A DPM, short for Direct Part Marking barcode, is a permanent, machine-readable code applied to a product using techniques like laser etching, dot peening, or inkjet printing to facilitate tracking and identification of an asset throughout its lifecycle.
In this article, we will delve into the world of Direct Part Marking barcodes, exploring their significance in various industries. We’ll uncover the methods used to create these enduring codes, their role in enhancing tracking and identification processes, and their numerous benefits to businesses.
Whether you’re new to DPM barcodes or seeking to expand your knowledge, join us as we unravel the intricacies of this transformative technology.
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DPM barcodes serve a multifaceted purpose in the world of product management and traceability. These permanent markings play a crucial role in tracking each individual part throughout its entire lifecycle, commencing from production and extending to deployment and even the end consumer’s hands.
One of the primary advantages of DPM is its ability to ensure continuous traceability. This starts from the moment an item rolls off the manufacturing line, guaranteeing that every step in its journey can be meticulously monitored.
Here’s how DPM serves various critical functions:
DPM barcodes and traditional barcodes serve a similar fundamental purpose: to store information in a format that barcode scanning devices can quickly and accurately read. However, the methodology and application behind these two types of barcodes are distinctly different, catering to varied use cases and industries.
Unlike traditional barcodes, which are typically printed on labels and then adhered to products, DPM barcodes are directly etched, engraved, or otherwise marked onto the item’s material itself. This ensures that the barcode becomes an integral and virtually inseparable part of the item, eliminating the risk of being removed or damaged during handling, transportation, or usage.
The direct marking technique employed in DPM is particularly advantageous for items where applying a conventional label is impractical or where the barcode needs to be resilient against harsh conditions, such as extreme temperatures, corrosive environments, or situations involving rigorous handling.
Refer to the following guides to learn more about barcoding technology.
Using DPM barcodes offers several advantages, especially in contexts where durability and longevity are paramount. Below, we delve into the myriad of reasons why various industries and businesses are gravitating towards adopting DPM barcodes.
Since DPM barcodes are etched or imprinted directly onto the item, they are inherently more resistant to wear and tear. They don’t face common issues like peeling, smudging, or fading that can occur with traditional sticker labels.
DPM barcodes can withstand extreme conditions such as high temperatures, moisture, corrosive environments, and abrasive processes. This makes them ideal for industries like aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing, where items might be exposed to challenging environments.
DPM barcodes, by being directly etched onto items, ensure that the codes remain legible throughout the product’s lifecycle. This guarantees uninterrupted tracking and reliable traceability from the manufacturing stage to the end of the product’s utilisation, irrespective of time span or environmental wear.
DPM barcodes seamlessly integrate onto an item’s surface, proving advantageous in scenarios where space is at a premium or where attaching a label might be impractical or undesirable.
As DPM barcodes are etched or imprinted directly onto the surface of the item, they minimise the risk of tampering with barcodes.
DPM streamlines inventory and logistics processes by ensuring that barcodes remain legible, mitigating operational disruptions and averting potential financial losses or unforeseen expenses.
Direct Part Marking (DPM) barcodes are created using various methods, each suitable for different materials and application requirements. Here are the primary methods for creating DPM barcodes:
Laser marking is one of the most prevalent methods for DPM technology. It involves using a laser beam to alter the material’s properties, resulting in a permanent mark.
Dot peening uses mechanical percussion to create markings. It involves a stylus or pin that rapidly punches a series of dots into the material’s surface, forming the barcode pattern.
Inkjet DPM barcodes are printed by spraying ink onto the surface to create the barcode. The ink is deposited in a pattern corresponding to the barcode design.
The electro-chemical etching method uses a stencil and an electrolyte solution in conjunction with an electric current to etch the barcode onto metal surfaces.
In the moulded or casted marking technology, the barcode is integrated into the mould or cast used to form the part. When the material is moulded or cast, the barcode is formed as an integral part of the item.
