Laser marking systems advance in

Tag : laser marking system

To reduce manufacturing costs, the sublimation labelling method wasintroduced.
This process, however, brought its own problems owing to the everincreasing number of country and function variants, as specialsublimation paper had to be kept for the labelling of eachindividual character.
These problems prompted a search for a more flexible and costeffective way of labelling the keyboard keys.
It was during a review of alternative technologies that the Rofinand Cherry developed a business relationship.
* Nd:YAG solid-state lasers - using the correct parameters, Nd:YAGsolid-state lasers generate a high-contrast marking through acolour change in the material on a number of plastics.
In contrast to printing, laser marking is indelible andanti-abrasive, even in cases of intensive use.
With this process, the flexible deflection of the laser beam bygalvo scanner heads provides every conceivable option of form andmarking content.
The target cycle time together with the size of the marking area,however, created a headache for Cherry.
The processing area of a scanner head only covered half the widthof the keyboard and mechanical repositioning of the keyboard orlaser head was not possible owing to the short 20 second timeavailable for each marking cycle.
* Advanced marking system - Rofin-Sinar considered the applicationrequirements closely before suggesting a solution based upon alaser, a beam splitter, and two deflection heads.
The beam splitter would guide the laser beam through the scannerheads sequentially.
Each head would then each mark half the keyboard in turn, within10s.
Rofin, with extensive experience in developing laser technology forlaser marking applications, was completely confident that it wouldbe able to configure this advanced system to provide reliable andconsistent operation.
With Cherry's plant running a three-shift operation seven days aweek, there was no scope for downtimes due to teething problemswith a new technology.
The prototype system which was delivered by Rofin fulfilled allexpectations.
Cherry then further optimised the composition of the plastics usedin the manufacturing process to obtain the best possible markingresults.
Cherry therefore became one of the first suppliers to the worldmarket able to offer the new, flexible, high-quality marking methodfor keyboards.
Subsequently, laser marking has become established as the standardmethod for the production of keyboards.
* Up to three lasers work simultaneously - today, Cherry uses up tothree lasers simultaneously mark a keyboard.
Two lasers work at the top of the keyboard and one at the bottom.
In this way, the complicated adhesion of a label to the bottom ofthe keyboard is no longer necessary.
If desired, monochrome manufacturer logos or text can also begenerated at the same time.
The complete marking procedure can be completed in less than 5s.
On some of its five assembly lines , Cherry is producing value-added keyboards incorporatingintegrated barcode or chip card readers and fingerprint or RFIDsensors more and more often.
About 20 Rofin-Sinar second-generation diode-pumped lasers arecurrently in use in Auerbach.
These lasers also permit bright white marking of black keyboards.
Head of keyboards at Cherry, Heinz Freiberger, emphasized thatthere is almost no downtime.
The lasers run reliably and malfunction-free around the clock as akey part in the production of the 10,000 keyboards, which leave thefactory each day.
* Complex automotive mechatronics components - the AutomotiveDivision at Cherry in Auerbach is now the main revenue-generatingdivision of the company, accounting for 60% of all income.
Over the years, Cherry has systematically developed into one of theleading Tier 2 suppliers for complex modules used for automotivevehicle switching and control.
The product range extends from locking systems, switches andcontrols for the inside of vehicles, shift gates, immobilisers, toelectrical ignition locks or components for adaptive chassiscontrol.
Cherry's corporate culture motivates employees with its ideas fornew and better production methods.
The automotive industry makes great use of lasers for marking and traceability .
Bar codes, ID and serial numbers are the perfect method fortracking the progress of each component through the various processsteps during manufacture, with traceability for each component anessential part of the process.
In this case, the Rofin lasers generates unique and individualmarkings which can withstand the harsh conditions found inautomotive applications such as heat, moisture, or contact withoils or other fluids.
* Ongoing success based on constant development - Cherry's constantstrive for innovation has resulted in its production lines beingcontinuously updated or redesigned.
As a result of this process, the entire spectrum of automatedmanufacturing technology is in evidence on the production lines,industrial robots, feeding systems, solder baths, cable assembly,and so on.
If new marking systems must be developed, which take internalknowhow to the limits, Rofin's laser specialists and theirapplication laboratory are ready to evaluate of new methods atshort notice.
Ongoing and intensive cooperation with the laser manufacturer isone of the factors that lets Cherry meet its future challenges withconfidence.
* About Cherry Electrical - since the company's incorporation byWalter L Cherry in 1953, Cherry Electrical Corporation has grown tobecome a 'household name' around the world for its range ofinnovative electrical products.
Cherry's European production began in 1964 at the company'sfacility in Auerbach, a small town located between Nuremberg andBayreuth in Bavaria, Germany, where the first production linesmanufactured a range of micro-switches.
Today, Cherry is now the largest employer in this region with over1,400 employees involved in the development and production ofmicro-switches, keyboards, components for the automobile industry,and controls for household appliances.
In addition, subsidiaries in Wolfsbach and a factory near Klasterecin the Czech Republic, employ a further 700 personnel.
The success of the company can also be measured by a number ofaccolades awarded to the organisation in Auerbach.
These include - Bayerischer Qualitatspreis 2008 (Bavarian QualityAward), Automotive Lean Production Award 2006, Best EuropeanFactory 2005.