2D Datamatrix Codes

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking, Uncategorized, metal plate embossing, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 4:09 pm

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

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking, nd:YAG Lasers — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 10:37 am

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.

Laser marking in the medical industry

Filed under: Laser Engraving — Tags: , , — admin @ 10:40 am

Laser marking has become an essential part of many businesses, and is now used widely in the medical industry. Traditional marking has now taken a back seat to the more advanced and highly accurate technology that is laser marking. There are advantages that laser marking offers that can’t be achieved through other marking techniques. The accuracy and speed that laser marking supplies, along with the ability to mark any size object with quality printing, and the ability to mark any number of objects, makes this technology much preferred over traditional marking methods.

Laser marking in the medical industry supplies the best reliability and precision for marking medical devices such as hearing aids, surgical instruments, implants, and a whole lot more. These medical items are marked with identification codes, serial numbers, and other information that is essential in their use in the industry.

There are various benefits offered to the users of medical equipment by laser marking. It provides dependable tracking and permits safe sterilization and cleaning in a medical atmosphere. The one of a kind annealing effect that is created by laser marking guarantees that surface areas will remain the same and also remain smooth after the marking process is completed. This ensures that there are no uneven spots in which germs can manifest themselves. The traceability and safety of any marked objects are also ensured by the laser markings resistance to chemicals, steam, and heat.

Laser marking has become the choice of many medical facilities who want to add data matrix codes to their pieces. While these keyhole surgery pieces are becoming smaller all the time, the tiny beam width of the laser allows accurate marking of the item no matter how small it may be. Laser marking has become particularly appropriate for medical applications due to it’s reliability, durability, cleanliness, and ease of maintenance.

Both metal and plastic components are precisely marked by a laser marking system. Whether it is high or low volume applications that are needed, the permanent marking of the laser system is easily integrated into any production line. This is just another part of what makes laser marking ideal for the medical industry.

There are strict requirements for marking in the medical industry that are easily adhered to by using laser marking. These include bar-coding, tapering, perfect surfaces, parallel and narrow incisions, and a lot more. For a wide range of materials the laser’s wavelength, beam quality, and power level can be adjusted for marking, cutting, welding, or structuring the material.

Laser marking is a safe and compact way to meet the marking needs of a wide variety of medical devices. Laser marking can also be used for such things as closing the titanium housings on implanted pumps, defibrillators, and pacemakers.

Laser marking has become an integral part of the medical industry. With all that it can do and the precision that it provides, along with all the other benefits that it supplies, laser marking will only become more important as the medical industry moves forward.

Laser Engravings are Literally Everywhere

Filed under: Laser Engraving — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 3:20 pm

Laser engraving has been around for several years but never before has it been used to the extent that it is being used today. In today’s world, virtually everything has some sort of laser engraving or marking.

You can find these laser markings on everything from plastic identification cards to automobile parts to human body replacement parts. Virtually any item needing an identifying mark can be laser etched and once the mark is given it’s virtually impossible to remove. This makes the security of laser markings second to none.

The areas most people are familiar with when it comes to laser engravings are on plastic identification and credit cards and on automobile parts. If you look closely at your automobile, you are likely to find numerous laser etchings. These numbers make it possible to track the car, the parts used in the car and eventually the parts use to repair the car back to the owner. This makes laser engraving an outstanding anti-theft tool.

Laser engravings are now considered the top way to track and secure everything from credit cards to artificial heart valves. It’s also cost effective on each side of the issue. Laser etchings are inexpensive for the manufacturer and then later on for the consumer both in the cost passed on to them from the manufacturer as well as in the anti-theft protection that such engravings offer.

No matter what material is laser engraved, you can be certain that the engraving itself is safe, permanent and inexpensive.

Laser-Marking 2D Barcodes: Usability and Permanency

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 8:18 am

In a world in which unmarked or unidentified material is quite often lost to another’s ownership, the ability to label one‘s owned material becomes increasingly important. This practice is especially important in business and industry; however, it can be just as applicable in home situations as well. Two very important concepts must be considered in all situations, though—what type of material is being identified, and how permanent must the label be?

This point is exactly where the significance of laser-marking 2-dimensional codes lies. Laser-marking is a technology raised from the necessity of marking previously unidentifiable materials permanently. This method of ID satisfies the traditional means of accreditation (item data registration, organization and accountability, and benefit presentation) yet goes a step further—enabling identification of new materials in an irremovable manner.

