2D Datamatrix Codes

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2 D Datamatrix Codes, what’s so special about them, and how are they better than the “standard” ones?

We are all familiar with 1 Dimensional barcodes, more commonly known as linear barcodes. It is simply a machine readable form of data, and is commonly used on products to allow automated registry when scanned at checkout systems. Linear barcodes have a maximum capacity of about 20 to 25 numeric characters, and the information contained within them helps retailers keep tracks of the number of items in store. It also hinders shoplifting (since it is harder to switch the price tags of higher to lower priced items).

The Linear 1D Barcode

As the name suggests, 2D barcodes can encode information in 2 dimensions. These can be a series of linear barcodes stacked on top of each other (as shown in the image below).

The stacked linear barcodes


Or the more popular form, a 2D matrix, which holds dots in an array that is much more compact than the stacked 1D barcodes. This array consists of black and white “cells” or modules arranged in either a square or rectangular pattern. As the information is held in more than 1 dimension, a different reader would be required to decode the information. However, they can hold a lot more information when compared to the traditional linear barcodes, and even if the code is partially damaged, it can still be read (unlike the 1D, linear barcodes).

The MaxiCode Label

UPS make good use of its large storage capabilities in their sorting offices. The MaxiCode Label holds all of the relevant destination information ready to be scanned by the couriers.

The 2D Datamatrix code

The 2D datamatrix code is the most common type of 2D matrix code. Its small size makes it the preferred choice by most manufacturing industries. 50 character codes can fit within a 2 to 3 mm² area, and read with a contrast as low as 20%! (Some silicon electronics applications have laser etched codes as small as 300 micrometers!)

A four segment Datamatrix.

Data Matrix symbols are made up of modules arranged within a perimeter finder and timing pattern, which can encode up to 3,116 characters from the entire ASCII character set, with extensions (all of the numbers, letters (uppercase and lowercase) and symbols on your keyboard).

I thought barcodes and 2D codes could only be used in retail applications?

Quite the contrary, the applications can be as varied as the applications. For example, if you were to use the 2D codes on identification plates around a production plant. The code could simply contain all of the readable text and numbers on the plate. In this instance, the 2D code could be used for quick logging or updating records using a 2D scanner. Sometimes it is not possible to include all of the information onto the plate, so the further information can be encoded into the 2D code. However, in some instances the information needs to be secure, and not visible unless scanned. The 2D code can be encrypted with a PIN number, that must be entered before the information can be read.

Many industries are moving towards Datamatrix codes to improve traceability, the pharmaceutical and aeroscpace industries are the quickest adopters due to the high quality control standards and the emergence of black markets with counterfeit parts. Datamatrix codes can hold the components details, manufacturer ID, part number, and a unique serial number.

The applications for datamatrix codes do not end there. The ability to decode any alphanumeric information means that website addresses can be stored within the codes, linking the reader / decoder to specific website addresses or intranets with internal, classified information. Most of the latest mobile phones have cameras within them, which (with the use of a free downloaded application) can be used to decode 2D datamatrix codes. This allows the user to scan the code, and access the relevant website via their mobile. This opens up the possibilities for “further reading” of artifacts in museums, artist details in galleries, or the genealogy of plants in botanical gardens.

Engraving Methods

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking, metal plate embossing, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:37 pm

here comes a time where you need a metal plate or various other types of material engraved with some sort of information. It could be for anything from identifying and marking your tools to a trophy placard and everything in between. Engraving is used by several industries and homeowners alike.

Why engraving? There is a certain permanence that comes with this form of marking. It will not fade away or melt off and it’s a method that will make sure your information is there to stay. This process has been in use for centuries on end.

Older methods made use of engraving and chemical etchings on metal plates to produce images on paper. The chemical process of engraving is much more time consuming and has been replaced by photography. Even further back in history we have people using handheld engraving tools. We have come a very long way in this process.

Today, the most popular method of engraving is done with high powered lasers. These systems range from desktop sized applications to almost as big as a one car garage. Lasers can mark anything from metal to crystal and is by far the most versatile method ever used.

