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This article about the Boss Buddy application at ITT Gould Pumps originally appeared in Modern Casting. We are republishing it now to coincide with the introduction of our new Boss Buddy Catalog. Be sure to grab a copy to download here on our Boss Buddy page!  ITT Goulds Pumps Inc. (Seneca Falls, New York) needed to replace its aging pattern labeling equipment. This sand mold foundry manufactures industrial pumps used by customers in the oil, gas, mining, power generation, chemical, pulp/paper, and general industrial markets. Like many foundry operations, the resources and processes required for pattern labeling are being evaluated for the equipment needed and for their ease of use and manpower investment. The manufacturer depends on pattern labels to provide a mechanism for process control and quality tracking. Tracking piece quality throughout the process provides information that allows them to track operations and limit batch sizes if issues arise. In many foundries, the equipment used to apply the date codes, heat numbers and other traceable identification elements applied to patterns is aging badly. The preferred equipment, used for decades, requires operators to rotate a wheel engraved with a given character size, one character at a time. Rotating the heavy wheel to make multi-character labels is cumbersome and time-consuming. Additional character sizes meant the investment in duplicate systems to meet the various size requirements because the different-sized character sets and base equipment are not interchangeable. If multiple labels of the same legend are required, the process repeats. Manufacturers requiring high levels of traceability, such as automotive and aerospace, often have significant investments of time and equipment. These resources are needed to make all the additional labels used to identify line number, operator ID, or other fac- tors so they can minimize batch size if a recall occurs. The manufacturers that built these systems in the past have reduced available character sizes and don’t make spare parts for some systems. In addition, some marking companies have either shifted their focus to other, newer technologies where market size justifies production/development costs, or simply shut down. Many foundries are forced to hunt for second-hand parts online or use letters and numbers that can be pinned onto patterns. Parts bought online are hard to find and may be a short-lived solution when purchased used. Pinned on characters work but are not cost-effective. Their application and removal is tedious and time consuming, and the characters cannot always be reused. A shrinking workforce, needed for more important production tasks and not content with such menial work, merely compounds the problem. ITT Goulds Pumps had tagging equipment that embossed one letter at a time, which made producing tags a time-consuming process. Furthermore, if the letter wheel was not stopped at the correct spot, the tag would have to be scrapped.The tagging equipment operated like a labeler where the user must spin the letter wheel to the desired character, press the lever, and then repeat this process for each letter on each tag. Illegible tagging was also a problem. The manufacturer determined that new equipment was needed to con- tinue and improve the pattern labeling process. Numerous different solutions were tried. One solution was an automated dot peen marker with tag feeding accessories, but the marks were not legible after the tag was cast in due to the dot pattern. Work continued to improve the solution but after the process was fully implemented, the labeling results were still unsatisfactory. The search for a better, more legible solution proceeded. During this period, Kevin Lucas, pattern shop supervisor at ITT Goulds Pumps, set out to provide a temporary solution by 3D printing the legend plates. He developed a custom font of characters to create more distinguish- able marks. Though legibility was improved, the time to produce the 3D molded legends was not much faster than rotating wheels.  Boss Buddy Marking system installed at ITT Gould Pumps Therefore, Lucas set out to find a more effective solution to support the organization. Lucas took the initiative to identify the foundry marking requirements before looking for new equipment. He determined that an effective solution must include:
“We had been struggling with tagging legibility issues for years,” he said. “With our 3D printer, I had been adjusting and proving out a font and tag sizes. I printed thousands of tags, over the course of a year.”  