Thermal printing uses heat to transfer a barcode design from a ribbon onto a material’s surface. Check out our dedicated guide on how thermal printers work to learn the science behind thermal print technology.
Thermal printing is of two types – Direct thermal and thermal transfer. Our guide on direct thermal vs thermal transfer explains and compares both thermal print technology types.
Triton is your comprehensive destination for all your thermal printing requirements. Our carefully curated collection showcases cutting-edge thermal printers sourced from industry giants such as Epson, Element, Senor, Honeywell, Zebra and TSC, along with a selection of coloured label printers from OKI.
Our inventory stocks a wide spectrum of thermal printers, including direct thermal printers, thermal transfer printers, barcode label printers, desktop printers, industrial printers, mobile printers and receipt printers.
Apart from thermal printers, we also offer premium thermal print consumables that adhere to the industry’s most stringent standards. Our offerings include a wide array of essential supplies, such as thermal transfer ribbons, thermal labels, thermal carton labels, thermal carcase tags, food-compliant thermal inserts, receipt rolls and shipping & freight labels.
With Triton, you’re not just investing in products; you’re investing in quality and performance. Beyond our product lineup, our unwavering commitment extends to providing exceptional customer support. Our dedicated team is a mere click away, accessible through our live chat widget below, and always ready to guide you in making informed purchasing decisions.
DPM barcodes, due to their unique marking methods and often challenging surfaces, require specialised barcode scanners. These are not your typical retail barcode scanners.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of how barcode scanners operate, we recommend referring to our guide on how do barcode scanners work.
These are the most common for DPM barcodes. They capture an image of the barcode, which is then processed and decoded. They can read both 1D and 2D barcodes.
Laser scanners read barcodes by shining a laser and measuring the light that bounces back.
Barcodes have dark and light areas. The dark areas absorb the laser, and the light areas reflect it. The scanner detects this reflected light to understand the barcode’s data.
With DPM barcodes, this can be a bit trickier since they’re etched directly on materials. These materials can sometimes interfere with the laser’s reflection, making reading more challenging.
In short, laser scanners use light reflection to read barcodes, but with DPM barcodes, the material’s nature can affect this reflection. They’re primarily used for 1D barcodes.
Mobile barcode scanners with built-in computing capabilities are a one-stop solution for on-the-go data management. They have the following benefits.
At Triton, we get how vital barcode scanning is. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing our customers with top-notch barcode scanners from trusted brands like Honeywell and Zebra.
Our scanner range is pretty vast, making sure there’s a barcode scanner that suits any Aussie business. We’ve got USB barcode scanners, general barcode scanners, rugged barcode scanners, fixed scanners & sensors, 2D barcode scanners, mobile terminals, wireless barcode scanners and Bluetooth barcode scanners.
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DPM barcodes are used in a variety of industries. The most common industries are discussed below.
In the aerospace sector, DPM barcodes are pivotal in ensuring traceability and compliance with stringent regulations. Components like turbine blades, landing gear, and other critical parts are often marked with DPM barcodes to facilitate tracking throughout their entire life cycle, ensuring safety and aiding in maintenance and repair operations.
The automotive industry leverages DPM barcodes to manage and track parts throughout the manufacturing process and subsequent supply chain. From engine components to safety systems, DPM barcodes ensure each part can be traced back to its origin, aiding in quality control, recalls, and warranty services.
In healthcare, DPM barcodes track and manage medical devices and surgical instruments, ensuring patient safety and compliance with regulatory requirements. Implants, surgical tools, and other critical devices are often marked to facilitate traceability, manage inventory, and ensure proper usage and maintenance.
The marking of such healthcare assets is extremely important. Our article on asset tagging will help you learn the importance of asset tagging.
The electronics industry employs DPM barcodes to manage components and finished products, ensuring traceability and authenticity. From microchips to larger components, DPM barcodes help manage inventory, ensure quality control, and protect against counterfeit products.
