Aerospace - Defense

Unique Identification of items is achieved by marking each qualifying item with a machine-readable identification code. The data matrix is encoded with data elements necessary to construct a Unique Item Identifier (UII), which is globally unique and unambiguous.

Imaje has been working in close co-operation with many major aircraft part manufacturers to demonstrate how inkjet technology can be used to achieve machine readable identification, whether to meet specific international standards, or to satisfy customer’s higher quality expectations.

Many coding applications require some degree of customisation to achieve a reliable and effective solution. The inkjet printer is a “standard” piece of hardware, but its versatility is enhanced considerably with ancillary products such as bespoke software, a unique handgun attachment and a wide range of inks.

Part handling is “key” to enable a reliable inkjet action to take place. The differing sizes and shapes of components and parts within a manufacturing sector such as aerospace do not often lend themselves to a conventional production line coding method. The Imaje handgun simplifies both part handling, as well as part coding, by offering the flexibility of a manual coding method, as and when required. Large parts can be coded “in situ”, whilst with smaller components, a code can be accurately located within a limited space.

Barcoding (both one dimensional [1D] and two dimensional [2D]) provides an accurate and easy method for data usage and storage in the aerospace industry. The use of intelligent electronic de-coding can significantly improve the accuracy and speed of data exchanged with minimal, or no, manual input.

Whereas 1D barcodes are widely used in label or packaging applications, 2D Data Matrix codes have been quickly adopted in industries where a lot of information has to be stored in a small amount of space. Consequently, 2D Data Matrix codes are used in Direct Part Marking applications, not only because of their ability to store the large amounts of information required for UID, but also for their high degree of error correction capability thereby reducing the number of identification failures. Each Data Matrix code consists of equal size squares or elements in a 2D array. The size of the data matrix code can easily be adjusted by changing the size of the individual elements. The code can, therefore, be made very small, but still hold all the data required; ideal for marking small components.

The task of reading 2D codes has traditionally been the exclusive domain of machine vision systems which are relatively expensive. However, the introduction of lower cost plug and play image scanners and smart cameras, has enabled the widespread adoption of 2D technology.

Imaje has many years’ experience of working with suppliers in the aerospace industry, developing both inks and software to enable them to comply with strict regulations for part identification. The Imaje Aerospace Part Marking system (APS) takes all the relevant components necessary for Direct Part Marking to provide a Total Solution to aerospace suppliers.

The APS package comprises an inkjet printer, a PC, a 2D Data Matrix scanner, a handgun and bespoke software that conforms to ATA Spec 2000 and Department of Defence standards.

The application allows the operator to print 2D Data Matrix codes, serialised or non-serialised, and check these codes using the 2D reader ensuring readability of the marks. Information can be input into the system either using the 2D reader, the on-screen keypad or with an optional 1D barcode reader, in the event that key information is already stored in a 1D barcode, eg from a job sheet.

The new Imaje 9000 has already made its mark in the aerospace industry. It is capable of delivering the highest quality codes on a variety of substrates, particularly painted surfaces, and with its compact and portable design, it is ideal for moving around the production floor as and when required. The patented Jet Speed Control technology of the 9000 monitors the print quality irrespective of the relationship of the printhead to the level of the ink system, thus ensuring consistently high print quality – whether used on a production line or manually, with the handgun.

No Direct Part Marking package would be complete without relevant consumables and, to this end, Imaje have developed a wide range of inks that have been qualified for use specifically in the aerospace industry.