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Cradle to grave traceability of parts is an issue with a high profile
that can deliver significant cost benefits to both the manufacturer
and customer. If a part can be permanently marked in the initial
stages of manufacture it can subsequently be tracked through the
manufacturing process and out into service until the end of its'
useful life.
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Data Matrix Code and equivalent human readable
data
(marked using Pryor dot peen technology)
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Particularly for safety critical and high value parts, permanent
Direct Part Marking, can significantly reduce the value of
scrap and rework, deter counterfeiting, reduce bogus warranty
claims and, in the event of a part failure, aid the analysis
of the cause of failure and the identification of other parts
that may be susceptible to the same failure mode.
Traditionally, parts are marked with human readable marks
and serial numbers. Today, new technology enables small machine-readable
'DataMatrix' codes capable of containing large amounts of
data to be permanently marked.
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This innovative technology represents a major advancement in part
traceability bringing all the benefits of printed bar codes that
are the linchpin upon which everything in the retail world depends,
to industrial parts and materials. These benefits include the elimination
of human error, a step change in the integrity of data and fast
reliable data transfer. In aerospace for example, the potential
now exists for a critical engine part to be scanned anywhere in
the world and authenticated against the manufacturer's database.
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The marking technology used to produce permanent Direct Part
Marks depends upon the nature of the part, the material and
the type of mark required. Simple indent methods such as hand
stamps, type and engraved dies are still widely used but best
practice has now moved towards programmable technologies.
These include precision controlled dot peen, laser and electrochemical
etching.
Precision controlled dot peen marking utilises a carbide
tipped stylus to indent marks as a series of discrete dots.
This technology is widely adopted both in aerospace where
it is approved for use on safety critical parts, and in high-speed
automotive component manufacture. Edward Pryor & Son Ltd,
a leading manufacturer of industrial marking equipment, have
developed a comprehensive range of dot peen machines that
ranges from those having a positional accuracy of 0.025mm
to those that are capable of marking 20 x 3mm characters in
2.2 seconds.
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Hand Portable LD2 Dot Marking System in use |
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Pryor Diode Pumped Laser Workstation
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Electrochemical etching is a long established marking technology
but new Laser marking is currently undergoing a revolution
as the advent of new technology in the form of high power,
solid-state diode-pumped laser systems has resulted in a dramatic
reduction in cost and physical size whilst improving performance
and reliability. Laser marking is a non-contact process capable
of producing high definition marks and is therefore popular
because of the ease of integration.
developments in stencil materials now make it possible to
produce low cost programmable stencils on demand.
In addition to producing human readable marks, precision
controlled dot peen, laser and electrochemical etching can
all be used to produce machine-readable DataMatrix codes.
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Pryor, committed to innovation and product development, are specialists
in the design, manufacture and supply of marking equipment and turnkey
systems and have a long association and partnership with many industries
around the world. Pryor customers are always welcome to visit to
discuss their marking and traceability issues or to attend an open
day to learn more about Direct Part Marking and benefit from practical
demonstrations of marking and coding technologies.
Laser Marked Data Matrix Code
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