Different Industries That Benefit From Wire Marking Machines
Tri-Star Technologies carries multiple types of equipment designed for a plethora of fields. As such, it’s important to understand which of these devices is most relevant to your needs. Read on to learn more about the different industries that benefit from (and sometimes require) wire marking machines.
BASICS OF WIRE MARKING MACHINES
Before we dive into the various industries that use these types of machines, it’s important to understand the equipment and the basics of wire marking. The term “wire marking” is quite broad—it’s a process that labels wires and cables. However, not all markings are the same. Some wires are marked simply with tags or sleeves that slide over the cable itself. Other methods include printing markings onto the wire with an inkjet system. We’ll focus on UV laser wire marking since that is a specialty of ours here at Tri-Star Tech. More importantly, it is perhaps the best method for many of the following industries.
UV laser wire marking, originally developed for the aerospace industry in 1987, produces a highly accurate, indelible marking without damaging the cable’s jacket or the cable itself. These permanent labels are applicable to nonstick materials like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon™). A UV laser cable marking machine utilizes a wavelength that’s immensely absorptive, conducting what is known as “cold marking.” Basically, this method ensures there is no additional heat stress placed on the cable materials. Highly reflective materials like silver, copper, and gold require cold marking for the best possible results. Along with marking, these devices are also capable of dereeling, cutting, coiling, and measuring wires continuously.
AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
As mentioned before, the practice of UV laser wire marking was developed for aerospace and defense, and it remains an essential aspect of those industries to this day. And it makes a lot of sense when you think about it—modern planes sometimes contain up to 1000 wire bundles! Each bundle, and subsequently each wire, has a specific and important function, from turning on the seatbelt light to making the engines run.
When constructing and manufacturing aircraft and other defense machinery, it’s imperative that engineers understand the function of each wire and bundle. As such, wire marking is used to classify wire and bundles in a few different ways—wire function, size, and materials. And since you must find a way to effectively mark these wires in a way that doesn’t harm the wire itself or obstruct other aircraft components, UV laser cable marking is the preferred marking method.
An example of a typical airplane wire looks something like this: X123-AA-4567. The first segment of numbers identifies the wire bundle, the second segment indicates the function, and the final four numbers are serial numbers. In some instances, another set of numbers that refers to the gauge follows the serial code. Additionally, there are sometimes more markings on a wire that denotes the brand, like Airbus or Boeing, and other helpful measurements. For instance, something like “A98B/2/2/20” would identify the specification (Boeing), the material of the conductor/type of insulation (2), the class of conductor (2), and the size (20).
Ultimately, the strict regulations of the aerospace and defense industries, along with the need for safe and proper aircraft construction, makes UV laser marking practices invaluable and preferred. Without this helpful method for marking cables, aviation would be a much less safe experience for many.
AUTOMOTIVE
The automotive industry relies on proper cable marking practices for the same reasons as the aerospace and defense industries—safety and complexity of manufacturing. Much like aircraft, modern cars feature many wires and wire bundles. In fact, vehicles today sometimes have over 5000 feet of cables! And seeing as strict industry regulations and standards (set by the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Underwriters Laboratories, and the International Organization for Standardization, among others) dictate that engineering and manufacturing are as accurate as possible, industry professionals utilize the many benefits of UV laser wire marking.
As vehicles continue to advance and become more reliant on electricity and computer systems, the need for clear, accurate, nondestructive, and indelible cable labeling is essential. However, UV laser wire marking isn’t the only method used in the automotive industry. In fact, the inkjet marking process is equally popular and produces suitable markings that last a long time. Regardless of the method of marking, these machines are entirely capable of effectively marking whole bundles of wire or simply singular items.
WIRE AND CABLE
Well, this one might seem a little too obvious—it makes sense that wire marking benefits the wire and cable industry. Regardless, the need for clear marking in this specific type of manufacturing cannot be understated. Products must feature quality indicators that don’t destroy the jacket material or the wire itself. Items like fiber optic cables are best marked with a UV laser and inkjet process along with the use of atmospheric plasma treatment (in certain applications).
MANUFACTURING
Manufacturing is a broad term to describe a very diverse industry, but laser wire marking is extremely beneficial for almost every sector of this trade. This includes proper wire markings for the components of manufacturing machinery, all the way to the products a given business produces. From top to bottom, effective cable and wire marking ensures safety for others and helps you meet any industry-specific requirements and standards.
As you can clearly see, many different industries benefit from wire marking machines and UV laser marking practices. Ultimately, the ability to effectively add denotations to a wire without damaging the material or obstructing other components, along with bundle-marking capabilities, makes these machines invaluable to many of the most important (and regulated) fields.
If your business is looking to upgrade its wire marking possibilities, check out our quality selection of machinery sold here at Tri-Star Technologies. We’ll work with you to find the best equipment for your specific requirements and needs. Contact us today for more information on our laser marking machines and related products—our friendly team is eager to help!