Process Date: April 2004

This sheet of titanium illustrates one of the three basic mark mechanisms seen when marking metals. Surface melting, surface annealing, and oxidation are the agents responsible for marking metals in general, but surface annealing is the more common effect.

The filled text numerals demonstrate the range of annealing seen on titanium. All objects were marked using 125 watts of power, however the FH Series marking head (using a 125 mm HP lens) marked each object at a different velocity. In this sample, each numeral corresponds to a marking velocity in inches per second – the “2” was marked at 2 inches per second (IPS), the “3” at 3 IPS, etc. The color change caused by annealing runs the gamut from a silver-gray to reddish-violet to amber. At lower velocities, characters exhibit lighter contrast and increased heat affected zone (HAZ)

The Data Matrix code was marked at 12 IPS, again at 125 watts, and was read by a Microscan Quadrus EZ reader, achieving consistent AIM validation grades of “B” (symbol contrast - A, print growth – B, axial nonuniformity – B, and unused ECC – A).

The filled text numerals demonstrate the range of annealing seen on titanium.


Data Matrix code marked at 12 IPS, again at 125 watts (ruler shown at left)