He saw that the Boss Buddy embosses foil tape for use in foundry applications such as pattern labeling, and read that the Boss Buddy is compact, simple to operate, cost-effective and uses proven components customized for foundry requirements. Leading Marks had been working with many foundries around the U.S. to improve their processes. After working with Leading Marks to test date code samples in a couple of character sizes, Lucas said he obtained much more legible marks that were created in less than half the time of the older system and with far greater ease. With favorable results in hand, they began defining what the package should include: Interchangeable type characters in the custom font that Lucas had designed. Characters in a variety of sizes Manual Boss Buddy embossing system (vs. the automated system). The Boss Buddy system shipped to the facility in Seneca Falls, New York in the spring of 2019. After Lucas’ preliminary use of the Boss Buddy package in the pattern shop, it moved to the shop floor. Ryan Knapp, molding supervisor at ITT Goulds Pumps uses it daily, quick- ly creating the pattern labels needed by the foundry. During a follow-up meeting with Laurie Barcaskey from Leading Marks, Knapp created even more clearly defined embossed characters with a simple change in the spring used in the impact press. Knapp is relieved he no longer must use the old system, aka the “Spin to Win” for pattern labels. Knapp will be championing the efforts of other departments to employ this solution throughout the plant. When asked about the implemen- tation of the new system. Lucas said “I was pleasantly surprised that Leading Marks did not flinch when I men- tioned creating dies for the font I had been 3D printing.” “Leading Marks had some great ideas on implementing the tagging project. Prior to seeing the Modern Casting piece, I was going in a different direction. It saved a lot of time going with proven equipment and a knowledgeable vendor.” NEW 2023 Boss Buddy Catalog
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Created via Chat GPT, Edited by Bernard Martin Laser marking is a process in which a laser beam is used to mark or engrave an object. The laser beam is directed at the surface of the object, and the energy from the beam causes a change in the surface material, resulting in a permanent mark. There are several types of laser marking, including annealing, engraving, and foaming. The type of laser used, the material being marked, and the desired outcome will determine the specific process and technique used for laser marking. Common materials that can be laser marked include metals, plastics, and ceramics. Laser marking is often used in industrial settings for product identification, traceability, and branding.  Image created by https://deepai.org/ The term "laser" stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation," which summarizes quite well exacty how lasers work. Light particles, called photons, are excited with an electrical current, causing them to emit energy in the form of light. This light forms the laser beam. The principle of industrial traceability by laser engraving is based on a beam of high intensity laser focused and then directed towards the part to be marked. Its orientation is ensured by a galvanometric head composed of two mirrors. When a laser beam hits a part's surface, the energy is transferred in the form of heat, creating black, white, and sometimes colored marks. In manufacturing, Lasers are a permanent, a precise and qualitative marking solution for part identification and traceability. Different applications may require different marking techniques such as engraving, staining, removing, annealing, and foaming are the most common marking methods. Each laser marking procedure will have its own unique advantages and disadvantages, depending on the materials being used and the quality requirement. Types of Materials to Laser Mark image created using https://deepai.org/ Many different types of materials can be laser marked, including:
What Kinds of Marks image created using https://deepai.org/ Laser marking Is used in many industries including automotive, aeronautics, energy, metallurgy, medical, agriculture, agri-food, defense, electronics, railway, lifting and public works, mechanics, motorcycles, heavy trucks and numerous others. Laser marking can be used to create a variety of marks, including:
Types of Laser Marking Examples of Laser Marking. Image created by https://deepai.org/machine-learning-model/text2img There are several types of laser marking that can be done, including:
What Industries is Laser Marking Most Commonly Used?Laser marking is used in a wide range of industries, including:
There are lots Steel Stamps and Dies available off-the-shelf to meet many of your everyday needs. But when you need something custom or unique, it's good to know that we can have that made for you too! Here are some things to things you should know about steel stamps and dies.  An example of a stamping die Steel stamps and marking dies are custom engineered for identifying a variety of industrial products. Every die blank is machined to the user's specifications. Custom dies satisfy any user requirement for marking machines, punch presses, press brakes and other machines. Custom stamps can be made for marking on flat, curved, concave or convex surfaces - for stamping part numbers, patent numbers, trade names, trademarks, special lettering or other data. Embossing DiesSteel embossing and coining dies are most often used in the sheet metal industry
Roll DiesFor marking parts being machined on an engine lathe, turret lathe or screw machine, these rolls can be made for one or more lines of interchangeable type, or with combinations of solid logotypes and individual characters.
