Intelligent Mark Positioning gives high accuracy

Intelligent Mark Positioning simplifies focusing, eliminates misaligned marks, reduces fixturing prices, offers accurate mark placement and reduces operator errors.

Intelligent Mark Positioning (IMP) was recently demonstrated at the UK's MACH 2008 machine tool show by Kaye-Dee and FOBA.

IMP reduces set-up-time, simplifies focusing, eliminates waste parts due to misaligned marks, reduces the price of costly fixturing, offers superior accurate mark placement and reduces operator errors.

For the IMP system, FOBA, North America developed an integrated, through-the-lens vision system for the FOBA laser where part verification, mark content and laser control are performed under one platform.

A simple user interface offers an easy to use single platform with all the functionality necessary to align a part with ultimate accuracy and precision.

With the three-step process a job can be set up in less than 20 min, said Kaye-Dee to manufacturingtalk.

The changeover from one part to another can be done in less than 2 min.

The three steps are as follows.

1 - Create a job.

2 - Create a layout, which includes the position of the part and mark content.

3 - Create a vision model to capture and identify a part.

The simple set-up and quick change-over equals more production time, said Kaye-Dee.

Production part variations can be included in IMP tolerances by adjusting the tolerance levels that will ensure all parts are marked and reduce work.

Teaching IMP where to place the mark will help guarantee that the mark will be positioned and oriented in the correct location, so eliminating waste due to incorrect part marking.

Within the programmable restricted search area IMP will search, align and mark with speed, optimising product throughput and IMP can auto-scale to fit bigger or smaller part sizes.

This option ensures that parts that are slightly bigger or smaller will be marked and will minimise re-work.

On screen measurement tools allow the operator to identify the X and Y co-ordinates and measure the distance or angle anywhere within the field of view.

This facility is very useful for measuring the accuracy and/or precision of the pattern marked on the part.

IMP's software has been developed to ensure accuracy and precision of the laser marking system and to help eliminate waste parts due to incorrect marking, Virtek has created a 'Two mouse click' calibration feature that takes place in as little as 2 min and results in a truly integrated system.

* About Kaye-Dee - as UK and Ireland distributors for FOBA, Kaye-Dee Marking Solutions have over 30 years experience of supplying, supporting and servicing pad printing equipment and laser marking systems.

With over 20 staff and on site manufacturing we are an ideal partner for all your marking, engraving and printing needs.

We also distribute the high precision Swiss produced Teca-Print pad printers and quality printing inks from Ruco, Germany.

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