1. Versatile technology: portable, bench, mixed and integrated use
Dot peen marking technology is highly versatile. Several configurations are possible:
Mobility thanks to portable use
Portable use is very popular for marking large parts such as batches of materials or chassis.
Going through established use for a stationary configuration
Station use enables very small to medium-sized parts to be marked, thanks to an adjustable column base.
Versatility through 2in1 use
This configuration combines portable and bench use, thanks to a modular marking head. In the portable configuration, the operator does his marking, then in a few seconds can change configuration by positioning the same marking head on a column base for bench use.
And integrated use for series production
Integrated use is widely used in many sectors, such as the automotive industry, because it is designed for mass production. The solution is integrated into the automated process of a production line in order to carry out series marking on all types of parts.
2. Dot peen, a permanent marking solution
Dot peen marking involves making a series of impacts with a stylus in order to deform the material. It is a technology that enables markings to be made that can be described as permanent, unalterable or indelible, because it is impossible to make them disappear. It is used in particular to mark VIN numbers on vehicle chassis, aircraft parts or, more recently, on bicycles with Bicycode® marking to fight theft.
3. A solution perfectly suited to Industry 4.0
Network-connected solution
The industrial marking sector is no exception to the new standards of Industry 4.0, which have become standard in most production workshops. Today’s dot peen marking equipment can be connected to company networks to share marking information in real time with an ERP system, and to control the equipment more easily by external operators or PLCs, for example.
Optimised maintenance thanks to data management
Machine maintenance has also been designed to support the Industry 4.0 movement. The machine uses its data to anticipate the various maintenance actions required for proper maintenance, such as lubricating the stylus or changing the springs.
4. Data storage without constraints thanks to Datamatrix
It is very common for companies to have to record a great deal of information about their products. For technical and aesthetic reasons, Datamatrix has been developed to record a huge amount of information. The Datamatrix code can store up to 2335 alphanumeric characters or 3116 numeric characters on a surface area of 1 cm². What’s more, it’s a highly durable solution, as the Datamatrix code can continue to be read without any loss of data, even if it is damaged by up to 20%.
5. Wide range of marking options
Dot peen technology can be used to meet all marking requirements. Here are a few examples:
Alphanumeric marking
One of the most traditional types of marking, it can be used to mark numbers and letters by manual entry or automatic generation, such as serial numbers, time stamps and batch numbers.
2D code
These symbols make it possible to record a great deal of information on a very small surface and to read it again later by scanning the same shape. As mentioned above, Datamatrix is the most powerful and most commonly used in the industry, but QR Code and ECC200 are also used.
Visuals
It is also possible to mark visuals such as logos, pictograms and other symbols. Dot peen is used, for example, to mark the CE standard for non-food products sold in Europe.
Orientation and deformation
The marking area is sometimes difficult to mark, or the company wants a particular result. In these cases, all you need to do is manage the orientation and deformation of the marking to achieve the desired result. For example, it is possible to change the angle of the marking, produce radiant marking or mirror marking.
Discover the second part of our article “10 things to know about dot peen marking“.