Electrical Component Coding & Marking

Electrical component manufacturing is a thriving field filled with diverse products, specialized processes, and demanding deadlines. 

Throughout the industry, traceable codes help manufacturers and supply chain partners complete essential functions such as:

  • Quality assurance
  • Product tracking
  • Part authentication
  • Component identification
  • Brand recognition
  • Regulatory compliance

Electronic parts are very small, which means manufacturers need marking technologies with micro-sized coding capabilities. Moreover, the codes must withstand the manufacturing/packaging process as well as exposure to cleaning products, solder residue, and other potentially disruptive elements. 

InkJet, Inc. helps electronic manufacturers efficiently and effectively complete product coding applications. Our continuous inkjet printers and laser marking systems excel at creating high-resolution, micro-sized codes in harsh environments. With InkJet, Inc’s coding equipment, you can quickly, reliably, and accurately outfit your electronic products with long-lasting markings.

Read on to learn how our electrical component coding and marking solutions can benefit your business:

InkJet, Inc’s Electrical Component Coding & Marking Solutions 

Product coding is an integral part of the electrical component manufacturing process. Electronic manufacturers foster supply chain traceability, thwart counterfeiters, raise brand recognition, and comply with industry regulations by marking their goods with traceable markings. Product codes commonly include:

  • Part numbers
  • Serial numbers
  • Date codes
  • Batch numbers/lot codes
  • Barcodes
  • Data matrices

InkJet, Inc's coding technologies enable electronic manufacturers to place these codes and others on micro-sized components. Our cost-effective continuous inkjet printers (CIJ) and laser marking systems equip users to create resilient, code-compliant markings at quick speeds, thereby boosting overall efficiency. Sturdy outer structures allow our systems to resist dust, extreme temperatures, and other harsh environmental factors for 24/7 uninterrupted operation.

This table displays the general specs of our CIJ and laser marking systems. Additional information on each option can be located further below. Click the title in the table’s leftmost column to jump to a specific section..

InkJet, Inc’s Electrical Component Coding & Marking Options

Coding Technology

Operating Method

System Options

Maximum Resolution and Print Height

Maximum Marking Speed

Cost Factors

Compatible Materials

Continuous Inkjet Printer

Propels pressurized ink droplets towards the substrate

DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, & Pigment

70 DPI at 15 mm height

320 m/min.

Low to moderate unit cost, low consumable cost


Cardboard, paper, wood, metal, plastic, rubber, flexible packaging

Laser Marking Solution

Creates a concentrated light beam to mark or engrave the substrate

F8100F Fiber, F8100C CO2, LDR 7100, & F8100U UV Laser Marking Systems

Lenses up to 300mm x 300mm 

2,000 characters per second

High unit cost, little to no consumables

Varies by model

Continuous Inkjet Printers: DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, and Pigment

Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers are non-contact production line printing systems designed to mark substrates moving at 300 m/min and above. Built with powerful ink circulation systems, CIJ printers can operate up to 24 hours daily without downtime. CIJ systems are compatible with micro printheads and diverse ink options, enabling electronic producers to accommodate the field's unique coding challenges.

For instance, InkJet, Inc’s CIJ systems offer:

  • Small marking windows for micro-sized coding applications
  • High-resolution and high-contrast marking abilities
  • The ability to create chemical- and alcohol-resistant codes
  • Consistent coding accuracy
  • Substantial environmental fortifications

Our comprehensive ink catalog contains dozens of CIJ formulas ideal for conventionally challenging applications. Notable electronic ink properties include:

  • Superior substrate adhesion
  • Ultra-quick dry times
  • Alcohol resistance
  • Heat resistance
  • Sunlight resistance
  • Extreme temperature resistance
  • Oil/grease penetration
  • Condensation penetration
  • Soft and hard pigmentation

InkJet, Inc. carries three CIJ systems:

  1. DuraCode Keyboard
  2. DuraCode Touchscreen
  3. DuraCode Pigment Printer

 

All DuraCode systems can mark porous and non-porous substrates at speeds up to 320 m/min. Equipped with an IP55 outer structure and able to operate in temperatures ranging from 41-113° F, the DuraCode CIJ can withstand potentially hazardous environmental elements to deliver consistently excellent results. 


The DuraCode Keyboard and Touchscreen offer the same specifications and compatibility with ink formulas. The only difference between them is their input medium. The DuraCode Pigment has the same specifications and functionalities as the DuraCode Keyboard and Touchscreen but uses pigmented ink instead of dye ink.

See the chart below for a closer look at the DuraCode models’ most important specifications. 

Specification

DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, & Pigment CIJ Printers

Nozzle

40, 50, 60, 70 μm

Print Height

1.2-15 mm

Maximum Print Speed

Up to 1,050 ft./min (320 m/min)

Print Distance

1-3 in. (25.4-76.2 mm)

Input System

Touchscreen or Standard Keyboard / WYSIWYG

Print Font

5x5, 7x5, 9x6, 11x8, 16x11, 24x17, 32x22

Operating Environment

  • Temperature: 5-45° C (41-113°F)  
  • Humidity: 0%-90%, no condensing

User Defined Field

Bar Code, QR Code, Logos, Clock, Counter, Classes, etc.

