System and method for integrally serializing a cast part

Abstract

A method of serializing a cast part includes providing a mold for a metal casting, with the mold including an inner face partially defining a part cavity; laser engraving a representation of the two-dimensional data matrix into the inner face of the mold; and forming a serialized part by pouring molten metal into the part cavity of the mold, where the molten metal fills the part cavity including the engraved representation of the two-dimensional data matrix. The two-dimensional data matrix being generated by an electronic controller and includes error correcting information and part identifying information.

1 . A method of serializing a cast part comprising:
 providing a mold for a metal casting, the mold including an inner face partially defining a part cavity;   generating, using an electronic controller, a two-dimensional data matrix, the two-dimensional data matrix including error correcting information, and part identifying information;   laser engraving a substantially mirror image representation of the two-dimensional data matrix into the inner face of the mold to a depth of between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 1.5 mm;   laser engraving alphanumeric part identifying information into the inner face of the mold proximate to the engraved representation of the two-dimensional data matrix, the two-dimensional data matrix further including the alphanumeric part identifying information; and   forming a serialized part by pouring molten metal into the part cavity of the mold, the molten metal filling the part cavity including the engraved representation of the two-dimensional data matrix and the alphanumeric part identifying information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the error correcting information is generated according to a Reed-Solomon Error Correcting Code. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the part identifying information includes a part serial number and a part model identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the part identifying information further includes a manufacturing location identifier and a manufacturing date identifier. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising storing the part serial number in a computer readable database. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising monitoring at least one manufacturing parameter associated with the forming of the serialized part;
 storing the at least one monitored manufacturing parameter in the computer readable database; and   associating the stored part serial number with the at least one stored manufacturing parameter.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one monitored manufacturing parameter includes at least one of a mold temperature and cooling rate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional data matrix is a QR Code generated according to ISO/IEC 18004:2006. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional data matrix is a Data Matrix ECC200 Code generated according to ISO/IEC 16022:2006. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mold includes sand and a bonding agent. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A system for serializing a cast part comprising:
 a mold for a creating a cast metal part, the mold including an inner face partially defining a part cavity;   an electronically controlled laser engraving device configured to selectively engrave the inner face of the mold;   an electronic controller configured to:
 generate a two-dimensional data matrix, the two-dimensional data matrix including error correcting information, and part identifying information; 
 control the laser engraving device to engrave a representation of the two-dimensional data matrix into the inner face of the mold; and 
   wherein the engraved mold is used to form a serialized cast part having an integrally formed two-dimensional data matrix upon receipt of molten metal within the part cavity.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the part identifying information includes a part serial number and a part model identifier. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the mold is a single use mold configured to form a single cast part, and wherein the serial number is unique to the single use mold. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the single use mold includes sand and a bonding agent. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the two-dimensional data matrix is a QR Code generated according to ISO/IEC 18004:2006. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the two-dimensional data matrix is a Data Matrix ECC200 Code generated according to ISO/IEC 16022:2006. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the laser engraving device to engrave the representation of the two-dimensional data matrix to a depth of between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         20 . A method of serializing a cast part comprising:
 providing a mold for a metal casting, the mold including an inner face partially defining a part cavity;   generating, using an electronic controller, a two-dimensional data matrix, the two-dimensional data matrix including error correcting information, and part identifying information, the two-dimensional data matrix including a QR Code generated according to ISO/IEC 18004:2006 or a Data Matrix ECC200 Code generated according to ISO/IEC 16022:2006;   laser engraving a substantially mirror image representation of the two-dimensional data matrix into the inner face of the mold to a depth of between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 1.5 mm;   laser engraving alphanumeric part identifying information into the inner face of the mold proximate to the engraved representation of the two-dimensional data matrix, the two-dimensional data matrix further including the alphanumeric part identifying information; and   forming a serialized part by pouring molten metal into the part cavity of the mold, the molten metal filling the part cavity including the engraved representation of the two-dimensional data matrix and the alphanumeric part identifying information.