FAQ - Columbia Marking Tools

Why Columbia Marking Tools is different than other marking companies?

CMT specializes in "permanent industrial identification". We have a wide range of products that offer solutions for marking and identification of parts and products. From hand stamps to lasers....and choosing the right tool for your application may be confusing. This is why CMT is a marking specialist, and provides this wide range. We want to help find the correct marking machine or tool for your application.

Why your marking machine/tool budget is important?

CMT does not provide just one type of marking machine or tool. Columbia Marking Tools provides marking solutions to FIT all budgets. We want to help find the right solution for your application and your budget is a key factor in providing the correct marking machine.

Why is information on the marking legend needed? Character Size, # of characters, and variability of mark

The variability of the marking legend will determine if a Dot-Matrix marking machine is required or an indention marking machine or tool.

The character size and number of characters will determine the marking window for programmable Dot-Peen, Scribe or Laser marking machines.

In addition, for an indention tool or marking machine the character size and number of characters will determine the force required and therefore the correct model. Marking Pressure Chart

Why is the material being marked important?

The material being marked is important because for indention marking the material along with the character information will determine the force of the marking machine required. Marking Pressure Chart

For Dot-Peen marking and scribe marking it will determine both the model required and the estimated depth of mark.

For laser marking it will determine if our system will mark the part and cycle time required.

Why is the production rate required important?

For the Dot-Peen and scribe marking systems the production rate required will help determine which marking machine will be the best solution.

The production rate will also determine if special part handling is required such as automated tag feeding, or part loading/eject systems.

What are the advantages of Square-Dot?

Below is an example of a dot-peen & scribe mark on the same part. Everything was identical for this test, the same: stylus, distance of stylus from part, force setting for stylus, program parameters, matrix size, lighting, and camera settings. The Square-Dot mark passed with all “A” readings, the dot-peen mark did not pass.

Advantages of Square-Dot

Produces a “Square-Dot” which in turn provides a higher resolution mark because it fills more of the cell.
Produces a mark with higher readability on difficult to mark surfaces like “as cast” and often can mark surfaces that are not possible with dot-peen.
Has a higher probability of success on metal hardened above 45 on the Rockwell Hardness C Scale due to the use of a diamond stylus
Can produce longer production runs on difficult to mark materials due to the use of a diamond stylus which wears at a considerably slower rate compared to carbide
Offers Noise reductions of approximately 30% compared to dot-peen method, this is of course part dependant because some part designs actually magnify sound levels (75 db is typical on stable parts)
Produces a mark on metal that will survive rust, corrosion and other types of damage better than any other known method

Will the mark show through paint or coating?

The optimal depth of the indention mark is depend on the character size for indention marking. These figures are given in the pressure chart.

1/16" character should have a depth of .004"
3/32" character should have a depth of .005"
1/8" character should have a depth of .007"
3/16" character should have a depth of .009"
1/4" character should have a depth of of .010"

A character that marks deeper than the optimal marking depth with not be clearly legible. It would be the same as writing very small characters with a large felt tip marker. One big blob.

The optimal marking depth with dot peen and scribe marking systems is generally less. The cross reference chart lists the maximum depth for each model. The depth that the mark achieves is based on the character size and material as well.

If the mark is required to be seen after coating or paint, the first question to ask is if the part is currently marked, how deep is the current mark and how thick is the coating. Sometimes a simple hand stamp test will clear up these questions.