‘Micromarking’ molded parts—even the tough ones

Officials at printing machine supplier The Sabreen Group (Plano, TX) say demand for the Vector Jet Laser Marking Technology introduced last year has surpassed all projections, with injection molded parts’ printing one significant reason. The company says a significant driver for accelerated sales has been the demand for “micromarking” of machine vision codes—such as data matrix/UID and barcode—that can be marked in small, isolated areas of molded parts, something that is difficult if not impossible using conventional printing methods.

The system is proving especially well-suited for injection molded applications where the molded parts are exposed to harsh environments, for example underhood and interior automotive components, firearms, medical products, and aerospace. Extruded stock shapes, profiles, tubing, and sheets requiring indelible marking are also significant application markets, according to Sabeen.

VectorJet can be used for permanent marking of such difficult-to-mark plastics as copolymer and homopolymer acetals (POM), nylons, polyolefins, and other chemically inert plastics.