There is also a quick and economic means of engraving and that would be the use of a high speed rotary tool. If you need to mark your shop tools or other objects for identification, you could buy an electrical handheld engraving tool and save yourself time and money. These can be found in your local big box tool stores and in arts and crafts stores as well. There’s still something to be said for low cost solutions, if that will work for you and your task. Save the laser for something really special as there are plenty of creative uses for this technology.

It’s plain to see there is a wide variety for meeting your engraving requirements. You can be as low tech or high tech about the task as you and your bank account want to be. So determine your needs and how much you can budget for the project and head to your favorite search engine to explore what’s available.

metal engraving

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking, Uncategorized, metal plate embossing, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 1:52 pm

Metal engraving is a process in which a design is incised on a piece of metal using an engraving tool. This form of decorating metal has been around for five thousand years. The tools are pressed into the metal to cutting it and forming the desired design. The harder one pushes the engraving tool into the metal, the wider the mark. The correlation between dipping depth and engraving width is determined by the top angle of the tool.
Engraving tools are made out of hard steel that cuts the design onto metal surfaces such as steel plates or copper. Engraving tools are available in a variety of sizes and shapes for making different lines and marks. The three most commonly used tools are called the chisel, the graving tool (also called bulino), and the burin (also called ciapolla).
The chisel is not used for cutting, but is hammered. This does not remove any of the metal, but depresses it. A pliable support is placed underneath to prevent the metal from breaking or buckling.
Gravers are halved carbide round rods with a cutting edge. The graving tool has a wood handle making it easier to control the depth of the cut made with this sharp steel tool.
The burin is also a sharp steel tool, but comes in different shapes (lined, rounded and flat) to produce different effects.

The two most popular kinds of engraving decoration are damascening and niello.
Damascening is metal inlay in which a fine metal plate is inserted into a grove that has been made in a differently colored metal, and then is beaten in.
Niello is a mixture of silver, tin, lead, and copper that has been fused. This heated mixture is used to filled an engraving in a precious metal. After the mixture cools, the face plate is polished to bring out the semi-opaque design.
Engraving produces a unique quality of mark characterized by steady, clean edges. These lines and marks are produced by specific tools designed just for that purpose. This is a very specialized form of art with many types of materials and designs that takes years to master.

The Future of Laser Engraving

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The future of laser engraving is directly influenced by the variables of materials, the types of lasers and their capabilities.

What is Laser Engraving?

Laser engraving is a technique that uses a laser to etch/mark or to engrave the surface of other objects. These marks can vary in depth and can be used to create designs in or on objects or to imprint a message. The types of lasers used depend on the material being etched. The next generation and lasers of the future will advance three-dimensional techniques, integrate with existing design programs and see the development of better multi-engraving etchers and micro-machines. In addition, laser engraving techniques of the future will begin to develop and implement green methods and practices.

How Does a Laser Engrave or Etch a Material?

Basically, a laser beam (Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) is focused on a material which results in a modification of the surface and in the optical appearance of the material. The material being engraved determines the type of modification that will occur. For example, on paper, wood or cardboard the etching would occur as carbonization (burning) while the surface of a metal might be melted.

Different Types of Lasers, Their Uses and Future Applications

A few examples of how engraving lasers are currently being used include engraving/etching bar codes, 2D codes, photographs, identification tags, logos, glass doors, mirrors and to mark circuit boards and electronic equipment. Advancements in laser engraving technology to reduce material stress and vibrations are helping to expand and increase the potential for future marketable applications.

CO2 Lasers typically use low power sources to engrave plastics, paper, acrylic materials, wood, transparent objects and leather (Long wavelength applications) and use a Carbon Dioxide gas sealed chamber inside of the laser to create the laser photon stream. Generally, a CO2 laser is used for organic materials.

ND: YAG Lasers are small, affordable air cooled systems which are designed to engrave metallic materials and non organic materials. ND:YAG refers to the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet that is pumped with the use of a lamp or a diode to emit the photon stream.

Fibre Lasers, a derivative of the ND:YAG Laser (Pulse repetition rates-can emit longer pulses with lower pulse energy) commonly uses a ytterbium doped glass fiber to reflect the photons and can be used for ceramics, metals and non organic materials.

