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Automotive Part Marking

automatic laser engraving

Industrial Metal Engraving Machine for Custom-Use Cases

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Customized part marking is essential for the successful production of parts in a variety of industries. By applying unique identifiers to each part or component, manufacturers can ensure precision in their production process while ensuring traceability throughout product life cycles. An industrial metal engraving machine provides that capability during the production process.

Part marking is also an essential tool for reducing waste and improving efficiency across a variety of sectors. In fact, the use of metal marking is vital to the production of more industries than you think. 

6 Uses for Custom Part Marking in Industrial Settings

The use of an industrial metal engraving machine is well worth the investment for a variety of industries, but the following six see particular advantages: 

  • Aerospace part marking
  • Medical marking for UDI
  • Automotive and data matrix
  • Oil & Gas
  • Electronics
  • Metalworking 

Aerospace Part Marking

Aerospace part production demands a high degree of accuracy because of the extended exposure to high heat and vibrations, which can lead to part failure. As a result, customized part marking is necessary for the successful completion of parts that meet the strict requirements of the aerospace industry. 

Metal marking machines also reduce waste and increase efficiency in production, as it allows for accurate identification of parts while not causing damage to the part surface. Aerospace part marking provides a unique identifier for each part produced, which can help ensure traceability throughout the entire aerospace product life cycle. Aerospace equipment is costly, which means proactively avoiding defects can make a difference in the profit margin. 

Both dot peen and laser marking can be efficient methods of custom part marking for aerospace production. 

 

Medical Marking for UDI

Unique Device Identification (UDI) is a system of marking medical devices, such as pacemakers and artificial joints. UDI identifies and traces each device throughout all stages of its life cycle. It enables easy identification of specific product versions and lots, helping prevent mix-ups or recall issues in the case of a malfunction.

Part marking is essential for UDI compliance, as it ensures that all medical devices are traceable. Part marking machines for the medical industry can also apply: 

  • Expiration dates
  • Lot codes
  • Batch and serial numbers
  • Other information required by the FDA or other regulatory agencies

Automotive and Data Matrix

The automotive industry relies heavily on part marking to catalog and traces each component throughout the production process and the vehicle’s life span. 

Data matrix codes provide significant information in a small surface area and make it easier to read throughout the component’s useful life. Data matrix is:

  • Essential for providing a unique identifier for each part
  • Used to store expiration date, lot code, batch number, serial number, and other data required by regulatory agencies 
  • Essential to reduce waste in automotive production by ensuring accuracy when marking parts with customized identifiers

 

Oil & Gas

Parts for the oil and gas industry must be marked with special techniques to ensure they’re identifiable both downhole and on the surface. This is critical, as oil and gas parts have a variety of components that will be exposed to high pressures and harsh environmental conditions. Therefore, permanent mark identification is required to ensure traceability and reduce liability in the event of a failure.

Part marking is also essential for safety, as it provides personnel with the information needed to ensure proper operation and maintenance of oil and gas parts. By applying customized part markers, manufacturers can make sure that the right type of parts are used in each application, reducing unnecessary risks and ensuring optimal performance. 

Metal marking machines are also necessary for oil and gas parts to ensure they meet the requirements of their specific industry. These unique part markers can reduce waste in production, as they allow you to ID parts quickly and accurately without manual labor or additional equipment. This helps in reducing errors and improving efficiency.

 

Electronics

In the electronics industry, part marking is essential for traceability and identifying counterfeit parts. By applying unique identifiers to each component, manufacturers can ensure that only genuine parts make it into their products.  

QR codes are increasingly being used to identify electronic products in a number of industries. QR codes are 2D barcodes that can be scanned and read by a smartphone or other device.

In the electronics industry, QR codes can track components throughout the manufacturing process. They’re also used to store serial numbers, batch numbers, and expiration dates.

QR codes are also becoming increasingly popular for tracking electronics in the supply chain, as they allow companies to quickly and accurately identify products throughout their life cycle. This reduces the risk of product mix-ups and mislabeling, while helping to ensure that all products are safe and compliant with industry standards.

 

Metalworking

Custom part marking is an essential process in metalworking, where shops often have numerous orders and projects going on at once. By applying unique identifiers to each part, manufacturers can quickly and accurately identify the components they need for their various projects. This helps reduce waste in production, as it eliminates the possibility of errors and increases run speed. 

Part marking is also essential for metalworking to ensure that end products meet industry standards and specifications.

Part marking systems for metalworking are typically laser- or ink jet-based, as these methods create permanent marks that won’t fade and become unreadable over time. Laser marking has the advantage of being more precise than traditional methods, and is usually the preferred choice when producing parts with tight tolerances.

 

Metal Marking Machines in Your Industry

Custom part marking is essential for the success of any production process, especially in mission-critical industries like aerospace, medical, automotive, oil and gas, electronics, and metalworking. By applying unique identifiers to each component or product being produced, manufacturers can ensure accuracy and traceability throughout their entire life cycle. 

Additionally, customized part markers reduce wasteful errors caused by mislabeling or mix-ups. With the right custom marking system in place, businesses can work more quickly while still taking care to meet industry standards and regulations.

 

More From the Direct Part Marking 101 Series

Metal marking machines are key to a variety of industries. Each use case is unique.

