How to laser QR Code on PCB Board

Advanced and latest marking technology includes laser coding devices. The text and patterns are etched on the product’s surface using focused laser etching technology. Laser marking, which is frequently employed in the Circuit sector, offers a number of advantages over the conventional inkjet printing approach. This includes good quality, great wear resistance, high consistency, efficiency, safety, cost savings, and dependability.

Smartphones, wearable gadgets, and such items are getting lighter and more compact. This is all because of the rapid expansion of the IT industry and increasing customer demand for more electronic goods. Refining production is also necessary. The inscription of symbols, one or two-dimensional bar code, and various data on the surface of the PCB are tracked back to achieve the highest quality assurance of the manufacturing process of the PCB. This has now become the industry’s development trend.

Due to weak wear resistance, lack of accuracy, environmental impact, and poor aesthetics, the conventional printing method is becoming more unable to meet the demands of the market for new technologies. Therefore, the PCB sector has started to use laser marking machines more frequently.

Engraving on the PCB’s surface can take the shape of a pattern drawing, corporate LOGO printing, QR code, contacts information, etc. Silk-screen printing was frequently used in the past for traditional printing. Conventional inkjet printing methods could have satisfied the market’s initial demands, yet since electronic products’ quality keeps rising, consumer expectations are also rising. This has led to an increase in the market’s demand for PCB boards with increasingly high labeling quality. 

Old-fashioned printing techniques cannot adjust to changing market demands, and their flaws are more evident, including:

1. There has weak wear resistance. The level of wear resistance indicated here does not refer to the metal’s wear resistance. This indicates that the type of ink that covers the PCB’s surface is frequently worn away, resulting in discoloration and blurring.
2. Requirements for aesthetics; because surface printing of metal has a comparatively low-end look. It is unsuitable for some items with stringent aesthetic standards, like medals, metallic business cards, elegant corporate nameplates, descriptions of handicrafts, etc. Meet their standards for looks.
3. It is crucial to utilize chemical solvents, like heavy metal components and organic solvents. These solvents contain a specific level of toxicity and can harm the silk screen process of printing employees. Additionally, some volatile chemical components progressively volatilize as the ink of screen printing dries, polluting the atmosphere and harming the environment. A number of issues with conventional printing technology have been effectively resolved by the development of fiber-laser engraving technology. High accuracy, quick speed, and consistent performance define it. 

Additionally, it just requires computer control, is easy to use, and can produce a variety of intricate characters, patterns, two-dimensional bar codes, and such. This fully satisfies the demands of high-quality markings of the current PCB industry.

Attaching PCB QR Code With the Assembly

The complexity of a QR code increases with the number of characters in the URL it redirects to. In actuality, the size of the QR code is determinable by the length and the level of error correction. However, we advise users to build a short URL that points to the authentic and original address to solve this problem. The ideal and perfect URL must not contain over twenty characters.

Generating The PCB QR Code 

Numerous websites and software allow for the creation of QR codes. The producer of the QR code must utilize the same origin going forward to renew the code to guarantee the same picture for all items. However, not each tool employs a similar encoding process. Although some online software and tools include more possibilities, the following are the most important factors to take into account when creating.

• Error correction makes it possible to identify mistakes and recreate the original and mistake-free data. M is recommended since it permits the recovery of 15% of code words.
• Color: The majority of QR reader software is set up to scan dark or black QR codes over a white backdrop. Prior to being used on silkscreen, the QR bar code must be reversed if the backdrop is dark (for example, the color of the solder mask contains red, black, green, or blue). The QR needs not to be reversed if the color of the soldering mask is white.
• Size: After import, the finished QR code must measure >0.5 in. Certain tools for converting images to DXF support resampling. If it does not, the right size of the pixel can be selected while the image is being generated.
• Margin around QR code: Although Freescale has effectively utilized a 10% margin around QR codes, 20% is the appropriate margin.
• UTF-8 recommends encoding.

