Technology Update
By Bob Smith
Marking of wire and cable is not a new technology. However, there have been many technological advances since the U.S. Navy first started hot stamping wire at the beginning of World War II.
Hot stamping was the first practical means of mechanically marking a wire with a part number to identify its end-use purpose. Although still used today, hot stamping has its drawbacks, including the need to work with very hot stamping dies and the potential of damaging the dielectric properties of the insulation.
The next big advancement for identifying wire and cable was impact-type typewriters. The user would type the information onto an adhesive label or piece of cross-linked heat-shrinkable tubing and then apply it to the wire or cable to be identified. This process eliminated the potential for damaging the insulation on the wire, but it had its drawbacks as well. The typewriter could only print alphanumeric characters in one font and size.
The advent of thermal transfer and dot matrix printers eliminated these shortcomings. By using a personal computer (PC) to drive the printer, it is now possible to print alphanumeric characters in many sizes and fonts. It is also possible, with the thermal transfer printer, to print one-color graphic images such as company logos and bar codes. Another advantage of a PC-driven printer is that it facilitates automatic sequencing of numbers and letters for serialization and date coding.
Using PC-driven printing on cross-linked heat-shrinkable tubing is currently one of the most widely used methods for identifying products. Some examples include very small wire used in cell phones and other small devices, and very large, complex cable assemblies used in aerospace, mass transit and military applications. A few of the more recent advances in thermal transfer printing on heat-shrinkable tubing are the use of 300 dpi high-resolution print heads, improvements in the surface quality of the tubing and increased capabilities of the software used to drive the printers.
Another method of identifying wire and cable is using laser printers. This is a relatively new technology that is efficient for printing alphanumeric characters directly on wire in high-volume production environments. Laser-marking systems are used in wire manufacturing plants to mark directly on wire at the time of manufacturing with information about the characteristics of the wire. They are also used in limited instances in assembly shops for marking end-use information on wire or heat-shrinkable tubing. Because of their high cost, however, they are used in a small number of very specialized, high-volume cases.
BOB SMITH is Assistant Product Manager, Sumitomo Electric Interconnect Products Inc., 155 C-1 Moffett Park Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94089; (408) 734-8880; Fax: (408) 734-8881; Web site: www.seipusa.com.
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Thermal Printer
The Sumimark Marking System is a PC-driven thermal printer designed to mark on the company's heat-shrinkable tubing. This system reportedly exceeds industry standards for mark permanence. Users can specify the length of the individual markers from 0.5 to 20.0", in 1.0" increments. The system marks tubing at speeds of up to 3.0" per second. Reportedly, no warm-up or set-up time is needed, and it produces a dry, permanent mark that can be handled as soon as it is printed. Sumitomo Electric Interconnect Products Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.
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Coding System
The LegiJet ML500 High-resolution Ink-jet Coding System incorporates a fully addressable, 500-nozzle print head that produces codes up to 2.8" high. Single and two-dimensional bar codes, variable-sized text, plus graphics and logos reportedly can be printed on products with 188 dpi clarity at speeds reaching up to 180' per minute. Font sizes range from five to 280 points. This product can print messages with one to 50 lines of code, depending on font size. The system's Windows-based controller device incorporates a graphical display and standard keypad with touchpad for message editing. Weber Marking Systems Inc., Arlington Heights, Ill.
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Thermal Labeling System
The TLS PC Link Thermal Labeling System creates labels as a desktop or portable printer. The unit has a small footprint and weighs 2.5 lb. The product automatically identifies label size and printer settings. The ribbon cartridge system is said to allow end users to replace a ribbon in seconds. Included in the package is the printer, an AC power supply, labeling software, Windows print drivers, communications cable and built-in programming language. Reportedly, the Windows print drivers allow the unit to print labels from any Windows software application. The standard BPL programming language can also be used to integrate the printer with hand-held equipment that does not operate on Windows. Brady Worldwide Inc., Identification Solutions, Milwaukee, Wis.