2D laser codes enable part and whole traceability by etching or engraving part numbers or serial numbers onto parts. Once labeled, the parts can then be tracked by reading the 2D code with a coordinating 2D part scanner. The 2D code is marked directly into the surface of metals and other hard substances and utilizes fine engraving techniques for part numbers, serial numbers, manufacturer information, as well as warehouse holding. Once etched, the 2D code can be read repeatedly, even if it is partially damaged.

2D codes add a degree of security thus far unparalleled in business, industry, and in-home labeling. This system has great advantages over traditional bar codes in terms of readability and utilization. A way now exists to mark virtually any surface permanently—2D laser-marking.

Traceability in Aerospace - Important or A Must!

Filed under: Parts Marking — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:01 am

Permanent traceability of all parts used in vehicles used to transport humans  is a must!

Any component that has a life limited use, such as Gas Turbine Engine Components, should be marked with both a Serial Number and a Part Number. The use of these markings is extremely important within the Aviation industry to ensure that every component that has been assembled onto the Engine has an attached history. This history will prevent anyone from using a component, that has been through a tremendous amount of stress or damage.With the lives of two hundred or more at risk, minimal part failure must be ensured. In this Industry permanent traceability is a must.

Furthermore, when part marking the components used within the Aircrafts, the structural integrity must not be affected, regardless of the size of the mark. Laser marking using chemical bonding is the preferred choice within the industry, as it marks the part without affecting its mechanical properties.

In other areas of life permanent traceability would be considered very important, if not a must. Take for example weaponry, by having serial numbers permanently marked onto guns they can be sourced throughout their lifetime, from point of manufacture to point of sale. This can aid with crime, whereby a murderer can be tracked down by identifying where he / she purchased the weapon, which could help put a grieving family at ease. Television sets, Radios, DVD Players and other electronics with these markings would make the black market a little less feasible place for crooks to do business, as the authorities could quickly track down the rightful owners.

Many consider traceability important but by looking a little deeper into the facts of just a couple of facets of everyday life. One can easily see that such a simple gesture is saving and will continue to save thousands of lives each year.

Electronics and laser marking

Filed under: Laser Engraving, Parts Marking — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:00 pm

Laser marking is a process describing a wide range of electronic laser equipment and techniques used to permanently label nearly any type of material. Depending on the class and strength of the laser, materials such as paper, wood, plastic, glass, metal, integrated circuit chips, printed circuit boards and, semiconductor wafers can be safely and permanently marked. It’s a quick and easy method of inscribing information such as logos, art, dates, bar codes, serial numbers, on products and parts.

All laser marking involves using the power of a laser to permanently modify the surface of solid in a controlled way without any risk of damage to the overall integrity of the product being marked. Depending on the strength of the laser and the material being inscribed, the process employs techniques that include: laser engraving, laser chemical bonding, etching, very slight burning or mild bleaching for plastics.

The laser marking process has a host of advantages over other marking methods:

  • Relatively modest start-up investment.
  • No continuing expenses for consumables.
  • Suitable for under very high operating speeds and are easily customized to fit a variety of automated manufacturing  or distribution situations.
  • The process is immune to marking rub-off or deterioration when compared to a process such as inkjet printing.
  • The lasers marking process is extremely safe and easy to use and produces no toxic byproducts.
  • Most laser marking machines can adapt to a wide variety of materials and surfaces and shapes.

Permanent laser marking

Filed under: Laser Engraving — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:17 pm

Laser marking is a very convenient, fast, and safe way of creating permanent markings on a variety of materials such as wood, metals, glass, plastics, ceramics, silicon, rubber, even on plated or anodized materials. The surfaces can be flat, curved, or shaped any other way. Permanent laser marking can even be done on materials and surfaces that are normally difficult to mark.

The laser machines produce a great deal of power with high quality printing. The machines can make text, numbers, symbols, logos, bar codes, graphics, and other markings.

Permanent laser marking gives clear, clean, marks that do not ever rub off. The marks are durable and flexible to withstand long-term wear and cleaning.

You can use permanent laser marking on a variety of products to meet you marking needs for personal or professional use. It is commonly used on packaging, electronics, and medical supplies and equipment.

Permanent laser marking is perfect for devices and tools that are used in the medical field due to the inability to use dyes or inks. Dyes and inks can cause allergic reactions in some patients. Medical suppliers use permanent laser marking on products such as medical hardware (implants, bone screws, and braces), microscope slides, surgical tools, pill perforation, DNA test cartridges, and patient identification tags.

Permanent laser marking saves time and creates a permanent marking that can withstand long-term use.

Older Posts »