Part Marking Information

In the world of manufacturing, one crucial but sometimes overlooked detail is part marking. It typically serves as an indication of quality, traceability, and adherence to regulations.

Permanent marking is often necessary for industries that value precision and accountability.

Why Part Marking?

When we think of part marking, we typically envision serial numbers and part codes. But there is more to it. These processes enable easy tracking of a component throughout its lifecycle, helping with inventory management, regulations compliance and quality control.

Permanent marking ensures that parts can be traced back to their origins, which is particularly pivotal for validation in several industries.

Considerations

The choice of part-marking method is not arbitrary; it requires careful consideration of several factors. The material of the part, the environment it will be used in, and the required level of detail in the mark all play a role in determining the most suitable method.

You must ensure the marking aligns with the part’s function and longevity, ensuring it stands the test of time. To establish visibility and accessibility, make sure the mark is placed for effortless scanning without the need for disassembly.

It’s extremely important to bear in mind the regulations you must adhere to throughout the process – after all, it’s one of the key reasons for part marking. While complying with regulations and guidelines, try to consider aesthetics as well. You wouldn’t want it to negatively impact the product’s appearance.

The size of the marking and its impact on material properties are also key considerations.

Part Marking Types at Protocase

To create permanent marks on your parts, we have an array of methods at our disposal. Each method varies in terms of durability, speed, and the level of detail it can achieve, making them suitable for different applications and industries.

Rubber Stamping

Rubber stamping is a basic, yet reliable, method to add permanent marking. It is done by creating letter and number combinations using stamps, then applying directly onto an enclosure or part using permanent ink.

As a quick, efficient and cost-effective process, rubber stamping is ideal for projects that involve budget constraints.

Avery Labels

Avery labels are another rudimentary way to achieve permanent marking. This process involves printing any type of text that you require on an Avery label using a standard printer. The label is then applied to your part or the outer most package of your part.

It’s another swift solution for marking individual parts and is particularly popular in smaller projects where part type changes occur frequently.

Laser Marking

Laser marking is an ultra-precise, efficient means of permanent marking that offers an enormous amount of versatility. We offer several different kinds of laser marking: engrave burn, silver, outline, ablate and anneal.

Renowned for its precision, laser marking can produce highly detailed markings. These include serial numbers, intricate logos, as well as barcodes and QR codes.

Machined Engraving

While machined engraving is one of the oldest techniques for part marking, it has evolved immensely with the latest CNC technology.

Using our high-speed vertical 3-axis CNC milling machine, we can engrave just about anything, including letters, numbers, symbols, logos and artwork.

Engrave and Fill

To achieve Engrave and Fill, your parts undergo laser marking or machined engraving, and then the laser-engraved sections are filled with ink, according to your specific requirements.

This technique is great for creating high-contrast, durable labels on industrial machinery, custom trophies, and awards, as well as detailed information plates on medical equipment.

Dot Peening

Dot peening involves a machine actually indenting the metal to create letters or numbers that are easily recognizable. This process can be used on parts with or without powdercoat – both allow for good visibility.

It’s generally used in industries where the marks must be deep enough to remain visible after painting or galvanizing.

Silkscreening

Silkscreening is a method used to add graphics to your parts (particularly with large parts or panels). Our silkscreening process incorporates cutting-edge screen-preparation technology and robust epoxy-based inks to guarantee a high-resolution, quality finish.

This method provides high contrast, ensuring visibility and readability. If you are keen on aesthetics and desire a sleek appearance for your part, silkscreening is an excellent option.

Digital Printing

Another option to add graphics to your part, digital printing provides a clear, detailed mark with colors. We use the halftone technique to create color prints. Halftone blends various densities of small droplets of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black, which creates brilliant colors and gradients our eyes perceive as solid from a distance.

When compared to silkscreening, digital printing is ideal for graphics with high amounts of detail, such as a gradient finish, CGI effects or overlapping colors.

We have a guide to help you with the differences between silkscreening and digital printing. You can get it from here.

Part Marking That Meets MIL-STD-130

For those in defense who require part marking for military applications, compliance with the MIL-STD-130 standard is crucial. With this in mind, here are the part marking techniques that conform to this standard:

• Rubber Stamping
• Laser Marking
• Machined Engraving
• Engrave and Fill
• Dot Peening

Conclusion

Permanent marking is integral to producing quality, safe, and compliant product, making it important for engineers to understand and implement it correctly. There needs to be a proper mix of flair and precision that result in exceptional functionality, traceability and reliability.

At Protocase, we can add permanent marking to your parts as part of our ultra-fact 2-3 day lead time.

Explore our website for more detailed information about all of our finishing options. You can find all the information you require on materials, constraints, colors, capabilities etc. there.

Don’t forget that you can add permanent marking to your design using Protocase Designer. Our software can help you save time with its 80+ base templates, built-in manufacturability checks, instant quoting, ordering, and direct integration with our fast custom manufacturing.

If you require any help with choosing the right type of part marking, give us a shout. We are here to help you every step of the way!