Laser Marking FAQ's

Question- Can I mark color on metal? Plastic?

Answer- Not at this time, but we are working on it. 

Question- I would like to try LMM14 and/or LMM6000. Should I use aerosol or liquid ink?

Answer- For new users, we recommend starting with aerosol for testing purposes. Aerosol cans take the variable of dilution out of the equation and are easier to use – you only need to focus on getting the correct coating thickness and laser settings. 

We recommend switching to air brush application of liquid laser marking ink once you have some experience with our products and begin doing a larger volume of marking. This will add the additional variable of dilution to the equation, but since you are already familiar with the proper coating thickness it should be an easy switch. The economies of scale involved in switching to liquid ink are substantial: a square inch of LMM14 aerosol costs roughly $.06, while a square inch of LMM14 liquid purchased in a 1,000 gram container costs below $.02.

Questin-  What is the difference between TherMark and CerMark?

Answer- Ferro Corporation Acquired TherMark in February 2015

TherMark Holdings’ laser marking technology has been integrated into Ferro’s Laser Marking Materials portfolio.  TherMark’s patented laser marking technology expands Ferro’s position in the high-value glass and color markets, with its unique ability to quickly, precisely and permanently fuse marking materials to ceramics, plastics, metals, glass, and other hard surfaces. 

Question- Looking for cermark for chrome I think it is lmm6038?

Answer- LMM-6038, Black Laser Marking Paste. Marks On High-Polish Metals, Such As Chrome Or Nickel Plating And Stainless Steel

Question- I see that the LMM6000 is more expensive, what is the difference between the LMM6000 and the New Ultra?   I know that the LMM6000 is like the more usual

Answer- CerMark ULTRA is a new formula that is produced by Ferro who has acquired the TherMark brand some time ago. TherMark had previously created different formulas for their products. For example we had a formula for stainless steel, another for aluminum, another for copper, another for ceramics, another for glass, etc. Now, Ultra comes to do the things more simple. The quality of the mark is better and you can do your project faster than LMM 6000. The result of the new investigation produces a lower price too!   You can continue using the LMM6000 to work with stainless steel and other metals, however, you already have another product that may be more functional, the Ultra can be used on different substrates at the same time.

Question- Can a light plastic bristle brushing with IPA be done to check adherence?

Answer- One Rule Of Thumb When It Comes To Using The CerMark. The Laser Mark Can Only Be As Durable As The Substrate It Is Applied To. I Can Suggest Testing To Determine The Best Setting.

Question- Where you can find a distributor in Mexico or you can make the purchase directly with you? 

Answer- We Have A Distributor In Mexico For Some Of Our Products And Some Can Be Purchased Directly, We Also Have A Representative In Costa Rica  

Question- My ink/paste has solidified. Can I re-liquify it?

Answer- Yes. You can re-liquify the ink by using small amounts of denatured alcohol or demineralized water. This process may take several hours or even days depending on how much material was in the container. Please remember that the more thinning agent you use, the lighter the pigment may become.

Question- am getting a brown rust color instead of a black mark. Are the CerMark laser marking materials bad?

Answer- No, the marking materials are fine. The browning or rusting occurs when you have applied too much thermal energy either due to slow speed or excess power. In this case, you have actually burnt the CerMark material. To fix this you should increase the marking speed or lower the laser power.

Question- I am marking glass with LMC products and get micro-fracturing. How can I prevent this from happening?

Answer-  Micro-fracturing occurs when the glass substrate is heated beyond its melting temperature and then rapidly cooled to room temperatures. These strong variations in temperature lead to local expansion and contraction and subsequently to micro-fracturing. There are two mechanisms of heating glass substrates: through conduction (ink heating the glass through thermal conduction), and through direct absorption. The latter is present mostly in CO2 lasers due to the absorption at CO2 lasers’ wavelength of operation. Consequently, solid-state lasers generate smoother marks. In both cases the micro-fracturing can often be minimized by lowering the power and the speed, thus creating gentle conditions for bonding – heating the ink just enough to bond to the surface and scanning slowly enough to deposit enough heat to bond.