So you’ve made the decision to either start or improve your marking capabilities. Maybe a key customer is now requiring it, you need better quality control and traceability, or you want to avoid replacing a thumb when hand stamping goes wrong. Regardless of the reason, the next step is determining which type of marking unit you need. We’ll discuss two options: dot peen vs. laser.

Dot peen marking is a process of puncturing (or “peening”) with small dots on the surface of metal, aluminum, plastic and other materials at various levels of force. Numbers, letters, characters, data matrix codes, and logos can typically be programmed into dot peen marking units, which are then embedded in the surface. Some typical dot peen industry applications are: automotive, aerospace, trailer manufacturing, oil & gas, metal fabrication, and steel production, among many others.

Dot peen marking units also offer portability to varying degrees. Our product, the FlyMarker^®, is truly 100% portable in that it is fully battery-operated and weighs just 6 or 10 lbs. depending on the model. Most other handheld units require cords or cables which can restrict portability and efficiency, especially in large facilities. While we do offer tabletop units (and the FlyMarker® itself can be converted to a tabletop unit), the beauty of a battery-operated solution is that you can take the unit to the part for marking instead of the other way around.

Laser marking, on the other hand, is a non-portable, either tabletop or standalone marking station for marking standard text as well as more intricate designs, logos, barcodes, and data matrix codes. A laser marker offers precision designs without puncturing the surface, which can meet marking requirements in certain industries such as medical, dental or aerospace. Laser marking units are also used in a variety of other industries, some of which overlap with dot peen, including: automotive, firearms, cutlery, cutting tools, pipes and valves, among numerous others.

The laser marking files are typically created on a PC that is then transferred to the laser marking unit. A quality laser marker will offer straightforward software and high durability to support around-the-clock marking. Our LaserEvo fiber laser units, for example, deliver 100,000 marking hours without any maintenance required, backed by a two-year warranty. A Class 1 Cover, motorized z-axis, and 20-100-watt power options result in safe, precise, and fast marking capabilities.

For more information on the FlyMarker® or LaserEvo or if you’d like to discuss your decision on dot peen vs. laser, please visit www.rocklinmfg.com or contact us.

Tags: dot peen marking , peening , metal , aluminum , plastic , automotive , aerospace , manufacturing , oil & gas , metal fabrication , flymarker , flymarker mini , laser marking , laserevo

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