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Simplified and Efficient Parts Making

Ejection pins with laser marked logo and 2-D code

Plastic silicone tube marked with a FOBA M-Series UV laser

The FOBA M3000 laser marking system is a laser marking workstation with integrated camera that functions with either fiber or UV lasers.

Laser marked codes and characters on all kinds of products provide sustainable traceability throughout the whole product life cycle and allow the implementation of legal marking requirements. Fraud prevention and process optimization in parts logistics is another reason for direct part marking.

"Direct part marking with laser can fulfill the demanding quality requirements of high contrast long-term legibility, even in the smallest marking dimensions, as well as machine readability of data matrix and other 2-D codes," said a FOBA spokesperson.

"With the concept of integrating the vision system directly into the marking system, FOBA has offered its customers a simple and broad part marking workflow solution that ensures the highest production performance," continued the spokesperson. "The process implies vision based part as well as mark verification within the laser marking process. This ensures reliable, zero-defect marking."

The system is most suitable for flexible use in single or serial batch production because it supports variable contents and safe adjustment to the intended products. Since part marking occurs at the end of production, marking errors are most cost-intensive. With camera inspection, errors can be prevented and scrap can reduced by up to 80%.

The vision based inspection is integrated within FOBA's M-Series stand-alone fiber laser marking machines for flexible single or batch production for industries such as medical, automotive or aerospace. Its three-step marking process consists of the following:

  • Pre-mark verification:

- Verification of the right part and if the part is not already marked. This prevents parts from being double marked and defective products from being marked.

- Alignment of the marking position relative to the position of the product. This means that the part does not have to align to the mark, since the mark automatically aligns itself accurately to the part.

  • High quality laser marking
  • Post-mark verification:

- The camera validates that the marks have been placed correctly (positioning, size)

- Optical Character Verification (OCV) validates that every character matches the expected content (works with text and graphics, linear and curved text or graphics)

- 2-D code validation and code reading reads 1/2-D codes and compares the results to the expected content. A quality check classifies the codes into quality classes (A through F), which supports production process monitoring.

The existing range of available wave lengths in the so far only fiber laser equipped M-series has recently been expanded by the M3000-UV with vision based UV-laser marking, which now provides the ability to create high contrast marks on especially sensitive material. Due to its minimal heat buildup, the UV-laser is most appropriate for the gentle marking of highly sensitive plastics like silicone, PVC and HDPR as well as ceramics or glass.

The new autofocus system enables fast focusing with a single mouse click and thus makes the marking process more efficient. User-friendliness is enhanced with the intuitive Advanced Operator Plugin (AOP). The laser marking user interface has also been optimized further with the latest update of the laser marking software MarkUS 2.11, aimed at the prevention of marking errors. Another improvement has been made with the latest TCP/IP remote control system which enables the laser marking machines workflow to be monitored via the user's own interface.

For more information contact:

FOBA Products Application and

Service Center

Videojet Technologies Inc.

1500 Mittel Blvd.

Wood Dale, IL 60191-1072

630-694-3243

fobasupport@fobalaser.com

sales-na@fobalaser.com

www.fobalaser.com

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