Aerospace Part Marking
Learn more about the intricacies of aerospace part marking and standards regulating traceability in the industry
In aeronautics, safety standards require direct marking on critical components for efficient part identification and tracebility. Subcontractors must provide manufacturers with fully identified parts to also combat counterfeit and tampering risks. This prevents obsolete parts from being reused or sold elsewhere, ensuring safety by avoiding stress-related risks associated with unidentified origins.
Complying with regulated standards AS478-3, AIM-DPM, MIL-STD-130, EASA Part 21 Subpart Q, ATA SPEC2000, SAE, NASA, UID, JES, RRES, SAE International AS9132, our marking systems guarantee high-quality markings and complete traceability of your parts. Identify, record, and read your information throughout the life of your parts, from the wing to the smallest screw of the aircraft.
Our marking solutions
Our industrial laser stations are perfect for aerospace part marking: they guarantee high-contrast marking with a very short cycle time without contact with the part. Different laser sources and power levels and marking areas are available depending on your application.
- Laser stations (WeLase™, LW2 & LW3) : perfect for small to large parts when small cycle times are required
- Laser tables (LS100, LS100EX, LS900): easily place several parts for batch laser marking
- Integrable lasers (Mini-inline): integrate your laser marking head in security when marking very large aerospace parts
Small laser engraver for all kind of engravings.
WELASE
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Medium fully automated laser marking station.
LW2
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Large fully automated laser workstation with Fiber, Hybrid or Green sources
LW3
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Small CO2 laser engraver and cutter for personalization, signage and creative.
LS100
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Large laser engraver and cutter that can do everything.
LS900
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Laser protection nose for integrable laser markers.
Mini-inline
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Our dot-peen and rotary marking machines offer high-precision marking and a great return on investment. They meet your aerospace part identification and traceability marking requirements while increasing quality and volumes. Mark both small and large parts thanks to their open marking area.
Our aerospace part marking technologies
The laser technology is a contactless identification method. The part surface remains intact as only the superficial layer of the material is heated to create a contrasting black marking. This also ensures that the mechanical properties of the part aren’t modified.
To mark parts sensible to heat transfers, our Green laser source ensures what is called "Cold-marking". Which is, laser marking without any heat buildup on the part’s surface.
Laser marking is fast, making it perfectly suitable for high-production needs. The high contrast ensures quick data reading, either by an operator for alphabetical characters or by a scanner for 1D or 2D codes.
Our industrial laser stations are equipped with an integrated Z axis for automatic adjustment of the laser head, ensuring high-quality traceability marking on your aerospace parts.
The dot-peen marking technology pushes the material to engrave a series of numbers or a Datamatrix code. No material is removed or weakened during this process. This ensures that the marking remains intact after post-treatments and maintains high durability over time.
Certain aerospace standards specify a required depth for compliance, and dot-peen marking machines enable adherence to these depth requirements.
Our Impact eZ m (electromagnetic version) includes a sensor that automatically detects the part and adjusts the Z axis accordingly, ensuring consistently high-quality part identification.
Our industrial laser and dot-peen marking machines seamlessly integrate with your existing infrastructure, including central servers, PCs, PLCs, and barcode scanners, maximizing ROI and facilitating communication within your plant network.
These robust permanent marking systems are capable of creating deep and durable markings on even the toughest metals, both pre and post-treatment, ensuring legibility and durability in the most challenging environments. The complete traceability from manufacturing to maintenance guarantees part authenticity and compliance with the highest aerospace standards.
Identification and compliance
Different parts
& shapes
The variety of our aerospace part marking technologies makes it possible to trace and identify a wide range of parts with a unique identification code, whatever their shapes or materials:
- Turbine components (blades, vanes, flanges…)
- Fasteners (nuts, bolts, washers, screws, rivets…)
- System components (pumps, engines, generators, moving shafts, electronic boxes…)
- Airframe parts (landing gear, brake disks, thrust reversers…)
- Power plant parts (nozzles, assemblies, transmission systems…)
- Cabins (seats, lights, switches, control panels…)
- ID plates (equipment and machine identification nameplates)
These parts can be made of the following alloys: Aluminium, Titanium, Magnesium, Cobalt, Steel, Stainless steel, Carbon fiber.
Various norms
with strict requirements
The standards upon which you rely vary depending on the country, type of traceability marking, and material of the part. The main aerospace industry standards include AS478-3, AIM-DPM, MIL-STD-130, EASA Part 21 Subpart Q, ATA SPEC2000, SAE, NASA, UID, JES, RRES and SAE International AS9132.
Some of these standards encompass various requirements for parts:
- HR (Hardness Rating): the marking must not create points of weakening or excessive wear.
- Mechanical resistance: the marking must not affect the tensile, compressive, fatigue, or corrosion resistance of the part.
- Weight and material density: the marking must not significantly modify the part weight or affect its density.
Other standards focus on the aerospace part marking quality to ensure reliable proofreading, such as the AIM-DPM standard.
IDENTIFICATION
Trust our expertise, discover our dedication
You are a global industrial company looking for a trusted partner for your identification needs ?
With a rich legacy of innovation and a deep understanding of industry requirements, Gravotech offers a wide range of solutions for Identification requirements.
Through a collaborative approach, Gravotech works closely with its clients to understand their unique needs and challenges, allowing them to develop solutions that deliver consistent and precise results.With a global network of dedicated support professionals, Gravotech ensures that Key Accounts receive prompt assistance and ongoing technical support, thereby maximizing uptime and minimizing downtime.
