The technological evolution of industrial marking

Industrial marking is a broad term that encompasses several techniques used to create permanent marks on the surface of a material using a laser beam.

The technological evolution of industrial marking has led to significant innovations in recent years.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Advantages of Industrial Marking

The main advantages of laser marking include:

Permanence: The marks created by laser marking are permanent and resistant to abrasion, chemicals and heat. This makes them suitable for situations where the signs need to withstand harsh conditions or last a long time.

Accuracy: Laser marking offers high precision and can create detailed, complex designs with a resolution of up to 0,1mm.

Versatility: Laser marking is suitable for a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, ceramics and composites.

Non-contact: It is a non-contact process, which means there is no physical contact between the tool and the material. This eliminates the risk of damaging the material and reduces wear on the tools.

Applications of Industrial Marking

Industrial marking has a wide range of applications in different sectors:

• Metallurgy:
  • Marking is used to identify metal parts, products and materials.
  • Examples: serial numbers, lot codes, company markings on machine and equipment components.
• Automotive:
  • Marking is essential for the traceability of automotive components.
  • Used to mark parts such as engines, chassis, tires and electronic systems.
• Aeronautics and aerospace:
  • Identification of aircraft and rocket parts.
  • Barcodes, logos and security information.
• Energy:
  • Marking on turbines, generators and components of energy systems.
  • Traceability for maintenance and safety.
• Medicine:
  • Marking on medical devices, surgical instruments and implants.
  • It guarantees traceability and regulatory compliance.
• Types of marking:
  • Alphanumeric: Text and numbers for identification.
  • Datamatrix: Matrix codes for traceability.
  • Logo: Company brands and logos.
  • Date and time: Timestamp.
• Materials: Aluminium, steel, plastic and stainless steel are some of the marked materials.

Furthermore, industrial marking finds application in sectors such as defense, agriculture, food processing, construction, electronics, railways and more. It is a fundamental tool for ensuring the quality, traceability and safety of products.

Innovation: technological evolution of Industrial Marking

The technological evolution of industrial marking has led to significant innovations in recent years. This process, which goes beyond traditional labeling, is used for a wide range of purposes.

Couth represents the example of evolution and innovation in industrial marking technology.

Let's see some of the marking techniques and their applications:

Marking by engraving:
This technique was common in the past but has been superseded by other more efficient ones.
Engraving ensures high quality standards, but may form a burr over time.
Still used in industries such as jewelry and high-value watch manufacturing.
Scratch marking:
A needle pressed against the surface of the piece creates marks.
Cheap and suitable for many materials, but can remove material particles.
Wear resistant.
Micropercussion markinge:
Fast and reliable, almost wear-free.
A solid carbide needle hammers the surface.
Used in various industrial sectors.
Sustainable innovation in marking:
The revolutionary idea is to overcome the concept of "disposable" products.
A sustainable marking platform is proposed, allowing modification and replacement of parts to maximize the use of available technology.
In summary, industrial marking is fundamental for product identification, traceability and quality. New techniques and attention to sustainability are redefiending the sector.

Applications in Space

La industrial marking it also has applications in space, contributing to scientific research and exploration. Here are some areas where laser marking and other techniques are used:

1. Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR):
   • In the 60s, Soviet and American scientists conducted the first LLR experiments.
   • These experiments refined the main parameters of the Earth-Moon system and contributed to selenodesy, astrometry, geodesy and geophysics.
   • Laser reflectors on the Moon and on geodynamic satellites enable observations from both ground and space¹.
2. Marking for the Traceability of Space Objects:
   • On low-orbit satellites and space probes, laser reflectors are used for tracking and positioning.
   • These reflectors allow you to precisely measure the distance between Earth and objects in space.
3. Climate Research and Ice Loss:
   • NASA's ICESat-2 satellite uses lasers to measure the altitude of glaciers and monitor climate change.
   • Laser marking helps collect crucial data to understand our planet.
4. Industrial Marking Applications on Satellites and Probes:
   • Marking of Barcodes and QR: To identify parts and components.
   • Marking of Logos and Trademarks: For branding purposes.
   • Marking of Technical Parameters: For maintenance and traceability.

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