Why this question comes up: the physics
A UV laser marker works at 355 nm and is a cold process: photon energy breaks molecular bonds directly, stripping or modifying the surface photochemically with a minimal heat-affected zone, so heat-sensitive parts do not yellow, melt at the edges or stress-crack. Our UV platform focuses to 15 micrometres with plus or minus 0.02 mm repeatability, 110, 175 and 300 mm square fields, and a constant-temperature chiller locking the source temperature.
The answer and the process detail
Our UV platform focuses to a 15 micrometre spot, and legible character heights down to about 0.3 mm remain scan-stable in practice. The real limit is set by optics, f-theta focal length and material contrast together, not by the spot number alone. On PCBs the solder mask formulation matters too - boards with flame retardant tend to blacken unevenly, so contrast has to be proven on a sample. Send a board and we will return a comparison strip at 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mm character heights.
How to set it up and verify it
Three knobs set the process: power, repetition rate and scan speed, which together determine energy density per unit area. Start low and map a parameter window - sweep power and frequency at a fixed speed, find the cell where contrast is acceptable and the edge is not carbonised, then lock it into a process file with permissions. Remember that cold does not mean heat-free: too much power, too low a frequency or too many passes still accumulate heat, and thin stock will still perforate or curl.
Selection and delivery
3 W and 5 W suit thin materials and very shallow marking, 10 and 15 W suit large filled areas and poorly absorbing materials, and 20 W is built to order. The deciding factor is not precision, which is essentially identical at the same spot size, but cycle time: divide daily output by available hours and work back to the power you need. Still unsure, send samples - we mark them free at our Dongguan factory and return both the parts and a marking video within 24 hours. Full specifications, materials and buyer Q&A are on the UV Laser Marking Machine page.
Procurement Q&A
We have 3+ engineers, 7+ authorised patents and 5000+ units shipped. Standard parts like laser source and galvo are stocked long-term for predictable replenishment.
Price depends on the model (UV / fiber / CO₂), power, laser-source brand (Raycus / JPT / IPG) and configuration (galvo, field lens, control software). Zhongyi Laser lists the exact laser-source and galvo models on the quote and in the contract, so the configuration is verifiable and easy to reorder or replace later.
Standard machines ship in 7 days; rush orders in 3–5 days; custom non-standard builds in 15–30 days. Before production we confirm drawings, process and sample results to avoid rework.
18-month warranty on the machine. Core parts like the laser source and galvo are replaceable standard parts with long-term supply, so repairs and swaps are documented.
Yes. Send a sample and we return a real test video within 24 hours and ship the part back. Key models get a 48-hour aging test, so you see the actual result on your own workpiece before deciding.
Open Mo–Su 08:00–23:00 (GMT+8) with English support. Reach us at +86 159 9995 5734, WhatsApp +86 190 9874 6815 or Laurie@laserdg.com. Machines are packed to export standards.
Our UV platform focuses to a 15 micrometre spot, and legible character heights down to about 0.3 mm remain scan-stable in practice. The real limit is set by optics, f-theta focal length and material contrast together, not by the spot number alone. On PCBs the solder mask formulation matters too - boards with flame retardant tend to blacken unevenly, so contrast has to be proven on a sample. Send a board and we will return a comparison strip at 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mm character heights.
A distinction is needed: PMMA absorbs poorly at 355 nm, so UV is a weak choice on acrylic. CO2 is the usual answer - it melts and re-solidifies the surface, leaving a smooth edge that keeps the clarity. UV genuinely excels on glass, PC, ABS, silicone and coated parts. So the correct fix here is often a different wavelength, not different parameters. Send a sample and we will mark one piece at each wavelength for comparison.
It is decisive. A smaller, more symmetric Gaussian spot gives sharper character edges and better legibility at the same character height. Our UV platform focuses to 15 micrometres and a short focal length lens can compress it further. But spot size is only one variable - absorption and heat diffusion in the material shape the final edge just as much, so micro-component results must always be confirmed by sample marking rather than a datasheet.