Valued Cross supplier, Microscan, gives this comprehensive "Review and Selection of Direct Part Marking Methods"
Please contact Cross with your technical questions.
While the overall concept of product tracking is not new, the automated tracking of products down to the individual part and component level has proven to have even greater bottom-line impact. The most direct way to ensure complete quality control of the production process is to mark
objects with a machine-readable symbols and track them through the entire life cycle.Assessing Your Application
Since each application is at least somewhat unique, you should know the answers to the following questions before selecting a marking method: what type and how much data will you need to encode, how much real estate is available for the symbol, is symbol permanency a concern and who will be using the information.
Many Marking Methods are Available
There are many methods to directly mark objects. Selecting the best method for the application is critical to achieving success. Each method has its own advantages and limitations. Since each method has its own advantages and limitations, it is important to review and experiment with as many methods as possible before selecting the best one for your application.
There are many methods to directly mark objects. Selecting the best method for the application is critical to achieving success. Each method has its own advantages and limitations. Since each method has its own advantages and limitations, it is important to review and experiment with as many methods as possible before selecting the best one for your application.
Electromechanical Etch: this process uses a low voltage current to mark the object surface. This is commonly used for low volume product runs.
Ink Jet: this type of marking uses small, dots sprayed directly onto the surface. Ink jet produces high contrast marks. Ink jet is not considered a permanent marking method.
Laser Etch: lasers etch the symbol directly onto a surface. Clean, high resolution marks are produced making laser-etch well-suited for automated environments.
Dot Peen: dot peen is a percussive marking method, using changes in depth to create marks. Dot peen is recommended for applications where the symbol must last the entire life cycle.
Below are a number of marking methods including applications, advantages & disadvantages
Applications: post-packaging, warehousing, automotive
Advantages: low entry cost, high speed, easy to read if contrast is good
Disadvantages: not considered permanent by some industry standards, dot registration can vary, higher cost consumables, mark quality dependant on surface cleanliness, difficult to read if contrast is poor
Description: typically high contrast, square element shape
Applications: product labeling, product packaging, document processing
Advantages: economical, high speed, good contrast, easy to read
Applications: product labeling, product packaging, document processing
Advantages: economical, high speed, good contrast, easy to read
Disadvantages: less flexibility
Description: high contrast, typically black on white label stock, square element shape
Applications: product labeling, packaging, WIP tracking, various industries
Advantages: high contrast, low-entry cost, easy to read
Applications: product labeling, packaging, WIP tracking, various industries
Advantages: high contrast, low-entry cost, easy to read
Disadvantages: not permanent, higher cost: consumables
Applications: electronics
Advantages: good contrast, no consumables, permanent
Disadvantages: displaces surface, process creates debris
Description: high or low contrast, round element shape
Applications: bio-science, pharmaceuticals, packaging
Advantages: limited damage to surface
Disadvantages: higher cost consumables, not permanent, bleeding can affect mark quality
Applications: bio-science, pharmaceuticals, packaging
Advantages: limited damage to surface
Disadvantages: higher cost consumables, not permanent, bleeding can affect mark quality
Description: typically good contrast, square element shape
Applications: pharmaceutical packaging
Advantages: economical
Disadvantages: reflective nature of marking method may require additional lighting, deformation of surface may affect readability of code
Description: good contrast, round element shape
Applications: pharmaceutical packaging, clinical R&D, electronics
Advantages: high contrast, low entry cost, limited damage to surface
Disadvantages: not permanent, bleeding can affect mark quality
Applications: pharmaceutical packaging, clinical R&D, electronics
Advantages: high contrast, low entry cost, limited damage to surface
Disadvantages: not permanent, bleeding can affect mark quality
Applications: electronics, automotive, aerospace, DOD, medical device
Advantages: permanent, no consumable, high quality mark
Disadvantages: process creates debris, affects surface of substrate
Applications: electronics
Advantages: permanent, no consumable, high quality mark
Disadvantages: process creates debris, lack of contrast / difficult to read, affects surface of substrate
Applications: automotive
Advantages: permanent, no consumables
Disadvantages: process creates debris, affects surface of substrate
Description: typically medium contrast, square element shape
Applications: electronics, semiconductor, DOD, aerospace, medical device
Advantages: permanent, high quality mark, no debris from process
Disadvantages: potentially toxic material bi-product, low-volume use only, potentially complex process
Applications: electronics, semiconductor, DOD, aerospace, medical device
Advantages: permanent, high quality mark, no debris from process
Disadvantages: potentially toxic material bi-product, low-volume use only, potentially complex process
Description: typically medium contrast, square element shape
Applications: semiconductor
Advantages: permanent, high quality mark, no debris from process
Disadvantages: potentially toxic material bi-product, potentially complex process
Applications: semiconductor
Advantages: permanent, high quality mark, no debris from process
Disadvantages: potentially toxic material bi-product, potentially complex process
Description: low contrast, dependant on difference in depth to create light and dark elements. Round or square element shape, dependant on shape of stylus
Applications: automotive, aerospace, DOD
Advantages: permanent, no consumables
Disadvantages: alters surface, low contrast mark, more difficult to read, inconsistent depth will create smaller elements, background noise
Applications: automotive, aerospace, DOD
Advantages: permanent, no consumables
Disadvantages: alters surface, low contrast mark, more difficult to read, inconsistent depth will create smaller elements, background noise
Description: low contrast, dependant on difference in depth to create light and dark elements. Round or square element shape, dependant on shape of stylus
Applications: automotive, aerospace, DOD
Advantages: permanent, no consumables
Disadvantages: alters surface, low contrast mark, very difficult to read, due to high degree of surface noise created by texture
Applications: automotive, aerospace, DOD
Advantages: permanent, no consumables
Disadvantages: alters surface, low contrast mark, very difficult to read, due to high degree of surface noise created by texture
Contact the Automation Group at Cross regarding your technical questions about direct part marking methods. 800.866.4568
No comments:
Post a Comment