What is Traceability and barcode marking? Traceability is the ability to track an object’s history. There are a number of different ways to make a part traceable. One strategy would be to create microscopic marks on a material. Via the power of a laser, you can mark a material with very small characters in a discreet place. And, typically, only the manufacturer knows where those marks are located. So, if they encounter counterfeiting, it’s fairly easy to determine whether or not a part is actually theirs. Another way to maintain traceability is with the use of a barcode. Barcodes come in many different shapes and sizes, but they are graphics that are designed to store detailed information about a product. And they offer another means to trace the life of a product.
How does traceability and barcode marking work? Barcodes are encoded images and are commonly depicted in black and white. They contain data that can be interpreted by a particular machine. For example, a barcode may contain information about the price of an item, the expiration date, and the manufacturer’s name. When it comes to traceability, barcodes give manufacturers a simple way to track their products. So, if a customer comes back to the manufacturer with questions about a product, it’s relatively easy to identify information about the item like when it was created and who designed it.
What is the traceability and barcode marking process? Laser Marking Technologies’ standard technology includes a software code that creates barcodes on a product. It’s just a matter of using specific parameters and filling densities to create barcodes. Depending on the style of the barcode, these parameters can look quite a lot different. The data matrix barcode (the square or rectangular barcode with a series of small squares) can be done within our software. Linear barcodes can be created this way as well. The majority of barcodes are created by using the annealing process to create dark squares or bars. And when you’re creating a barcode on a particularly reflective material, you can create a secondary process that involves frosting the material prior to marking the barcode to create a higher contrast.
