Assembly Innovations: Device Reads Data Matrix Codes Through Paint
Researchers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, AL) have developed a way to read Data Matrix codes even if they are obscured by paint or coatings. The technique enables a scanner to read the 2D codes through as many as six layers of paint, or a total coating thickness of 15 mils.
The technique requires that the Data Matrix code be printed on the part with a magnetic material. A specially designed scanner can then read the code either optically or magnetically.