We marked the 2 of 5 linear barcode in 0.66
seconds using 30 watts of power at a velocity
of 75 inches per second (IPS).


The 2D code required 0.26 seconds with 25 watts
of power at 50 IPS.

This marking application was driven by a requirement to replace the current EAN/JAN 13-digit barcode on these inked paperboard boxes with a 10-digit barcode symbology.

One choice is to use WinMark Pro’s Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode. Interleaved 2 of 5 is a high-density 1D code where each 2 of 5 character encodes two numeric characters—the first is defined by a combination of two wide bars / three narrow bars while the second character is defined by a set of two wide spaces / three narrow spaces interleaved between the bars that create the first character. This high-density encoding scheme means that the Interleaved 2 of 5 code is the smallest conventional barcode for numeric messages less than ten characters long. For our 10-character code with a Barcode Thin Width value of 0.51 mm (0.02“), overall mark size is 26.4 mm long by 10 mm high (1.04” x 0.39”).

The second code selection is a Data Matrix™ 2D code. The most striking difference between 1D and 2D codes is the amount of data that is marked, and read, in a very compact space. The same 10 digits encoded in our 26.4 mm x 10 mm 1D code are easily encoded in a 2D Data Matrix code measuring only 5 mm square, which equates to an individual cell size of 0.42 mm or 0.016 of an inch! In order to produce a code this small, we configured WinMark Pro to mark the 2D code using vector circles instead of the normal raster-filled cells. In addition to increased mark speed, vector circles allow you to eliminate the Print Growth errors that occur if marked cells overlap into the space reserved for unmarked cells.

For these coding tests, we setup a Synrad FH Series Index marking head equipped with a 125 mm focusing lens featuring a 180-micron (0.007”) spot size and a 3 mm (0.118“) depth of focus. For the Interleaved 2 of 5 code, we used a Power percentage corresponding to 30 watts, a Velocity of 1905 mm per second (75 inches/sec), and a Resolution value of 150. At these settings, we produced the 1D code in a cycle time of 0.66 seconds.

To mark the 2D code, we used 25 watts at a Velocity of 1270 mm/second (50 inches/sec), with a Resolution of 600. The final parameter changes necessary to mark the code using vector circles involved changing the 2D Barcode Bitmap property to No and then specifying a 2D Barcode Circle Radius of 75%. Cycle time for the 2D code was 0.26 seconds.