Monitoring embossment depth

Embossed serial numbers enable worldwide unambiguous identification of, for example, car body shells. For increased safety measures (e.g. in case of theft), car body IDs are punched into the vehicle frame. Therefore, the depth of the embossment is a critical factor.

This is why embossing machines operate using optoNCDT 1420 laser triangulation sensors from Micro-Epsilon. These determine the precise distance between the embossing tool and the component. Based on these distance values, the tool can be positioned correctly. After the embossment is finished, the sensor measures the profile of the embossment and ensures that all characters are embossed to the required depth.