Throughout 2016, Oak Ridge National Laboratory investigated direct part marking techniques and barcode readers that would be applicable for a new global UF_6 cylinder identifier. The performance of several commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) barcode readers was evaluated by varying the size of the barcode, read distance, read angle, surface finish of the material, and marking technique. This study concluded with a recommendation for a 1.4 in. two-dimensional (2-D) Data Matrix barcode that would provide for multiple COTS hand-held barcode readers to read the barcode from an angle of up to 30° over the range of 10-100 cm, as desired by the World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI) working group on UF_6 cylinder identification. This paper provides the rationale for the recommended layout for the global identifier and potential approaches to modifying the 30B and 48Y cylinder nameplates if they included the 10-character global identification number displayed in both textual and 2-D barcode form. Testing has determined that a 1.4 in. Data Matrix barcode would meet industry's desires for a machine-readable feature. If this 2-D barcode is included with a textual form of the global identification number on the 5 in. wide 30B nameplate as suggested by the ANSIN14.1 2012 standard, the 30B nameplate would need to be 2.75 in. longer. If these features were included on a 48Y nameplate, the nameplate would need to be 2.35 in. longer. The authors suggest using Arial font because of its distinct, easy-to-read characters and wide use in direct part marking applications. Using the full width of the 30B and 48Y nameplate with a 0.25 in. margin would allow 44 pt Arial font to be used, which can be read from about 35 ft. If a stand-alone global identifier is used, the authors suggest using a wider plate with 60 pt font, which can be read from about 48 ft.
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