Excimer lasers – Experience the material-friendly way of marking

Leading eye glass lens manufacturers continue moving their ophthalmic lens production to 193 nm excimer laser based marking and engraving for two reasons. First, UV laser pulses do not bear the risk of collateral damage around the mark thus creating higher yield and back-end savings. Second, excimer laser systems are well proven in the demanding refractive surgery market and have become affordable and turn-key.

Inscribing miniature brand logos and functional codes on hard and transparent ophthalmic lenses and blanks requires a material-friendly, high-resolution marking and engraving tool.

The deep-UV wavelength of excimer lasers eliminates the well known problems of cracking and melting which are due to thermal load effects of longer wavelength lasers. The good absorption i.e., the low optical penetration depth of the 193 nm wavelength in optically transparent glass and plastic substrates prevents bulk heating and delivers cold and precise marks and engravings on a micron scale.

Compact, high-repetition rate excimer lasers enable savings in cold marking and engraving of ophthalmic lenses due to their material-friendly 193 nm wavelength. The short UV pulses selectively remove transparent material such as polymers and glass without thermally induced stress. Excimer lasers deliver their cold pulses fast and precise with up to 500 Hz ensuring excellent process control.

www.coherent.com/excimer

PR Europe /MARCOM Excimer: petra.wallenta@coherent.com
Marketing Manager: Ralph.delmdahl@coherent.com