 AS9132 is a specification for the Direct Part Marking of aerospace components. For a Data Matrix code marked on a component for identification purposes, the standard measures dot size, angle of distortion and dot centre offset. The standard generally just considers a Pass/Fail of the mark against the criteria.
A Useful Feedback Loop AS9132 provides useful feedback as to why a Data Matrix code has failed a verification check. When the Pryor verification software detects a failed code it will provide the user with a relevant list of things to check to correct the problem. Some tips on how to achieve a Pass grade in AS9132 are given in this article. How to achieve Pass grades on AS9132 marksFor more information on what AS9132 is, see this article. Pryor Dot Peen marking machines, when used with the head mounted VeriSmart 2.0 camera for the verification check, are capable of getting pass grades at AS9132. The BenchDot range of machines provide the highest quality Dot Peen marks in the world and can achieve better marks over a longer period of time. This is due to the high precision x-y movement of the machines. While competitor products can also achieve Pass grades, they may not do so at high speeds or for longer periods of usage. It is important to remember that a verification check of a Data Matrix needs to happen in a controlled environment. In order to assess the quality of the mark, the imaging process needs to be repeatable - otherwise the same mark can give different verification results; for example, different lighting conditions could make the difference between a pass and fail grade. In order to ensure a consistent verification process, a machine-mounted camera should be used immediately after the mark has been made. The AS9132 specification assess 3 criteria of a Data Matrix mark. It requires all 3 to give a Pass grade. 1. Dot size needs to be between 65% and 105% 2. Dot centre offset within 0% to 20% of the ideal grid 3. Angle of distortion up to 6 degrees variation of the L shaped finder pattern. Dot Size If the verification check on the Data Matrix fails because the dot size is too big, then the marking force is too high and needs to be reduced. This can be done in the Pryor embedded controller, Pryor Windows based software or by adjusting the gap betweent he component and the marking pin (a larger gap gives higher force). Dot Centre Offset If it fails for dot centre offset then the fixture is not good enough to clamp the part in place or the marking head has play and needs a service For further information about AS9132 please visit CONTACT
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 UDI Regulations and Requirements A directive from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission has introduced legislation regarding the Unique Device Identification (UDI) of medical devices and instruments. From September 2016, all medical class III devices and instruments that require direct part marking (DPM) must also carry a UDI. Class II and Class I devices will require UDI from September 2018 and September 2020 respectively. This system will allow greater accuracy in reporting and traceability as well as reducing medical errors by allowing health care workers to quickly identify instruments. Why Laser Marking is an Effective and Suitable Solution
 How Pryor & TSA can help with UDI Pryor has a strong background in working with medical device and instrument manufactures and have developed our own laser and traceability solutions tailored towards UDI requirements. Our expertise in the integration of vision systems is unmatched in the marking industry. This enables us to validate and verify against industry standards, and even produce full reports and images of the process for a complete traceability and data capture solution. We can offer the following benefits to our medical customers:
For further information on UDI Marking CONTACT
 Traceability Solutions Asia along with our partner Pryor Marking Technology offers the broadest range of marking and traceability products on the market. Pryor marking machines can mark a very wide range of work pieces using a variety of different character styles, sizes and depths. This guide outlines how to get the best out of your equipment. It covers Dot Peen marking methods. Other marking technologies available from Pryor are dealt with in separate articles in their knowledge centre. A .pdf version of this guide is available to download and print. Dot Peen Dot Peen marking is also known as dot marking, stylus pin marking and micro percussion marking. This method uses a stylus that rapidly actuates to indent a series of dots on to the surface of a material. The stylus is programmed to move around the surface in x and y directions, resulting in a succession of dots that create digits, text, logos and 2D Data Matrix codes. Pryor's standard machines use an electrically driven solenoid to actuate the stylus, but pneumatic actuation is also available for deep marking or fast marking. Dot peen marking provides fast, accurate, low-stress marking and can mark through coatings or film on the material surface. It is the ideal method for permanently marking a Data Matrix code onto a metal component. A Data Matrix is a 2D barcode which care store a large amount of data. Fixturing IMPORTANT - Unless the work piece is held firmly then there is little hope of obtaining a good quality mark. If you have a wide variety of work pieces to mark then you may have to make several interchangeable fixtures. Use a magnetic chuck, or similar, to allow these fixtures to be changed over quickly and accurately. Work piece material The machines may mark a very wide range of materials but some materials are easier to mark than others. The harder the material, the shallower the depth of mark will be. The type of material will also influence the life of the stylus, the stylus tip will wear or chip quickly the harder the material. The angle of the stylus tip may be changed to reduce the chance of chipping. Changing the angle may also increase the readability of the mark. Surface finish Smooth, well finished work pieces are easier to mark than rough, scaled work pieces. The worse the finish, the deeper the mark will have to be to remain readable. Painted work pieces may be marked but the paint may chip, try changing the stylus tip angle to reduce the chipping. Work piece flatness The machine can mark on surfaces which are not completely flat but the depth of the mark will vary across the surface. For dot marking, as the gap between the stylus tip and the surface of the work piece increases, the depth of the mark will increase. If the difference in gap is only 1 to 2 mm (0.040" to 0.080") then the mark produced may be acceptable. If you have to mark a heavily contoured surface (a cylindrical work piece, for example) then there are several things that should be considered:
Depth of mark The depth of mark depends on the following factors
(90° Stylus – Note marking depths vary depending on material hardness and stylus tip angle) The effect of marking force versus marking gap is illustrated in the chart.  Marking gap The marking gap is the distance between the stylus tip and the surface of the work piece. Changing the marking gap changes the depth of mark. The larger the gap, the deeper the mark. Stylus tip angle The stylus tip angle (normally 90° included) may be varied to increase stylus life, increase the depth of the mark or increase the readability of the mark (though not all of these at once!) A small included angle (perhaps 60°) will give a deep mark but stylus life will be reduced. The deeper mark obtained may even be less readable because the diameter of individual dots will be less. A large included angle (perhaps 120°) will result in a longer stylus life. A less deep mark will be obtained but the mark may be more readable, this is because individual dots will be wider. Marking Data Matrix codes with a stylus angle of 120° often produces the best results and leads to the most readable codes. A mini-stress stylus (radius tip) will help to eliminate any stress on the work piece but will result in a shallower mark. Character size The machines can mark characters from 0.15 to 49.95mm (0.006" to 1.967") high. Avoid using very large or very small characters, if possible. We class small characters as being up to 1.00mm (0.040"), medium characters as being 1.00mm to 4.00mm (0.040" to 0.160"), and large characters as being larger than 4.00mm (0.160"). Large characters take longer to mark than medium size characters, they also need to be marked more deeply to remain readable. If you need to mark large characters then consider using the 7x9 or Varidot style instead of the normal 5x7 style (the more dots there are, the more readable the mark). 
"Component marking without stopping the production line flow has a huge impact on cycle time"
David Ray | Pryor Technical Director
Laser marking has become an industry standard over the last 20 years and provides a fast, high contrast mark on a variety of surfaces.
A Pryor customer was looking to save time in their production process and mark parts as they moved along a production line. This process of laser marking a component as it moves past the laser is called "marking on the fly". This is difficult to achieve as the static laser head needs to track the speed of the component and mark in the correct place whilst it is moving. The advantages of achieving this are that a continuous, long mark can be applied and components can be marked on a high speed production line with almost no addition to cycle time. Marking can be performed at all common production line speeds, with a unique, serialised Data Matrix code applied in as little as 0.5 seconds. |
AuthorJackrapong Siripaiboon Archives
July 2022
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