Laser marking medical device components
Posted to News on 18th Dec 2013, 11:40

Laser marking medical device components

Many medical device products require marking, either to produce accurate graduations to allow precise dosage measurement or for identification and traceability. Within this industry it is essential that all marks are clear, consistent and indelible and the most reliable method of achieving and maintaining these strict criteria is through the use of lasers.

Laser marking medical device components

The laser however, is just one part of the marking solution, as equal emphasis must be given to the presentation and processing of the individual components to be marked.

Producing automated laser marking systems requires a combination of skills ranging from good conceptual design, robust machine building, flexible and intuitive control systems, and the selection and integration of the most appropriate laser source. The laser marking system built by ES Technology Limited for a UK medical device manufacturer incorporates all of these attributes within a compact and ergonomic design.

Components to be marked are loaded by the operator in batches of six, to a station on the rotary indexing unit. The machine then picks each part individually, checking that the length is within the specified tolerance, before rotating the part using a motorised system whilst the laser generates the required marks in 12 different places on each component. The laser source used within this system is a Rofin PowerLine 10E Air, chosen for its low operating costs and its efficient air-cooling which means that the laser is virtually maintenance free.

A further index of the machine presents the marked components for vision inspection, where once again, each part is picked up to verify that of each of the individual marks on the component meets the required specification. All good components are returned to the machine fixture whilst any deemed as reject are automatically segregated to a locked container. The machine control system maintains a record of all batches produced together with pass / fail information for future traceability.

For more information about automated laser marking systems please go to www.estechnology.co.uk.


ES Technology Ltd

Sopwith Way
NN11 8PB
UNITED KINGDOM

+44 (0)1327 701120

SICK (UK) LTD Lenze Selection (a Division of Lenze Ltd) ABSSAC Ltd Pilz Automation Technology Mechan Controls Ltd SICK (UK) LTD Phoenix Contact UK STOBER Drives Ltd Leuze electronic Ltd FATH Components Ltd Smartscan Ltd Murrelektronik Ltd Procter Machine Safety maxon Group Moore International Ltd Heidenhain (GB) Ltd Rittal Ltd HARTING Ltd ifm electronic Limited Aerotech Ltd Euchner UK Ltd PI (Physik Instrumente) Ltd Kawasaki Robotics (UK) Ltd