Chesterfield Township, Michigan - July 2007 – A special computer-controlled programmable fiber laser marking machine that marks matrix 2D codes and part numbers on cast iron automotive differential cases has been designed and built by Columbia Marking Tools, 27430 Luckino, Chesterfield Township, MI 48047.
The machine uses the new 20 watt CMT SUN-MATRIX high-speed fiber laser marking head to permanently mark the 2D matrix codes and part numbers on the rough machined surfaces of the cast iron automotive differential cases.
The basic design of the stand-alone machine includes a heavy-duty welded steel machine base/cabinet. Mounted to the steel plate on the top of the base is the part fixture/enclosure with a pneumatic lift mechanism that raises and lowers the carriers into marking position where a positive part centering, orienting and locating device accurately clamps the part in the machine. In the production operation, a robot loads and unloads the parts. However, a selector switch on the machine control permits the machine to be safely loaded and unloaded manually if required. The CMT fiber laser marking head and Cognex In-Sight 5100 Series matrix 2D vision verification camera are located in a Class I laser surround enclosure also mounted on the machine base top plate. To reduce the overall machine footprint, the vision system, laser controller and PLC are located in the machine base control cabinet. Because the machine will be operating in an environment that can often exceed 100-degress F, a heat exchanger system for the controls is mounted to the back of the machine base.
The laser marking machine has been designed with two of CMT’s latest laser controls developments that enhance set up, training and machine operation. The first is an automatic low power (similar to an ordinary laser light pen) feature that is automatically activated when the laser guard is open so the operator can visually verify the light path. Secondly, the machine is equipped with CMT’s powerful PCS-2000 machine control that has been developed specifically for applying UID/2D matrix codes that require marking equipment to be integrated with electronic cameras for mark verification. The PCS-2000 control is a Columbia Marking Tools standard for all dot-peen, laser and scribe marking machines and integrated or stand-alone systems. The machine control has an on-screen VPT video program training feature that actually shows operators how to input or change marking information. The VPT software shows 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 PCS-2000 utilizes an Intel® Celeron 2.0 gigahertz processor with 256 megabytes of PC2700 DDR Ram and 30 gigabytes of available storage. The 15-in. LCD monitor has 1024 x 768 pixel resolution and a touch-screen keyboard eliminating the need for a conventional plug-in keyboard. The touch screen monitor and processor are mounted in a standard Nema 12 enclosure with a cooling system that is designed to work in typical high-temperature shop environments, with real-time system monitoring software.
The PCS-2000 is preloaded with the Windows® XP Professional operating system. and Columbia 2D and human-readable UID/ Square Dot® and Cognex Vision™ software. CMT-NOW instant service software is also provided, 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.
Columbia Marking Tools is a leading designer and manufacturer of metal and plastic marking equipment including stamps, roll marking dies, roll marking and impact marking machines, fully programmable pulsed fiber diode laser, peen/scribe marking and UID/2D Square Dot® machines, numbering heads and special marking machines.
www.columbiamt.com