Steel roll dies offer users a number of advantages. One of the most apparent advantages of steel is life span. Steel is a durable material that offers users a long service life, making steel roll dies a cost effective solution. Steel roll dies also create clear, permanent marks and are strong enough to mark a wide range of materials such as metal, plastic and wood. Custom Steel Stamps, Inserts, Segments and DiesYou can also get custom steel stamps, steel inserts, steel segments, shank stamps and various stamping dies that allow you to direct part mark just about anything. Custom stamps, inserts, and segments can be made for marking on flat, curved, concave or convex surfaces - for stamping part numbers, patent numbers, trade names, trademarks, special lettering or other data. This video shows how Monolith Knives use metal dies and a press to put a makers mark into a knife blank before hardening the blade steel.
 Marking 5 Lines of Code on Precast Concrete: Oil Crayons Versus EBS-260 Hand-Held Inkjet Printer The HandJet EBS 260 provides reimagined features and functionality for even more innovative, portable coding. The EBS-260’s print height has been doubled to 32 dots with print heights up to 2.2″ and will provide one to four separate lines of code. EBS has increased the capacity of the ink cartridge to up to 200,000 characters in a 7×5 matrix. Single- or multi-line messages from .276″ to 2.2″ high can be printed on both porous and non-porous substrates. It’s ideal for imprinting corrugated, paper, film, foil, glass, metal, lumber, concrete, and many other surfaces. At slightly-over 3.5-lb. the unit features a new redesigned hand grip improved ergonomic grip contours to ensure that handling is comfortable and well- balanced. In the video below, the portable, lightweight EBS-260 marks a 2.2” high pre-programmed text and the printer's built-in laser guidance ensure precise message positioning. The EBS-260 features a touch-screen controller, with a 3.5"-diagonal, hardened screen, enables the user to view the message being printed and make on-the-fly text adjustments. A big thank you to Oldcastle Infrastructure, an industry leader in engineered building solutions, in Elgin, IL. for this video.  Reiner, a marking and coding solutions provider, is excited to announce the Reiner 1025 Sense as an all-in-one solution for scanning, processing and printing data. There are three ways to utilize this one-of-a-kind technology:
All of these options include the ability to print barcodes, alphanumeric text, live date and time, sequential numbering & graphics and the unit can store up to 255 imprints at one time. Print up to 1” x 3 1/2”. AMI has proudly been a partner with and distributor of Reiner handheld thermal inkjet printers for over 40 years. “We are ecstatic to be able to offer new innovation to our customers that will make their process and production more efficient,” said Stephanie Mear, COO of Automated Marking Inc. “We have always said that Reiner products represent German engineering at its finest, but the 1025 Sense shows that they are also innovation at its finest. We believe no other product provides the kind of lifetime value like our Reiner line of thermal handheld inkjet printers,” Mear concluded.  Several of the manufacturers that we represent will be displaying their products and introducing some technology at the International Manufacturing Technology Show September 12-17 in Chicago. If you are heading to the show be sure to stop and visit our friends at:
 Leading Marks is honored to announce the addition of Honeywell scanning solutions to our industrial solutions product mix. Honeywell makes barcode scanning easy! That’s why Honeywell barcode readers are plug and play with industry-leading scan performance, making even the most difficult-to-read barcodes look good. From warehouse supply chains, manufacturing, to hospital patient care, Honeywell barcode scanners are purpose-built for the demands of your business. This includes:
This article is originally from Technomark entitled: "What Is Dot Peen Marking? Ask anyone inside the industrial manufacturing industry – part-marking is crucial to component traceability when working with large quantities.
