What is Direct Part Marking?

Direct part marking helps identify the product, the manufacturer, etc. as such many organizations, including governments requires these for security purposes. Manufacturers view it as a branding strategy. An Increasing number of industries all over the world use direct park marking for their products, as it offers a permanent way of imprinting the information on their products. These markings can endure tough weather conditions and can last long unlike those sticker markings that have a short life.

Direct part marking is suitable for any surface whatever surface the product is made of plastic, glass, or hard metal imprinting is easy using this technology. The automotive industry first started using the direct part marking technology; with the technology, growing in popularity the method found its application in many other industries such as the aerospace, jewelry, energy, defense, medical, electronics, car components, etc. started using this technology following its huge success. There are many methods of direct marking today, some of the most popular methods are:

•Laser Marking: This method offers superior quality marking; hence, it is the favorite of many industries today. It can mark on any surface and do not use any ink or tool bits to engrave the material. In fact, marking happens with the focus of the laser beam on the surface of the product, and no other tool gets in contact with the surface that requires markings.

• Chemical Marking: Chemical markings require the help of a mask on the surface of the affected area of the product, and once the marking process completes you can take the mask off the surface.

• Dot Peening: This method uses continuous mechanical percussions with a needle- also called peen - attached to a machine; hence, this method also known as “point of percussion technology.” In this technology, marking at specific points by varying the depth of the part’s surface thereby, creating differences in the reflection and diffusion of the light to create light and dark elements of markings. This method is popular in the automotive sector.

• INK Jet Printing: As the name suggests in this method ink jet projects ink onto the surface of the part that requires marking. This helps create a series or patterns of spots, marks that forms the exact content that requires marking on the part. The advantage of this technology is that is suits all surfaces but cannot withstand difficult conditions, environments.

Direct part marking is a great technology and offers advantages to manufacturers to track their products, while helping governments control the safety standards, etc. Consider all the factors before choosing this method, which can increase the visibility, durability, and the readability of the code, markings on the product. It is very important for “Direct print method” to consider the surface that needs marking.

HeatSign, a leading wholesaler and supplier of industrial marking systems in China, offers a wide range of dot peen, fiber laser, CO2 laser markers, pneumatic and direct part marking machines ( heatsign.com/products/hs-dc01-direct-part ) for engraving or etching text, bar codes, 2-D codes, logos or graphics on metals, paper, glass, ceramic, etc.