Shrink Tube Printer
The K-Sun LabelShop 2001 XLST is a portable keyboard machine that prints on polyolefin shrink tube material and polyester adhesive-backed labeling tape. The product prints numbers, words, bar codes or symbols. Shrink tubes and labels can be various lengths and colors. This machine operates on batteries or a 102 VAC adapter. It marks wire, cable, hoses, cords, tubes and equipment. VIP Div., Houston, Texas
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Marking System
This EZ-Mark Marking System is used with terminal blocks, wire markers (both wrap-around adhesive type and tube insert type), and panel and push-button nameplates. The software included with the system is said to import both spreadsheet format documents and CAD files. The system can plot markers for most manufacturers' terminal blocks. The kit includes a plotter, two tag templates, ink, solvent, printer cable, pen, software and a manual. Automation Systems Interconnect Inc. (ASI), Carlisle, Pa.
Card Printer
The Eltron P301F ThermoCard Printer reportedly can print 17 cards per minute or more than 1,000 per hour. The product can print markers for electrical installations, machinery, switchgear, wire and cable. Capable of laser-quality printing (300 dpi) in multiple fonts, sizes and shapes, the printer can produce logos, bar codes and graphics on credit card-sized markers. A specially formulated ribbon and thermo-transfer process is said to greatly increase the printed label's resistance to environmental influences. The printer is designed for applications in the transportation, power generation and industrial automation industries. Weidmüller Inc., Richmond, Va.
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Marking Software
The CMS-MARK-WIN Computer Marking System Software is said to make it possible to work in other Windows-based programs while operating the CMS machine. This product includes the capacity for horizontal and/or vertical marking, a special symbol library, automatic numbering and editing features. The software also features an integrated drawing module that allows for symbols to be created in addition to the standard library. Phoenix Contact Inc., Harrisburg, Pa.
Wire Marker
Wire Vektor 150L is said to provide quality throughput in a UV laser wire marker system. This machine is reported to operate at a high speed and serve as a viable alternative to excimer laser marking systems. Software is written in Visual C and runs on an NT operating system installed on a Pentium PC with touch-screen monitor. An optional network connection allows upload and download of data to and from the database. Vektronics Inc., Vista, Calif.
Transfer Labels
Pan-Code Thermal Transfer Labels are said to be suitable for a range of applications, including wire marking, bar-code labeling and shipment tracking. The product materials include self-laminating vinyl film; destructible paper; destructible polyethylene; and clear, white, metallized and tamper-evident polyester. The labels meet various requirements for weather, chemical resistance, temperature extremes and UV exposure. They are available roll-mounted on 3.0" cores, and may be used with a variety of compatible thermal transfer printers. Panduit Corp., Tinley Park, Ill.
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Thermal Printer
The DMX-I-4208 Thermal Printer prints at 8 ips and houses a revolving media supply hub, at 1.5 or 3.0", as a standard feature. Available in direct thermal and thermal transfer configurations, the product is said to be capable of producing a 203 dpi, 4.0" wide image at 8 ips and supports linear and 2-D bar-code symbologies. A 32-bit pro-cessor and revamped firmware, 8 MB of addressable RAM and an IEEE 1284-compliant parallel interface are featured. It is constructed of precision die-cast aluminum and incorporates a modular design that reportedly simplifies operation, maintenance and upgrades. Datamax Corp., Orlando, Fla.
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Wire Marker
The HotStamp 4500 Wire Marker can perform end marking of wire or cable up to 0.59" (15 mm) OD. Because of its wide carriage, the product reportedly can mark each end of the wire or cable with a different color alphanumeric string up to 16 characters long. It is said to perform continuous marking at set intervals without sacrificing production speed, as both leading and trailing end marks are applied at the same time. This machine is available with a foot pedal for standalone operation, a stationary V-block wire guide that permits marking of larger cables and a range of foils. Schleuniger Inc., Manchester, N.H.