The Basics of Dot Peen MarkingIf you took apart a Dot Peen machine, one of the most important components you would find is a carbide or diamond-tip stylus. The Dot peen process is considered a “low-stress” marking method because the mark is generated via material displacement rather than material removal. The carbide stylus strikes the material surface to produce the mark via a series of cold-formed stamped dots. Compared to Laser Marking Systems, Dot Peen does not induce thermal shock to the part surface since the material is cold-stamped rather than super-heated to produce the mark. Dot Peen systems are commonly used by manufacturers in the aerospace and oil & gas industries where low-stress marking is required, such as tubular and flow control products that are exposed to extreme pressure differential in the oilfield. Dot Peen marking is viable for material hardness up to 63 HRC. Typically, when a part hardness is greater than 63 HRC, laser marking systems are recommended. All of Technomark’s Dot Peen machines rely on an electromagnetic solenoid to actuate the marking stylus. Dots are plotted in an X/Y plane via electronic control for precise placement of the Dot pattern. Using electromagnetic force versus pneumatic also provides a greater level of control of both the depth of the mark as well as the ability to mark contoured or complex surface. Dot Peen Marking: Component Traceability In ActionDot Peen marking machines are utilized in almost every industrial-goods manufacturing operation, including:
While these machines can run in-line and handle large quantities in an automated production environment, most are operated manually using a battery pack to go mobile.
Whether the part has a curved, wavy, or complex geometry, the stylus will follow the contour of the marking surface while maintaining a constant depth of marking throughout. When structural integrity is crucial, Dot Peen marking provides a low-stress marking solution that removes no material when marking the part. Why Choose Dot Peen MarkingOne of the biggest benefits of a Dot Peen Marking Machine is its ability to efficiently produce marks compared to other marking systems. Other benefits of Dot Peen machines include:
New and exciting dot peen innovations have just been introduced! Be on the lookout for machines that feature:
 PITTSBURGH, PA. - Leading Marks LLC has been appointed as a manufacturers agent for Technomark North America in the territories of Pennsylvania, Western New York and Western Maryland effective May 1, 2022. Technomark North America specializes in traceability solutions and industrial marking equipment, supplying laser and dot peen marking machines for production lines across the globe. Technomark has been operating and supplying expertise with industrial marking equipment since 2000. In 2018, Technomark established a direct OEM presence in the USA with the opening of Technomark North America. According to Laurie Barcasky, "I've been watching this company evolve over the past few years and I must admit that the the dot peen marker from Technomark is pretty sweeeeet. It's bluetooth compatible, battery operated and the controller will work with both marking heads and can be used as bench model as well! There is nothing like it on the market! We can't wait to start showcasing this product to our customer!" Today, Technomark North America is the only OEM of dot peen and laser marking systems with USA headquarters located in the south-central United States. Technomark has become the fastest-growing brand of permanent marking systems in the Americas region. Their centralized location allows them to lower your total cost of ownership (TCO) by reducing shipping costs and delivery lead times. Technomark has been at the forefront of industrial marking innovation, developing machines for seamless integration in manufacturing processes. Leading Marks LLC Consultive ApproachYour relationship with Leading Marks and Technomark North America shouldn’t be limited to a strict supplier-to-customer interaction. Both companies share a value in communication above all else, which is why our combined team is dedicated to finding ways to solve your traceability challenges through a consultative process.
At Leading Marks we provide for Technomark North America customers:
See the latest technology for thermal printing 4-color labels. The MAX Bepop printer allows you to print label kits for automated work cells and cuts them as well. The complimentary Letatwin printer enhances your wire marking with plastic tubing and labels for terminal blocks.  Join Leading Mark on Tuesday May 3 in Kersey, PA or Thursday May 5 in Erie, PA from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm for the Manufacturing Advanced Expo showcasing the latest advancements in automation technology, robotics, manufacturing, and how they affect and compliment the skilled workforce in northwest Pennsylvania. Vendors will demonstrate the latest manufacturing technology for a smarter and more productive shop floor. Educational sessions will highlight advanced technology and applications. In addition to the MAX Bepop and Letatwin printers on display in our booth, you can also learn about the full range of industrial identification solutions available from Leading Marks. This includes direct-part marking lasers, dot peen, and impact marking, handheld and in-line ink systems and industrial equipment such as air filtration, soldering irons and work benches.
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