The mark itself is the same. The laser source, the galvo head and the optics work identically, so a 20 W handheld head produces the same class of mark on the same steel as a 20 W bench system, with the same five mark types available. What differs is positioning: the operator holds the head rather than a fixed frame and motorised table, so the mark’s exact placement depends on the hand and any locating fixture guiding it. Mark quality is unchanged; positional repeatability is what you trade.

As far as the cable reaches, and no further – which is why cable length is the specification to confirm before you order rather than after. Walk the route you actually intend to use, around equipment and up any steps or gantries, and measure that path rather than the straight-line distance. Beyond the cable, the source unit itself has to be moved to a new position, so how easily it travels matters just as much. Tell us your site layout and we will confirm the right arrangement.

150 x 150 mm suits compact asset tags and small codes and gives the finest detail; 175 x 175 mm adds positioning margin; 200 x 200 mm is the common all-round choice for equipment nameplates and plant identification; 300 x 300 mm suits large plant marks and full-size nameplates. On a handheld head there is an extra consideration beyond detail: any mark larger than the field means repositioning by hand, and a repositioned mark rarely lines up perfectly – so if your marks are large, size up.

It depends on what the mark has to survive. 20 W covers surface marking on metals and plastics – asset tags, serial numbers, QR codes and plant identification read indoors. 50 W is for deep engraving to measurable depth, hardened steel, and marks that must stay legible through weathering, abrasion or repainting. 30 W sits in between. Field marking makes a stronger case for depth than bench work does, because outdoor plant gets painted over and a contrast-only mark disappears underneath.

Yes, and painted or coated surfaces are the most common field case. The mark is made by ablation, which removes the coating layer to reveal the base material underneath and produces strong contrast without cutting into the metal. Rusty, oily or heavily scaled surfaces are more variable and usually need the area cleaned back first for a consistent result. Because field surfaces differ so much, we develop the parameter sets against the actual surfaces you mark during commissioning.

Mild and carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium including anodised finishes, brass, copper and titanium, plus dark or filled engineering plastics. Metals are where fiber laser marking is strongest. On stainless steel used in food, pharmaceutical or washdown environments, ask for annealing – it produces a dark mark without removing material, so the surface stays smooth and sealed rather than carrying a groove that can trap residue.

More thought than a workshop machine, because there is no enclosure. The beam is invisible at the fiber wavelength and reflects off bright metal, so wavelength-rated eye protection is required for everyone in the area, not just the operator – and in the field you have to establish that controlled area deliberately each time, with a barrier or exclusion zone, since it is not permanently defined the way a workshop is. Ventilation or extraction is needed where coated, painted or plastic surfaces are marked. The head’s interlocks and safety switch must never be bypassed. We cover the full setup during training.

The consumable to budget for is the lens – cleaned regularly and replaced when it degrades, and it needs cleaning more often after dusty site work than it would on a bench. There is no assist gas, no nozzle and no ink, so beyond the lens the running cost is essentially electricity. The other item field use is hard on is the cable, which gets dragged, bent and pinched far more than a bench machine’s, so inspect it along its whole length regularly. Add the standoff fixture check, extraction checks and an annual technical inspection.

Price depends on the power tier and the marking area fitted – a 20 W head with a 150 x 150 mm field and a 50 W head with a 300 x 300 mm field sit at different points in the range. We quote against a confirmed specification rather than publishing a fixed figure, because the right configuration depends on your surfaces, your mark size and what the mark has to survive. Send those details along with your site layout for a detailed quotation.

A 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects in the laser source and delivery system, control electronics and the marking head, handled directly by Sigma Mechotronics Pvt. Ltd. rather than through an agent or overseas supplier. Installation and commissioning at your premises, parameter development for the surfaces you actually mark, and operator training on handling, standoff and safe field working are part of the supply. Lenses and other spares are held in India, and every purchase comes with a GST tax invoice under your GSTIN.

Yes, and for this machine bring a sample that looks like what you will really mark – painted, coated, rusty or weathered, not a clean piece of bench steel. Field surfaces behave very differently from workshop samples, and a trial on a realistic surface is the only reliable way to confirm the result before committing. If the code has to be machine-readable, bring your scanner as well. Facility visits to our Ahmedabad plant are welcome by appointment.