In the defence sector, DPM barcodes are utilised to manage assets and ensure the traceability of critical components. From weaponry to communication devices, DPM barcodes help maintain a secure and efficient supply chain, ensuring that each component can be accounted for and traced back to its source.
The harsh environments of the oil and gas industry necessitate durable labelling solutions. DPM barcodes are used on drilling equipment, pipelines, and safety systems to ensure they can be effectively managed and maintained, even in corrosive and high-pressure environments.
DPM barcodes are used in the food and beverage industry to track production equipment and manage assets. This ensures compliance with food safety regulations and helps in maintaining quality control throughout the production process.
In the realm of heavy machinery and construction, DPM barcodes are employed to manage parts and equipment, ensuring they are properly maintained and safe to use. This aids in scheduling maintenance, managing recalls, and ensuring that machinery is compliant with safety regulations.
While DPM barcodes have revolutionised traceability and data storage across various sectors, it’s imperative to delve into the hurdles that organisations might face in their implementation and ongoing use.
Here are some challenges of using DPM barcodes.
The diversity in materials, ranging from metals to plastics, and their inherent properties like surface texture, reflectivity, and colour can pose significant challenges in ensuring consistent and accurate barcode reading. Different materials might require varied marking techniques to ensure the barcode is legible and durable.
Despite being designed to endure throughout a product’s lifespan, DPM barcodes are not immune to the adversities of harsh conditions, such as extreme temperatures, chemical exposures, and physical abrasions. Over time, these factors can degrade the barcode, impeding its scannability and reliability.
Scanning DPM barcodes often necessitates specialised equipment due to the typically lower reflectance of the marked surface compared to traditional labels. Special lighting conditions are often required to accurately scan these barcodes, which might necessitate investment in advanced scanning technologies and devices.
Achieving a consistent and accurate mark, especially on uneven or textured surfaces, can be a formidable challenge. Inconsistent or imprecise markings can lead to scanning errors, impacting the reliability of data retrieval and potentially disrupting inventory and management systems.
Ensuring that DPM barcodes comply with industry standards and international regulations is crucial. Different sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, and medical devices, have varied structuring for data encoded in barcodes, necessitating meticulous attention to detail in encoding and verification processes.
The initial setup, including acquiring marking equipment and scanners capable of accurately reading DPM barcodes, can be capital-intensive. Additionally, training personnel to accurately create, manage, and scan DPM barcodes also involves additional costs and resource allocation.
Predominantly, 2D barcode symbologies like QR codes and Data Matrix codes are utilised for DPM codes owing to their error correction capabilities.
In most cases, standard barcode readers can decode DPM barcodes. However, specialised scanners might be required if the barcode is particularly small or on a challenging surface.
No, DPM barcodes are not different from regular barcodes in appearance.
The difference lies in how it’s applied. Instead of being printed on a label, a DPM barcode is etched or imprinted directly onto the item.
While DPM is popular in industries like aerospace, automotive, and healthcare due to its durability, it can be used wherever a permanent marking solution is beneficial.
Yes, DPM barcodes can be applied to a variety of materials, including metals, plastics, and ceramics, adapting to different industry needs.
Direct Part Marking barcodes stand out in the realm of product management and traceability. They offer a sturdy, lasting solution for embedding information directly onto items.
Throughout this article, we’ve explored the various facets and applications of DPM barcodes. Their use spans numerous industries, providing a resilient alternative to conventional labels. This is especially true in harsh or demanding environments.
Despite facing challenges like surface variability and wear, DPM barcodes (mostly QR code and Data Matrix code) are widely adopted. They play a crucial role in ensuring long-term traceability and compliance. They also efficiently manage items throughout their lifecycle.
As technology evolves, so will the methodologies and applications of DPM barcodes. Their relevance and utility will continue to weave into modern manufacturing and product management.
We hope this article was useful. Thanks for reading!
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