Laser Engraving Scanner Readable Barcodes On Automotive Materials for Traceability and Security Applications

摘要

Laser marking of metals and plastics is a widespread technique throughout industry - offering many advantages in terms of flexibility and the mark quality. A challenge remaining is in the marking of uncoated metals to create barcodes with sufficient contrast to be read automatically. By employing high average power Q-switched diode pumped lasers, the authors employ precision engraving techniques to modify the surface morphology of reflective metals. This enables the rapid creation of scanner readable barcodes on highly reflective metals such as aluminum. The authors investigate the use of engraving to control the roughness and therefore reflectivity of various metals in common use in the automotive industry, and demonstrate a technique to create barcodes in a few seconds that can be read by standard industrial scanners. The authors see many applications in the automotive sector for rugged body-in-white and sub-assembly traceability, as well as security for high value component and vehicle authentication.