Cast iron is an iron alloy that contains 2 to 4 percent carbon. Depending on the desired application, cast iron can also have a varying proportion of silica and manganese, plus trace amounts of sulphur and phosphorous. Cast iron is very commonly found in cookware, such as pans, griddles, and waffle irons due to its ability to provide even heating. It has also been used for construction and architecture and was actually used in a lot of bridges and railways before steel eventually replaced it as a common construction material. Nowadays, architectural use of cast iron is often limited to design elements such as garden features and ornamental objects.
Depending on the proportions of different alloying elements, the metal can have a variety of physical properties. Grey cast iron, the most commonly used cast iron, exhibits better compressive strength but has less tensile strength and shock resistance. White case iron, with a higher proportion of iron carbine, has superior hardness and abrasion resistance but is brittle. Ductile and malleable cast iron, as the name implies is softer and less brittle due to the presence of small spheroidal graphite particles. In any case, cast iron, in general, has a low melting point, which improves its machinability, and exhibits excellent resistance against wear and deformation.
Laser engraving cast iron is most commonly achieved by annealing, a process where thelaser heats the surface of the metalto form an oxide layer. The colour change in laser annealing is caused by a chemical change in the surface of the metal, meaning that no material is vaporised or removed from the cast iron surface. Crack propagation is an especially significant concern for cast iron, and iron laser engraving is an excellent option for creating permanent marks on cast iron without compromising its physical integrity.
Designed, developed and manufactured here in the UK. Our N-Lase products define our range of Industrial ID lasers which are perfect for assisting with coding, marking and trackability requirements. Get in touch today to find out how our lasers can help bring continuous improvement to your production and manufacturing environments.
Designed, developed and manufactured here in the UK. Our create. products define our range of personalisation lasers which are perfect for bringing next-level customer experience to retailers.
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Laser engraving cast iron offers many benefits, including precision, speed, and cost-effectiveness. Laser engraving is highly precise, allowing for intricate designs and details to be etched into the cast iron with great accuracy. The process is also much faster than traditional engraving methods, allowing for a much quicker turnaround time. Additionally, laser engraving is cost-effective, as it requires less time and fewer materials than traditional engraving methods. This makes it an ideal choice for projects that require detailed engraving on cast iron.
The Needham Group and its subsidiaries have been a part of the ever-developing coding and marking industry since 1962; identifying industry needs whilst simultaneously importing and developing exciting, practical and innovative products to suit.
Every day we share our passion and excitement for British manufacturing and innovation in laser technologies with each of our partners; from supplier and supply chain right through to end-user.
We design, develop and manufacture our lasers at our HQ in Shropshire; allowing for lean manufacturing, better efficiencies and speedy response times in our manufacturing, ultimately getting your products to you in weeks rather than months.
We are proud to wear the Made in Britain badge, where all of our lasers are manufactured at our HQ in Shropshire. Combining over 60 years of company heritage with exquisite design and Great British engineering, we take great pride in our heritage and our commitment to producing quality products that represent the very best of British craftsmanship. Our loyal customers can be assured that when they choose us, they are investing in a product made with the utmost care and attention to detail.
The UK has the world's most rigorous regulatory requirements for laser safety.
We are proud to align our UK design and manufacturing with said regulations.
We are also certified members of AILU. - https://www.ailu.org.uk/
