PCB Assembley Serial Numbering

[Eigerdesign]

Dear Forum

I am venturing into the world of being a electronic manufacturer but have come stuck on what would seem a simple problem.

What kind of serial number label to I place on the assembled PCB to identify… the content is not an issue but:

What type of label do I use?
Where do I get specialised labels from?
What kind of label printer do I need (not breaking the bank)?

I am thinking a Dymo Labelwriter 450 (or alike) type printer with a thermo paper would not be very robust over time.

Any help/advise/experience would be much appreciated from you guys.

P.s. It would be great to have ‘Production related’  Forum on the EEVBlog … just in case Mr Dave is listening.

Many thanks

Tony

[wemme]

Hi Tony,
Depends where in the world you are.
Either way there should be a number of suppliers in your area.

just talk to them and see if they are already doing labels for the electronic industry.
find out any standards that they support and don't be afraid to look at the material datasheets for the materials that they are looking at using.

here are a few points that have bitten us over the years which may be a reasonable start.

ink and adhesive need to be resistant to solvents (ipa wash)
Adhesive is usually reasonably ok as there is limited surface area for the ipa to contact.
its more the type of print method that is used that is usually the problem. many inks will dissolve and wash off.
we have even had "indelible inks" go faint.

Adhesive and label material need to also with stand reasonable temperature ranges -20 to 80deg C
We had a new manufacturer make labels once for us which all shrunk and peeled up during burn in.

An adhesive that will not perish over time. We have all seen those labels where the adhesive has gone crystalline and then just fall off.
Depending on the application UV stabilisation may be an issue not only for colour but also for material life (adhesive and base)

Hope this helps as a starting point. i'm sure someone else will jump in.
Regards
Bart

[Alphatronique]

Hi

please look http://www.mouser.com/catalog/specsheets/TE%20Kapton%20Labels.pdf

that one resist Reflow and solvent cleaning 

If label after assemble and cleaning you may use Zebra CryoCol 4000 Label  ,kind of plastic that very resistant

and finally for temporary iden like REEL   you may use Amazone FBA "kind" label   ,it thermal and may remove whiteout residue

for print you may buy a used Zebra 105 printer on E-bay for bit under 500$
i strongly suggest to put 200-300 more for a 300DPI printer ..

and finally "print label pro" software ,that permit to print label number from a external database or a simple text file ..
very usefull

as example ,it copy and past from BOM a list of all part  ,put it on a simple text file one part number per line ..
then open my template and it generate by itself one label per part whit part name in text , bar-code ,my company name ,customer name and job  PO number , so it really good for track reel and setup feeder on machine later ..

same for serial number have template whit auto increment serial number ..

[free_electron]

you need a real label machine  take a look at a used Zebra machine
those have labels specifically for pcb work. they are solvent resistant.
you can find used ones on ebay

for example :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zebra-ZM400-Label-Thermal-Printer-With-Power-Cable-/321324431004?pt=COMP_Printers&hash=item4ad06db69c

These are thermal transfer printers as opposed to thermal paper printers.
the label itself is NOT heat sensitive.
the label cartridge holds a film sprayed with ink. the thermalprocess transfers this ink to the polyimide film carrier.

[EEVblog]

Someone like this can do custom serial numbered labels:
http://www.labelogixusa.com/
No need for your own printer.

[mariush]

I don't see anything like this on a google search or on Youtube...

Would it be possible to just put a square with silkscreen paint on the board and then after production put the board on a laser engraver and laser would cut out parts of the silkscreen to producea barcode or some digits?

It may be slower than preprinted labels but they'd be kinda permanent, wouldn't they?

edit apparently I wasn't looking for the right terms "laser pcb marking" seems to show some stuff... would the cheap ebay laser engravers be capable of this?  (not etching copper, just silkscreen, paint etc)

[Eigerdesign]

Wow... thanks guys... this is all magic infomation for me to digest.

I have been busy setting up my company and only checked back on this issue now, I even got a response from Sir David! Wow I am sort of star struck... sad but true!

Thanks again!!!!

[Eigerdesign]

I really like this lazer printing ( as from Mariush) hence I did place a copper area on all my PCBs so that this could be done... the problem is that my Sub- contractor does not support this.

The label will be stuck on after all processing hence I was hoping as simple desktop printer label like these would be enough (waterproof)

http://www.onlinelabels.com/Products/OL5400WJ.htm

I am not worried too much about solvents but the labels failling off due to pants glue is a bit of a worry... these dedicated label printers are relatively expensive hence if I can avoid them it would be great (plus another thing to setup and learn).

Tony

[Smokey]

+1 on Zebra thermal transfer printer.
One thing to watch out for is that zebra really doesn't like non-distributor purchases like through ebay, and won't want to give you any support if it breaks or something.  Not that that is a show stopper, but something to keep in mind since they can be expensive.