant impact on the contrasts of laser marked Data Matrix symbols. Experimental results showed that four laser marking parameters (i.e. electric current, effective vector step, Q-switch frequency, and laser line spacing) have a statistically significant effect on the contrasts of laser marked Data Matrix symbols.