This contrasting, engraved mark was created on a stainless steel part using a Synrad laser and FH-Series marking head.

This application required encoding a 10-digit part number into a Data Matrix ECC200 2D bar code on a stainless steel part. The task was accomplished by using 120 watts of power focused through an FH Series marking head. A 125 mm HP (high power) lens delivered the 180-micron diameter beam onto the part with a 3 mm depth of focus.

We created the 0.375" +× 0.375" square 2D code using WinMark Pro Laser Marking Software, setting Velocity to seven inches per second and Resolution to 300. Cycle time for the raster-scanned 2D code was 4.8 seconds. The code is easily readable using a barcode vision system even though the reader "sees" mark contrast values as low as 20% on the highly reflective stainless surface.