Convert The PCB QR Code To DXF

It is necessary to convert the created QR code (.PNG, JPG, TIFF, etc.) to.DXF. To handle this procedure, a number of products are available in the market.

1. The coding has to be the right color according to the color of the solder mask before the picture is converted.DXF.
2. This technique helps in transferring images into shapes or vectors form.
3. The picture must adjust to fit the imported QR bar code’s final dimensions.
4. The recommended minimum size for a 5 Megapixel camera to read a QR code is about 450 mils plus a margin. The lengthier the QR bar code, the easier to scan.

Advantages & Disadvantages Of PCB QR Code 

The abbreviation QR means “quick response.” The term “QR code” itself is a 2-dimensional code that includes data in the two dimensions. It can hold 4296 characters of alphanumeric and 7089 characters of numeric code, respectively. However, with the exception of the no-zone sector, each black module in a QR code indicates one bit, and each white module has zero bits. Therefore, after scanning in the horizontal direction, the information in the QR code is determinable according to the white modules. In this post, let’s examine the benefits and drawbacks of a QR code.

Benefits Of PCB QR Code 

1. Versatility is the key benefit of a QR code.
2. QR codes help in accomplishing anything at any time.
3. Mobile phones help to scan it at any time, any place.
4. It uses less paper for advertisements. Additionally, it scans quickly from outside.
5. The elimination of the requirement to fill down a lengthy URL might benefit visually challenged pupils.
6. A simple scan can easily capture vital information, which eliminates the need for putting it down.
7. Nearly free and affordable. Additionally, it is simple to use and can incorporate any kind of media.
8. You don’t need to know how to write code to use it.
9. It keeps a lot of data and employs these codes several times.
10. A speedy reaction via QR codes is a significant additional benefit. Furthermore, there is no need for a license to develop or utilize.
11. Developing free software is simple. Using free software, a smartphone’s camera may, nevertheless, be convertible into a barcode scanner.
12. QR code proves as a quick and efficient technique to transmit information. 
13. The biggest benefit of employing a QR code is that you no longer have to print the assignment sheet.
14. Make rapid access to more information available.
15. Makes it possible for marketers to more accurately gauge reaction and ROI.
16. There are additional advantages for both consumers and companies.
17. High-speed decoding of the bar code is possible in all directions.
18. With the touch of one click, it may link readers of magazines or new papers to advertiser websites.
19. Error detection aids in reading some QR codes quickly. Additionally, even after scanning, the scanner cannot read some parts correctly.
20. The QR code possesses strong fault tolerance, just as certain 2D barcodes do. Additionally, information may still be extracted from the QR code even if a portion of it is destroyed.
21. Unlike barcode scams, QR code does not involve the generation or reception of any light.
22. QR codes store information like text, web address or a URL, phone numbers, geographical location with a geo-map, etc. As a result, it serves several purposes.

Drawbacks Of PCB QR Code 

1. People’s unfamiliarity with the QR code.
2. It is expensive for the average user to purchase and demands a smartphone to have a camera.
3. Uses a smartphone’s reliability codes. However, to scan the QR code image, users must have a camera phone and appropriate reader software. However, at the moment, just a smartphone can be theoretically able to accomplish this.
4. Compared to more basic phones, smartphones intended to scan the QR bar codes are frequently pricy and pricey.
5. A large number of people who own mobile phones but not smartphones and who own cameras are unable to obtain QR reading software on their smartphones.
6. The user lacks extensive technological knowledge.
7. To lessen skepticism, marketers must inform customers about new technologies.
8. Aksi advertising must determine the most effective way to employ the technical approach with their customers.
9. This approach uses a relatively fresh sort of barcode that requires some explanation for the user to completely grasp the idea.
10. Unlike 1-dimensional barcodes, QR codes are not very aesthetically beautiful. They comprise random arrangements of square boxes, therefore, may not look well on objects.
11. New technologies like near-field communication bring the potential for obsolescence.
12. The largest barrier to acceptance has been poor implementation and customer experience.
13. It is not always possible to follow a user’s path once they are on a site using the QR code.