| The direct part marking process that has become | | | | parts. Generally, a metal object is preferred for |
| popular for its numerous advantages can be | | | | this marking procedure. The advantages of the |
| applied to the items by several different methods. | | | | methods include low implementation and medium |
| Each method of DPM has its own benefit and | | | | operating costs. The devices are computer |
| requirement depending on the type of item and | | | | controlled or manually handled, and hence, can be |
| its functionality. The contractors or the suppliers | | | | used at assembly line. The device used for the |
| who are in charge of the items and who are | | | | method is small and can engrave one dimensional |
| responsible for marking the items with UID need | | | | barcodes, trademarks and alphanumeric |
| to select the method depending on the type of | | | | characters. The shortcomings of the method are |
| material for marking, the implementation of | | | | it can’t be applied on any surface, its quite |
| marking cost and the reading technology. | | | | time –consuming and it can’t mark 2 |
| The basic types of direct part marking are the | | | | dimensional barcode symbols. |
| intrusive and the non-intrusive marking methods. | | | | Laser Burning |
| With the intrusive marking method, there is a | | | | This process of Direct part marking involves use |
| direct contact between the surface of the item | | | | of laser beam to mark the surface of the item to |
| for marking and the marking device. On the other | | | | be marked. The benefits of laser burning is that it |
| hand, the non-intrusive direct part marking | | | | can produce high quality legibility of the codes, |
| method doesn’t require such contact. | | | | minimum size of the codes on a small surface, |
| Different types of direct part marking include | | | | assure durability, cost effective operation prices, |
| grooving, engraving, burning, etching and painting. | | | | faster marking. It can be used on any surface |
| Grooving | | | | and produce UID marking for the items. However, |
| It is one of the intrusive types of DPM and | | | | it has its own share of disadvantages. The |
| otherwise known as “Dot Peening”. In this | | | | marking machine used for this is bigger and the |
| method the codes of the UID are grooved on the | | | | implementation cost of the method is |
| surface of the item by using a hard head of a | | | | comparatively high. |
| marking machine. The device prints the codes by | | | | Etching |
| striking the surface subsequently. The advantages | | | | Etching involves chemical solutions and specific |
| of the making procedure are low implementation | | | | matrix to mark the items and parts with UID. The |
| and operating cost, manual or computer | | | | prime benefit of the method is its durability. The |
| regulation, grooving alphanumeric characters as | | | | disadvantages are its high operating costs and |
| well as 2D data matrix code, small and convenient | | | | long operation time. The barcodes produced in this |
| grooving device. The down side is that it cannot | | | | method can’t be machine made or automatic. |
| be applied on any surfaces and is more | | | | Painting |
| time-consuming than the laser marking. | | | | A specific kind of ink is used to put the marks on |
| Engraving | | | | the surface by painting method. However, |
| This is also an intrusive method of direct part | | | | marking speed is the noteworthy benefit of the |
| marking in which the characters of the codes are | | | | method. This method cant assure durability of the |
| directly engraved on the surface of the item or | | | | code. |