IP Rating

IP55 Industrial Protection

Gross Weight with Complete Package

45 kg / 99 lbs

Standard Features

Font library - Multi-language support - Traverse printing - 90-degree vertical printing - Special counter Counter replacement - Clock replacement - Encoder port - USB port - Ink recovery pump - Solvent flush pump - Micro print

Optional Add-Ons

Serial port - Network LAN connection - Positive air pump

 

Laser Marking Solutions: Fiber, CO2, and UV Laser Models

Laser marking systems are perfect for electronic production facilities that require high coding speeds, reliable accuracy, and exceptional code appearance. Laser users can mark and engrave their products with visually appealing text, scannable codes, traceable serial numbers, and other essential markings. Users can also adjust their power, beam, and marking window settings to maximize efficiency and accommodate unique substrate surface properties.

Laser systems are more expensive than TIJ and CIJ printers upfront but do not use consumables. Moreover, they have minimal maintenance needs and do not require annual servicing. Depending on your product output, these factors can make laser marking more cost-effective than inkjet printing.

Inkjet Inc. offers four laser models:

  1. F8100F Fiber Laser Marking Machine
  2. F8100C CO2 Laser Marking Machine
  3. LDR 7100 Laser Marking System (CO2 System)
  4. F8100U UV Laser Marking Machine

Our laser systems offer similar specifications and benefits. The F8100F, F8100C, LDR7100, and F8100U provide:

  • Marking speeds up to 2000 characters/sec.
  • 24/7 uninterrupted coding
  • Reliable ingress protections
  • Long laser tube life
  • Enhanced high-resolution mark quality
  • Plug-and-play laser module for easy line replacement
  • User-friendly control panel via computer or smartphone app

Material compatibility is the main difference between our laser options. Fiber, CO2, and UV lasers produce beams of different wavelengths. Beam wavelength significantly influences material compatibility, so it’s important to understand which laser technology best suits your substrates as you consider system options. 

This chart illustrates the material compatibility of fiber, CO2, and UV laser systems:

Laser Marking Material Compatibility 

Material Category

Specific Material

Fiber Laser

CO2 Laser

UV Laser

Wood, Paper, and Board

Wood

Thermal Label

Paper

Board

Metallized Board

Glass

Glass

Glass Fiber

Ceramic

Ceramic

Plastics

Polypropylene (PP)

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

ABS

Polyacetal (POM: polyoxymethylene)

Polyamide (PA)

Polycarbonate (PC)

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Metals

Steel

Galvanized Steel

Aluminum

Titanium

Copper

Brass

  • = Full compatibility 
  • = Limited compatibility
  • = No compatibility

See the chart below for a closer look into our laser systems’ most important specifications.

Specification

F8100F, F8100C, LDR7100, & F8100U Laser Systems

Marking Speed

Up to 2,000 characters/second

Line Speed

Up to 200 m/min

Wave Lengths

  • Fiber: 1,055 - 1,070nm
  • CO2: 10.6um, 10.2um, and 9.3um
  • LDR: 10.6um, 10.3um, and 9.3um
  • UV: 355nm

Marking Formats

  • Standard industrial fonts (Windows TrueType®) and single line font  
  • Machine-readable codes (OCR, 2D matrix, etc.) 
  • Bar codes: code 128a, code 128B, code 128c, code39, code93, QR Code, Data Matrix, Aztec-Code, Han Xin-Cod
  • Graphics, logos, symbols, etc. 
  • Linear, circular, angular, reverse, rotate sequential, and batch numbering  
  • Automatic date, layer and time code, real-time clock 

Laser Tube

  • Fiber: Ytterbium (YT) pulsed fiber laser
  • CO2: Sealed CO2 laser
  • LDR: Sealed CO2 laser
  • UV: Solid-state UV laser

Beam Deflection

Steers beam with digital high-speed galvanometer scanners

User Interface

Personalized touch control screen with an easy-to-learn interface

Communication

  • UDP, TCP/IP, and RS232
  • Inputs for encoder and product detector triggers
  • 4 inputs/4 outputs for start/stop signals, machine/operator interlocks, and alarm outputs (in addition to safety circuits)
  • Customer-specific solutions are available

Integration

Flexible beam delivery options (beam extension unit/beam turning unit) 

Cooling System

Air-cooled

Operating Environment

  • Temperature: 5-40° C (41-104°F)  
  • Humidity: 0%-90%, no condensing
  • Inputs for encoder and product detector triggers

IP Rating

Cabinet: IP54 standard

Weight

Approx. 40 kg 

InkJet, Inc’s Electrical Component Coding Solutions Enhance Operational Efficiency

Electronic manufacturers require reliable marking solutions that meet their unique application needs. InkJet, Inc's diverse electrical component coding and marking technologies excel at accurately applying codes at high speeds. Eliminate misprints, increase efficiency, and ensure code compliance with the help of our printers and laser systems. Call InkJet, Inc. today to discover which marking option is right for you.

To learn more about electrical component coding and marking, contact us online today or call 1(800) 280-3245.