Green Practices and the Economy: Future Considerations for Laser Engraving Technology

Engraving lasers do not use ink, leave a permanent mark and are generally good for the environment.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act designed to jump start the economy with a focus on restoring and building American-made innovative science technologies may benefit and encourage laser engraving technological advancements. As a result, future laser engraving technologies that focus on energy conservation, utilization of green technologies and renewable resources may be eligible for tax incentives. Also, under this act, qualifying equipment purchases may be deducted during this tax year enabling businesses to purchase or lease qualifying laser etchers.

Considerations for the development of future engraving lasers might also focus on ease of use issues and on how to minimize vibrations and material stress along with processing speed, pulse repetition rates and the quality of results.

Future laser engravers will become more compact and portable, have multiple material engraving capabilities, use minimal resources and energy and have three dimensional engraving capabilities. In order to advance, the engraving lasers of the future will also need to be capable of engraving textured surfaces, irregular shapes and be able to do multiple stages of etching, engraving and carving.

Permanent metal plate identification by embossing

Filed under: Parts Marking, metal plate embossing — Tags: , — admin @ 1:13 pm

In an economy where costs and savings are more of a focus than ever, efficiency is no longer a choice, but a must. With metal plate embossing, maximising efficiency is only a single machine away.
Metal plate embossing offers a permanent, intuitive way to organize, catalog, and track your goods. By embossing identification plates and affixing them in the most lasting fashion, you can create a unique identity for any product from the smallest of parts to the largest of machines. With these permanent tags, you can increase efficiency by tracking the products you need and saving the costs you don’t.

First, identification plates allow for efficient organisation of inventory. By implementing a system to accurately track your goods, you can know exactly where costs should and should not be allocated. Whether it’s a product in your warehouse to be shipped or a part that doesn’t need to be ordered, you can save effort and capital by organising your current stock. There is simply no better solution than metal plate embossing, which offers the most permanent, readable, and organisable identification for your products.

Tracking your products is equally important. Knowing the location and history of your goods means you can control its lifespan and respond to trends in similar products. Also, you can keep watch over products with an unalterable form of identification that thieves cannot alter. A plate of steel, brass, or alloy is the most sturdy label to stand up to wear and tear over time or the effort of thieves alike. Embossing creates an unalterable identity for your valuable products.

Efficiency cuts costs and enhances productivity, and with metal plate embossing, you can guarantee efficiency in organisation and identification of your products. Metal plates offer the best readability and durability over any other kind of labeling as they are not prone to the wear and tear of print or etching. Plates also guarantee unalterable uniqueness, since they are molded from single sheets of your choice of durable metal and alloy. The applications are limitless, and there are solutions for any need. For smaller plates and production, hand-held machines like the M10 are ideal, as they produce smaller plates of inexpensive but durable metals to be affixed to any kind of durable material. Larger applications for industrial machinery and factory supplies and parts are best accommodated by the ME1000 and the ME2000. These industrial strength machines offer quality embossing in either manually-fed or automatically-fed formats, respectively. This line of embossers offers the efficiency that is necessary for success in today’s economy.

ID Plates–Implementation and Implication

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Identification of owned material is an important concept in today’s industry. The practice of utilizing ID plates in identification has three main purposes: (1) assimilation of item data in registry, (2) item organization and liability, and (3) increased benefit presentation and lifecycle administration. With these three advantages, the product owner is better able to identify future upgrades and recalls, manage product changes, and, most importantly, track stolen, shipping, or lost goods.

ID plates provide various forms of information, such as manufacturer, supplier, warehouse, program management office, and/or involved third parties, for those involved with the product. These classifications enable the practices as listed above, which all revolve around the tracking or following the transport of items. Included on the plate is the item serialization as well as production identification to ensure authenticity as well, which guarantees accurate item tracking also—important especially in high quality items as computers, printers, fax machines, monitors, scanners, phones, copiers, other electronic equipment as well as machinery and mechanical operation systems.

Although identification plates have different applications within different realms of use—product inventory within business, item insurance within the home, and product numbering within industry, the practice is equally as useful throughout all. Marking items and the components of each facilitates proper shipping, handling, identifying, and tracking. Many companies have various methods of ID; however, plates are the most utilized and employ the greatest amount of information in tracking and identification. ID plates can be considered one of the most cost-effective preclusion, anti-burglary, resurgence, and inventory tracking inventions.