文档介绍：NOT MEASUREMENT
SENSITIVE

NASA-HDBK-6003
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration JULY 2, 2001

APPLICATION OF DATA MATRIX
IDENTIFICATION SYMBOLS TO AEROSPACE
PARTS USING DIRECT PART MARKING
METHODS/TECHNIQUES

NASA TECHNICAL HANDBOOK

Approved for Public Release – Distribution is Unlimited
NASA-HDBK-6003
July 2, 2001
FOREWORD

This handbook is approved for use by NASA Headquarters and all NASA Centers and is
intended to provide mon framework for consistent practices across NASA programs.

Recognizing that manual data collection and keyed data entry were inefficient and error-prone,
NASA adopted bar code in the mid 1980’s to upgrade its operations. It soon became apparent
that collecting the identity of the part from a symbol marked directly on it would be optimal. Bar
codes were determined to not be suitable for direct part marking (DPM). NASA established a
team to work with industry to develop and test machine-readable two-dimensional (2-D) symbols
designed to be applied to non-paper substrates. This 5-year effort resulted in selecting the Data
Matrix symbol for use in NASA applications and provided proof that 2-D symbols are reliable and
can be applied to most aerospace materials without impacting performance. NASA findings
spurred additional testing by the Department of Defense (DOD) and private industry that resulted
in selecting the Data Matrix symbol for parts marking by the Automated Identification
Manufacturers (AIM) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Additional part
marking standards quickly followed as the automotive, electronics, pharmaceutical, and aircraft
industries adopted the symbol.

These industries, including NASA, have relied heavily on the use of cast, forge or mold,
engraving; electrical arc pencil; electrical-chemical etch; embossing; hot stamp; rubber ink
stamp; stencil and silk screen; vibration-etch