Permanent Part Identification - Parts produced during system over-ride

Ron Rompen

Trusted Information Resource
First, my apologies if this thread started in the wrong area. I trust that our moderators will move it to the correct forum and chastise me in private.

Now, on to the problem.

In one of our processes, we do a laser welding operation of automotive components. Normally our process is well-controlled and monitored by two independent, automated systems. However, at times it is necessary for our technical team to over-ride the system (reteach, recalibration after laser component changes, etc) and manufacture parts which are NOT monitored.

Each of these nonstandard parts is visually inspected prior to being released back into the normal process flow.

The task I have been set is to find a method of uniquely identifying THESE parts as 'different' from the rest of the product manufactured during that time period. Some of the criteria (some of which are pretty loose) for this identification system are:
1) Be easily understood and operated (our operators are as skilled (or unskilled) as any other typical NA employee)
2) Be quick to use (cycle time is important, however I will sacrifice that to some extent)
3) Be permanent (stick-on labels, etc will not withstand the remainder of our processing steps, much less survive in the field)
4) Be legible after a 0.02mm coating of automotive interior paint (these components are part of the seating system, and so must be coated)
5) If a machining method, be extremely portable (our weld line now consists of 10 cells, with 2 more being added in the very near future)
6) Be inexpensive (again, I will sacrifice some of this criteria in favor of the other ones. Nothing comes for free).
7) Information marked must include date, shift, operator (Julian date code is acceptable)

So far I have had the following internal suggestions:
steel punch and hammer (individual stamps issued to operators)
electric engraving pencil
automated engraving station
acid-etch pens


Any other suggestions? We are open to almost any concept, as this is a 'must complete' task for us.

Thanks in advance
:thanx:
 
S

silentrunning

Re: Permanent Part Identification

We ran into a similiar problem a couple of years back. A customer sent us two dies and wanted to keep the parts seperate for some reason. We got permission to punch a small non functional hole in the parts off one die. This worked until the end of that project. It was fast, cheap and permanent.
 

Ron Rompen

Trusted Information Resource
Additional information:

Parts are steel, and due to safety considerations, it is not permissible to make such alterations as an additional hole, laser-welded ID marks, etc.

(Yeah, I know...but if it was EASY then I wouldn't have to ask you guys, would I?)
 
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