Columbia Marking Tools Introduces New Dot Peen/Scribe Tag Marker

"Columbia Marking Tools, Inc. is answering the need for better and more versatile UID/text tag marking with a new special programmable tag marking machine that is designed to place text in five different fields and place a UID/2D matrix code on special silk-screened stainless steel tags which will be attached to axles of military vehicles," said a company spokesperson. "The marking machine has the capability to dot peen or silent scribe mark individual characters at a rate of 10 per second at office-like noise levels. Required cycle time for the stainless steel tags is approximately 30 seconds per tag. Information to be marked will include model number, customer number, serial number, a ratio, date and a Square Dot UID/2D matrix code of the aforementioned information. A Cognex vision system is provided to read and verify the matrix code."

The basic design of the machine includes a stand-alone all steel machine base and top plate unit equipped with rolling and lockable casters. To the top plate is mounted a standard Columbia CNC DPS60 Dot-Peen-Scribe electric powered tag marking unit: the model SMUC 150 system controller; tag magazine, clamping and fixturing, and load-mark-ejection CMT-188 system; CMT PCS2000 machine control and pendant; and Cognex model 5400 vision and lighting system for UID code reading.

The DPS60 Dot-Peen-Scribe electric powered tag marking unit, which operates much like a miniature CNC machine, has a diamond scribe marking stylus and head that is driven by a high torque motors, providing fast and accurate head movement through linear rails and ball screws, the company said. A marking window of 40 mm x 60 mm (1.6-inches x 2.3-inches) is available to mark the stainless steel tag dimensions are 1.25-inches x 3-inches and 0.19-inches thick.

The control for the machine is provided by Columbia's own PCS 2000 HMI marking controller that has been developed specifically for applying UID/2D matrix codes that require marking equipment to be integrated with electronic cameras for mark verification. In this control, CMT pre-installed the Cognex vision/reader software that included both hard wire capabilities and Blue Tooth interfaces. Columbia Marking Tools is a Cognex vision integrator and was able to provide the turnkey services required to supply the vision portion of the marking system. The control utilizes an Intel Celeron 2.0 gigahertz processor with 256 megabytes of PC2700 DDR Ram and 30 gigabytes of available storage. It features a 15-inch TFT touch screen display with preloaded with Windows XP Pro and Signumberic 6.0 marking software. Video and on-screen programming simulation is provided as a

teach aid to show the operator how to enter date codes, serial numbers, change the text location or the orientation of the mark and numerous other useful features. The control has two USB ports for off-line or in-line communication of serial data input as well as CD and floppy disc drives. An Ethernet port is also available for CMT-NOW instant service software, allowing Columbia Marking Tools to connect directly to the PCS-2000 control via the internet from the service office at Columbia Marking Tools for fast and secure troubleshooting, programming assistance, software upgrades, and even making adjustments to the cameras used on UID/Square Dot scribe marking machines. This remote management feature allows the user to directly access vital operating system utilities such as command prompt, task manager, and services on the host computer. Other remote management capabilities include change system status and diagnostics, view installed applications, view event log, edit system files and edit registry. Easy wizard tools take the user through the setup and operation of the CMT-NOW software.

The machine is electrically operated (110 V) and allows the user to either dot peen or diamond scribe by simply flipping a selector switch. Diamond scribe is provided for this application to insure precise marking on stainless steel.

For more information contact:

Tom Phipps, CEO

Columbia Marking Tools, Inc.

27430 Luckino

Chesterfield Township, MI 48047

800-469-MARK

Fax: 586-949-8401

www.columbiamt.com

E-mail: tjp@columbiamt.com