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ScribersScribers are hand or machine operated tools used to etch or engrave permanent lines and markings in industrial products. Also known as stylus markers, these devices can be used before, during or after manufacturing processes. In a pre-production context scribers are used to mark lines on the materials and unfinished work pieces. These lines serve as guides for the machining processes that follow. While pencils and inks may also be used for this purpose, scribing with a laser or metal implement produces permanent templates that are not prone to erasure during machining operations. Portable, table top, and workbench scriber models are available to suit the needs of the many industries that employ them. Automotive, heavy machinery, petroleum, aeronautical, electronics, health and safety, semi-conductor, medical, military, agricultural, food packaging, energy, dental and construction manufacturing all implement this particular device in several applications. Integrated scribers have a modular design that allows their use as fixed or adjustable assembly line features. These tools can permanently and accurately mark stainless steel, iron, copper, aluminum, wood, plastics and ceramic surfaces that are flat, curved, convex, concave, irregular and delicate. For this reason, and others, scribers are used in surface markings for logos, VIN coded, machine components and serial numbering. There are two basic types of scribers, those that use a metal pin and laser scribers. Laser scribers offer high resolution lines that consist of a series of small holes produced by energy pulses. Considerations when choosing a laser scriber include wavelength, beam size and divergence, operating current and temperature range. While this type of scribe is growing in capabilities and use, metal point scribers are more common. These machines use one of two methods. Drop and drag technology simply presses the high-carbon steel stylus into a surface and drags it along the desired path while applying uniform pressure to create a continuous and extremely clear mark. Micro percussion systems are computer guided and use a steel stylus that vibrates several thousand pulses per second to produce clear markings. While drop and drag machines have the option of computer programming, it is an essential component of micro percussion. Industrial stylus and laser scribers are often quite large and commonly mounted on fixed or adjustable apparatus, though mobile machines are also available for diverse operations. Hand operated, semi-automatic and fully automatic models increase the flexibility offered by these machines. It is important to consider the material to be marked as well as the desired depth and thickness of the mark when selecting the proper marking machinery.
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