Abstract: There is described a metal workpiece generally having a surface and an identifier marked on said surface. The identifier has cells each having a corresponding cell size, including bright cells corresponding to a first binary value and dark cells corresponding to a second binary value different from the first binary value. The dark cells include a center portion being recessed relative to the surface thereby leaving a recess bounded by a peripheral wall in the corresponding dark cell, the recess having a depth of at least 100 microns and having an opening with a width ranging between 400 microns and 1750 microns and representing between 30 percent and 99 percent of the corresponding cell size such that the corresponding dark cell appears dark to an optical reader. The depth, the width and the cell size of the dark cells provide a shot blast resistance to the laser-marked identifier.

Abstract: There is described a metal workpiece generally having a surface and an identifier marked on said surface. The identifier has cells each having a corresponding cell size, including bright cells corresponding to a first binary value and dark cells corresponding to a second binary value different from the first binary value. The dark cells include a center portion being recessed relative to the surface thereby leaving a recess bounded by a peripheral wall in the corresponding dark cell, the recess having a depth of at least 100 microns and having an opening with a width ranging between 400 microns and 1750 microns and representing between 30 percent and 99 percent of the corresponding cell size such that the corresponding dark cell appears dark to an optical reader. The depth, the width and the cell size of the dark cells provide a shot blast resistance to the laser-marked identifier.

Abstract: There is described a metal workpiece generally having a surface and an identifier marked on said surface. The identifier has cells each having a corresponding cell size, including bright cells corresponding to a first binary value and dark cells corresponding to a second binary value different from the first binary value. The dark cells include a center portion being recessed relative to the surface thereby leaving a recess bounded by a peripheral wall in the corresponding dark cell, the recess having a depth of at least 100 microns and having an opening with a width ranging between 400 microns and 1750 microns and representing between 30 percent and 99 percent of the corresponding cell size such that the corresponding dark cell appears dark to an optical reader. The depth, the width and the cell size of the dark cells provide a shot blast resistance to the laser-marked identifier.

Abstract: There is described a method for laser-processing a surface. The method generally includes: directing, from a first viewpoint, a laser processing beam towards said surface including providing a focal point of said laser processing beam at a focal point position, resulting in illuminating said surface with a spot, while imaging said spot on said surface from a second viewpoint different from the first viewpoint; determining spatial coordinates of said surface based on calibration data and a feature of said imaged spot; and laser-processing said surface based on said previously determined spatial coordinates of said surface.

Abstract: There is provided a method of laser marking an identifier on an industrial product in a production line. The method generally includes, using a 3D imaging system, generating 3D image data representative of a laser-marking surface of the industrial product in the production line; using a processor, accessing the 3D image data; accessing virtual reference shape data including virtual laser-marking surface data; generating position and orientation data representative of a position and an orientation of the laser-marking surface in the 3D image data based on the virtual reference shape data and the virtual laser-marking surface data; and obtaining identifier data representative of the identifier of the industrial product; and using a laser marker, laser marking the identifier on the laser-marking surface of the industrial product in the production line based on the position and orientation data.

Abstract: The process can include moving the web across a laser-cutting window in a longitudinal direction while maintaining a main tension in the web, the main tension being in the longitudinal direction; applying a specific tension to at least a portion of the web; and cutting a portion of the shape by moving the laser beam along the portion of the shape, within the laser-cutting window, during said moving of the web, and while maintaining at least a portion of the specific tension at the laser beam in an orientation different than the instantaneous orientation of movement of the laser beam.