Assembly - November 2008 - (Page 48) ASSEMBLY Auto ID The Enduring Label Advances in materials, inks and adhesives are expanding the applications for labels on parts and assemblies. T Despite the proliferation of direct part marking methods, there’s still a role for labels. For example, not all part surfaces are amenable to direct part marking. Photo courtesy Computype Inc. By John Sprovieri Editor here are many high-tech ways to mark identification codes and text directly onto parts. These include lasers, dotpeening and ink-jet printing. Sometimes, however, the good old self-adhesive label is still the most cost-efficient way to go. Moreover, thanks to new materials, laminates, inks and adhesives, labels are viable for more applications than ever before. “There’s absolutely still a role for labels,” says Nicole Nelson, marketing manager for new products at Brady Worldwide (Milwaukee). “The surface of a part isn’t always going to be receptive [to direct part marking], or you may not want the mark to be as permanent as an etched mark. You may want the information to change.” The technology for direct part marking— particularly lasers—is also expensive. “In almost every case, labeling is less expensive than direct part marking,” says Bruce R. Wray, marketing manager for Computype Inc. (St. Paul, MN). Engineers who think labels couldn’t withstand their particular application should reconsider the technology, advises Ryan Lucas, marketing and applications manager for Identco International Corp. (Ingleside, IL). “A lot of people think labels are just paper,” he says. “But, labels can also be printed on vinyl, polyester, polyimide and other materials that can withstand heat, cold, moisture and chemicals.” For example, Identco’s TT403 miniature labels are for printed circuit boards and electronic components. Made from polyester or polyimide, the labels can withstand the harsh thermal profiles and “A lot of times, people think of the label last.” —Nicole Nelson, Brady Worldwide aggressive fluxes and cleaners associated with lead-free electronics assembly. As small as 3 millimeters square, the labels can be printed with text, bar codes or Data Matrix codes, either by Identco or on-demand on the assembly line. The labels are supplied on reels molded from static-dissipative, recyclable plastic. Preprinted labels can be applied by standard pick-and-place equipment using a feeder from Hover-Davis Inc. (Rochester, NY). Blank labels can be printed and applied with the Ævo automatic labeling machine from Accuplace (Plantation, FL) or the DataPlace LCL from Amistar Automation Inc. (San Marcos, CA). If assemblers want to track more information that can be tied to 1D or 2D codes, a flat, passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag 48 ASSEMBLY / November 2008 www.assemblymag.com http://www.assemblymag.com
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