Anda di halaman 1dari 5

Smart Coding Techniques And Their Benefits For Electronics

Chirag Sheth is global marketing manager for electronics at Videojet Technologies. He has a masters of business administration degree from Kellogg School of
Management, Northwestern University, USA
July 10, 2017
0
1512

Share on Facebook

Tweet on Twitter

Electronic devices feature a large number of small components, each piece being highly important to their overall functionality and safety. The responsibility for
ensuring that each minute component is performing adequately rests firmly on the shoulders of the device and component manufacturers. However, their jobs are
being made more difficult by the growing issue of counterfeiting in the electrical market.

Printed codes and marks enable manufacturers to track and trace products throughout the supply chain. These also, importantly, help distinguish between genuine and
counterfeited components. However, counterfeiters are becoming increasingly sophisticated and have developed capabilities to replicate codes. In order to counter this
problem, manufacturers find it necessary to employ more sophisticated coding methods such as smart code techniques.

Smart coding and micro-printing


In todays rapidly-changing electrical component industry, manufacturers must combine the right technology and techniques to encounter the many obstacles they
face.

Electrical components, more often than not, appear to be identical. Coding and marking allows manufacturers to safely make a distinction between parts. Further,
coding and marking allow them to build brand recognition into their products.

Application of increasingly-complex codes on small surface spaces is a challenge that is hard to overcome with outdated printer technologies. Advanced micro-
printers have proved to be the solution. These have the ability to produce high-quality legible text down to 0.6mm in size in high-speed production environments.

Utilising algorithmic software technology, printers equipped with smart coding capabilities can alter and verify specific characters within codes. Implementation of
smart coding techniques to improve existing basic lot/batch codes is simple, with nominal incremental production costs. Without knowledge of algorithms and keys,
these smart codes are impossible to duplicate and can go a long way towards preventing counterfeiting activities, which contribute to huge profit losses.
Fig. 1: 1650 and 1620 high-
resolution CIJ printers from Videojet for enhanced micro-printing, at speeds up to 348 metres per minute

Smart coding techniques


There are numerous smart coding techniques that component manufacturers can employ to enhance their basic lot/batch codes. Each technique (explained below)
varies in complexity and application:

Self-verifying codes.
These are one of the most basic ways to identify the authenticity of products with a visual check. With this type of marking, a pre-determined pattern is set for the
code; for example, all digits add up to a certain number.

Interleaved marking.
With interleaved marking, characters within a code are partially overlapped. While this overlay is visible to the naked eye, it is highly difficult to replicate this
character formulation.
Fig. 2: Electronics labelling has
been given a new lease of life with high-resolution micro-printing using high-resolution CIJ printers

Dynamically-altered font.
Varied numbers and letters within a code can have minute sections of characters missing in order to create distinct codes. The advantage of this code is that, visually it
is difficult to recognise the small differencesonly supply chain partners who have a trained understanding of the code formation can observe the differences.

Verifiable codes.
Tracked with vision-inspection systems, verifiable codes utilise unique software-driven algorithms, which cannot be duplicated without an understanding of the
algorithm and keys.

Covert codes.
Ultraviolet and infrared inks can be utilised to create covert codes that are not visible to the naked eye. Codes are only visible under ultraviolet or other high-frequency
lighting, and these are inconspicuous methods of tracking products throughout the supply chain.

Challenges of coding electrical components


Increased productivity and maximised profitability are the main objectives of any production facility, and manufacturers ultimately need to ensure their production
line is streamlined in order to safeguard these objectives.
Fig. 3: 1650 and 1620 high-
resolution CIJ printers use a 40-micron nozzle to print 2D bar codes and alphanumeric multi-line codes at high speeds on limited areas
In the electrical manufacturing environment, there are specific challenges related to coding components that the manufacturers must ensure do not interfere with
production efficiency. Two of the clearest are limited surface space for marking and coding on small electrical components, and increased complexity of codes.

Given the dynamic nature of modern supply chains, a greater degree of supply chain parties are now demanding that their own specific data is included. This, coupled
with anti-counterfeiting coding requirements, means that code complexity has amplified at the same time as components have decreased in size.

Ink durability and compliance are also challenges manufacturers face during the production process. Codes must endure the exacting alcohol cleaning process that
electrical components undergo in order to remove solder residue, and need to be durable enough to withstand this process without causing any damage to the
components. Further, manufacturers must also ensure that they use halogen-free inksin line with industry regulations such as Restriction of Hazardous Substance
Directive (RoHS).

CIJ, laser printing could provide the solution


Continuous inkjet (CIJ) and laser technologies are perfectly suited to the production and industry requirements of electronic component manufacturing. Both are
highly versatile at high speeds and, with smart coding capabilities, CIJ and laser printers algorithmic software technologies enable manufacturers to create dynamic
codes that are difficult to replicate. Also, both printer technologies have the capability to produce highly-legible complex codes on limited surface spaces.

CIJ printers produce high-resolution codes that are extremely durable, even during exacting alcohol cleaning processes. The technologys compatibility with alcohol-
resistant, quick-drying and halogen-free inks helps to advance coding and marking applications within the electronic component manufacturing environment, and
helps manufacturers to comply with legislative requirements. CIJ printers also offer pigmented inks that offer strong code contrast against electronics with dark
surfaces.
Fig. 4: High-
resolution CIJ printers can print as small as 0.6mm in height
Laser printers utilise a laser beam that alters the surface of the component and ensures establishment of permanent, traceable marksfrom simple codes to more
complex graphs. As these printers do not use inks, codes are not affected by the alcohol cleaning processes. Manufacturers have the option of several laser coding
methods, depending on the sensitivity of components. New advanced printer ranges offer a variety of laser sources, including CO2, fibre, UV and YAG.

In order to safeguard the quality of codes, manufacturers can use integrated vision systems to verify the accuracy of codes and ensure these are legible for supply
chain and distribution partners. These systems can identify whether the contrast in coding is adequate, and help to highlight common coding errors.

Conclusion
Counterfeiting has the potential to create significant profits or losses for companies. This is a real and present issue within the electrical component industry, which
can be addressed, in part, through coding and marking applications.

Component manufacturers must also deal with the added challenge of printing increasingly complex codes on small substrate surfaces, and countering these issues
with outdated technologies is not a sustainable option. Selecting an advanced CIJ or laser printer with smart coding capabilities can go a long way in assisting
manufacturers tackle the problem of counterfeiting, at the same time ensuring maximised production line performance.

Anda mungkin juga menyukai