Best way to permanently mark parts with partumber?

[ProdDevelop]

Does anyone have a sugestion on what that is the best/easiest/cheapest/most permanent way to mark parts with part number?

We use a lot of stainless steel, aliminium, composites + loads of "of the shelf" parts.

Would like to mark them at arrival with our company's part number. It would be a great thing if it was permanent and service personel easily could find the number years after and replace the part based on the number.

Anybody that know if handheld laser engraving equipment is expensive?

 

[prdave00]

Have you considered using a vibrating pen to engrave the numbers? All you need is a pen (relatively cheap) with the right tip and a steady hand. How about stamping?

I never associated the word cheap with a laser marking system, but maybe there's one out there.

Here's a website that popped up in Google:

http://www.marking-metal.com/

I think how permanent it is, regardless of method, will depend on where you mark it and what environment your part will be in. Even a laser etched mark will fade in an oxidizing environment.

 

[CoryPad]

Ink, indented dots, and laser can be easy/cheap/permanent or not depending on the conditions. Work with some vendors to learn about capabilities.

http://www.videojet

http://www.telesis.com/

http://www.pryormarking.com/

 

[KENAT]

For suitable substrate dot peening/indented dots became popular at my last place.

Of course for some parts it would be inappropriate.

For non critical stuff I've seen permanent marker used.

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[unclesyd]

What you are looking for is unlike an asset management label. It's hard to recommend or give examples of some labeling process without any information.

Depending on the number of each part I would look at labels from a company like IDPlate. You can get barcode id labels with human readable numbers and the overall cost is the lowest. If your number of each part is higher or small then I would look a Electro-Etching.
Universal Marking has nearly all forms of metal marking tools.

On large asset components we use a lot of SS labels attached with tacks for metal. In our stores we use labels, both barcode and alphanumeric.

http://www.idplate.com/

http://www.oestling-markingsystems....ion/electrolytic-electrochemical-etching.html

http://www.universalmarking.com/index.html

 

[TVP]

The best way is to have the identification molded/stamped/forged/cast/etc. into the part during the actual manufacturing process.

 

[redpicker]

No, TVP, the BEST way is to only have one variant of each part. For example, only use one size of screw, so every screw in inventory will work for every application where a screw is needed. Unfortunately, the deisgners don't always get on the same page with this concept, and you end up with a half dozen different part numbers for a #6 wood screw.

Honestly, though, there is no "best" way to mark part numbers. That is why there are so many different ways to do it. Someone is always finding a better way for their particular situation.

rp

 

[KENAT]

Actually TVP, we've had issues with casting houses casting the PN into parts even though we told them to rubber stamp them or similar.

There just isn't really any suitable surface on the part to cast in raised identification, since they're either fit critical, get machined off or are used for sprue/risers.

Since it's a sand casting indented marking on either of the 2 surfaces it might work on would be tricky (as I understand it). Also it might cause performance issues.

So we explicitly call out rubber stamp.

And yet every few batches someone at the forgery insists on trying to cast it in again.

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[BillPSU]

There is no pat answer. How you mark a hydraulic line will be quite different then how you mark a windshield. The environment where the part is used can impact the marking, an impellor of a pump. Does the part have a decorative finish? How do you want to mark a painted surface. A fiberglass cover could be marked on the inside with a label but how long does the label have to last?

Try to group your labeling request to groups of similar parts used in similar conditions. Then ask the question how do we mark this group of parts.