CNC MATRIX.2D™ PEEN MARKING MACHINE
SPECIAL COLUMBIA CNC MATRIX.2D™ PEEN MARKING MACHINE ANSWERS THE NEED FOR PLACING LOGOS, PART NUMBERS AND 2D MATRIX CODES ON AUTOMOTIVE FUEL RAILS
When a leading automotive fuel rail supplier was looking for a level of programmable marking capability that could combine the placing of logos, part numbers and machine-readable Matrix 2D codes in one operation, Fig. 1, Columbia Marking Tools was brought in to develop a special turn-key direct part CNC dot/scribe marking machine that could not only place the desired marks, but also insure the accuracy and reliability of those marks with vision verification.
Because the fuel rail manufacturer is certified to ISO and QS9000 quality standards, a system of manufacturing traceability is required. This traceability is effectively being achieved through the use of Matrix 2D codes, which are quickly replacing bar codes as the preferred method of providing more comprehensive information to be contained in a mark.
An engineering spokesperson for the fuel rail manufacturer says, “Our needs for this fuel rail application required a special stand-alone machine, Fig. 1, where parts could be easily loaded in a fixture, marked, verified and unloaded within the required cycle time. A standard tabletop dot peen-marking machine, that typically has a tendency to be somewhat noisy, was not applicable here. Because Columbia Marking Tools designs and builds a wide variety of special marking machines and is familiar with all the different types of marking processes, we felt their know-how and experience, especially with marking 2D Matrix codes,
would provide us with the right marking technology for this fuel rail application.”
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Andy Habedank, Columbia application engineering manager, says, “The challenge for this marking application was the readability of the mark, and this is where our UID/Matrix 2D dot-scribe marking system (patent pending) really shines, and is the primary reason why the machine vision system manufacturer, Cognex, appointed us a certified vision integrator for them. This provides us the capability to provide turn-key marking solutions with the high degree of accurate reading capability that complements our marking equipment, and allows Columbia to design and build special marking machines like this one for Dura Hose & Tubing.” (Note: UID is the U.S. Defense Department’s acronym for Unique Identification).
Habedank explains, “We are seeing that the 2D matrix code is quickly becoming the key element for product and component traceability. However, the reliability and consistency in being able to read the two-dimensional code with vision scanners has hindered its broad application…that is until now. The Columbia UID/Matrix 2D dot-scribe marking machine is the result of a joint venture development program between Columbia Marking Tools, Inc. and German-based Richter Systems and Machines. The machine produces a high quality Grade “A” 2D code mark that can be read with either fixed or handheld vision scanners. A Grade “A” mark is the highest standard readability rating available. It means that a vision camera must be able to consistently make 1,200 reads per second with no variations, and the 2D codes produced by the UID/Matrix 2D marking system does that, Fig. 2.”
The UID/Matrix 2D dot-scribe marking machine is basically a CNC controlled high-speed marking head with linear rails and ball screw movements, Fig. 3, that can place a 2D code on almost any surface in 3 to 6 seconds depending on the complexity and size of the mark. For standard characters, the machine can mark up to 10 characters per second, making it the fastest character marking machine in the world.
For the fuel rail manufacturer, the programmable 2D marking head was incorporated into a stand-alone rugged machine table and base design with a loading fixture for the fuel rail; a Model SMUC150 system controller with pre-installed Signumeric 6.0 marking
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software, 2D code module and self-diagnostic software. The controller is provided with a controller mounting kit for use with the control enclosure. There is a standard LCD programming display with a PS2 keyboard connection and keyboard, and an off-line communication port was provided for serial data input. A hand-held marking controller was also provided with the same pre-installed software and a touch screen user interface. The machine is actuated by dual palm buttons and uses a 110v power supply with a 7-amp draw.
The marking stylus is a diamond etch type for very quiet peen or scribe operations. The Cognex 2D vision system was integrated into the machine design to provide the required marking verification. This system includes an In-Sight Cognex 5100 vision camera with a 25mm lens and ambient light filter, vision processor, lighting power regulator.
The customer also pointed out, “ What amazed us was that the machine required no special shrouding for the camera. It only requires simple LED lighting to be able to read the mark, and that includes recognizing a logo, part number and the machine-readable Matrix 2D code. The machine is also very quiet. dBA levels are consistently between 70 and 75. The parts are easily clamped by one air cylinder in a fixture with interchangeable details for different part configurations. The cycle time for the machine is only 15 to 18 seconds per part.”
Columbia Marking Tools is a leading designer and manufacturer of metal and plastic
marking equipment including stamps, roll marking dies, roll marking and impact marking machines, fully programmable peen/scribe marking and UID/2DMatrix™ machines, numbering heads and special marking machines.