Take a look at other blog posts in our Direct Part Marking 101 series: 

Medical Part Marking Standards Explained

Aerospace Part Marking Considerations

Defense and Military Applications

automotive component marking

Direct Part Marking 101 | Automotive Component Traceability

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The number of components used to manufacture vehicles has doubled over the past decade. This means more parts to 

  • keep in inventory
  • track during production 
  • evaluate throughout the life cycle to pinpoint issues 

Automotive part marking requirements are intended to help with all of the above processes. This means accuracy and readability are crucial for the purpose of laser marking automotive parts, and it doesn’t hurt to have a process that makes traceability easier. 

 

Meeting Automotive Industry Standards

The automotive industry is duty-bound to provide safe and reliable vehicles to consumers. With new models of integrated marketing equipment and technology introduced each year, it’s important to have a method of tracking parts when issues arise and a recall becomes necessary. 

In recognition of the importance of recalls and safety, the automotive industry has set high standards for product identification. Automotive parts identification is required, but it also provides several benefits: 

  1. A product can be marked with serial and part numbers, barcodes, and other information. 
  2. Items can be tracked throughout their entire lifecycle.
  3. No need for traditional labels prone to fading or falling off. 
  4. By using 2D barcodes, manufacturers can identify very small items and parts and include more data than in a linear barcode.
  5. Improved error prevention for just-in-sequence (JIS) production.
  6. Reduced risk of counterfeit parts because part marking is difficult to duplicate.

Part marking is a process used to identify automotive components, improving quality control throughout the production and life cycle of a vehicle. With vehicle components increasing and shrinking at the same time, automotive part marking becomes ever more important in order to properly track and evaluate all these components.

Traceability is also an important factor when it comes to automotive part marking, as it helps determine where each component came from and how it was made. 

As such, accuracy and readability are essential for automotive part marking to be useful for the manufacturer With the right part identification methods in place, automotive manufacturers can:

  • Meet industry standards
  • Ensure the safety and reliability of their products
  • Improve future designs

JIS production is a technique where parts are delivered to the assembly line in a manner that perfectly synchronizes with the automotive manufacturing process. Timely and precise delivery allows automotive manufacturers to make efficient use of their resources while also reducing costs. Automotive part marking plays an important role in JIS production by minimizing and ensuring production runs smoothly.

 

The Importance of Traceabilityautomotive component marking

The automotive industry is relying more and more on automotive traceability requirements to ensure the quality and safety of its products. Part marking requirements are essential in helping automotive companies trace, manage, and evaluate components over the entire life cycle of a vehicle.

The implementation of direct part marking has:

  • Helped with recall management
  • Improved part identification on flexible assembly lines
  • Improved chain of custody tracking, avoiding product diversion

Recall Management

Traceability provides an easy way to identify faulty parts. With part marking, automotive companies can identify the specific source of a faulty component, enabling them to contain and isolate problems quickly and reduce losses.

Improved Part Identification During Assembly

Automated process control systems require accurate data input for maximum efficiency, and part markings help provide that accuracy. Additionally, integrated marking equipment along the automotive production line can read and store this data to optimize the build and speed up production.

Chain of Custody Tracking Improvements

Automotive companies that use part marking are able to correctly fulfill customer requirements. Strong chain of custody tracking and the ability to avoid product diversion helps automotive companies deliver quality parts on time and keep track of what goes where in case problems arise.

 

Dot Peen vs. Laser Marking Automotive Parts

There are numerous methods of direct part marking that can be used for parts exposed to harsh conditions, such as vehicles that traverse a variety of terrains. Dot peen marking and laser marking are two popular methods used in the automotive industry. Both have advantages and disadvantages to consider before committing to the investment associated with your preferred method. 

Dot Peen

Dot peen is a method that involves striking the metal or product material (typically metal) with a marker that knocks away a small amount of material to leave a readable mark.

Advantages of dot peen marking include: 

  • Lower cost.
  • Durable and permanent mark
  • High marking speed
  • Minimal stress (mechanical only)

The disadvantages of dot peen marking include limited usefulness. In terms of materials, this method is effective for metal and plastic, but not others. The dot peen marking process also exposes parts to mechanical stress, which can weaken the component and increase the risk of part, and has the potential for increasing the occurrence of defects. 

The M4 inline and automation pack can help optimize marking for automated production: https://www.technomark-inc.com/solutions/integrated-use/m4-inline/  

Laser Marking
Laser marking is a non-contact method that marks parts using a precise beam. The Direct Part Marking laser has a higher rate of permanency and accuracy.

Other advantages of laser marking include:

  • Permanent & accurate mark
  • High-Quality mark that can be applied to many materials
  • Can be done at high speeds; high contrast
  • Resistant to heat and liquids

However, there are disadvantages to recognize as well. These include both higher costs for a laser marking device and issues when materials are exposed to mechanical stress. The energy cost for the laser in question depends on the type used. 

Graphix Inline provides flexibility in marking depth and offers a solution for a variety of materials: https://www.technomark-inc.com/solutions/integrated-use/graphix-series-inline/ 

Integrating New Part-Marking Technology Into Your Process

Part coding and identification help reduce counterfeits and improve the success rates of recalls. This in turn has improved safety rates for vehicles and the ability to make the next design better. 

With an ever-increasing number of parts used in vehicle manufacturing, now’s the time to audit the potential expansion of your traceability solutions. Whether you’re a contractor or handle marking in-house, and whether you prefer dot peen or laser, review the latest technology and best practices. Don’t get left behind by traceability and automotive part marking standards. 

 

For further information on automotive applications for part marking technology, consider this resource: 

https://www.technomark-inc.com/applications/automotive/