Grattan Computers, Direct Part Marking

Direct Part Marking (DPM)

Direct Part Marking (DPM) is a process to permanently mark parts with product information including serial numbers, part numbers, date codes, and barcodes. This is done to allow the tracking of parts through their full life cycle.

DPM is often used by automotive, aerospace, and electronic manufacturers to facilitate a reliable identification of their parts. This can assist in data logging for safety, warranty issues and satisfy regulatory requirements.

Part Markings can be implemented in “Human Readable” formats, using alphanumeric characters, “Machine Readable” formats using bar code technologies such as liner, Data Matrix or QR Codes, or a combination of both.

Applying a marking to a part, in whichever format is required, generally requires the use of a
secondary, specialised process such as laser etching. The interfaces developed by Grattan can be used to eliminate the requirement for a secondary marking process. They can generate and communicate complex marking codes to a machining asset during the machining cycle thus allowing the marking to be applied to a part within a single machining process.

This facility has significant benefits, in terms of control and quality, in that a part can be uniquely
identified and marked from its inception and this unique identification marking will stay with the part throughout its entire lifecycle.