Bumpy Bar Codes can be used where printed labels will not adhere, or will be otherwise destroyed by a hostile or abrasive environment. They can be painted or coated and still be read. They can be made a permanent feature of a part, making mislabeling impossible, and reducing labeling costs to zero. A given material must first reflect enough of the red laser light of the reader to be detected by the reader's camera. Second, the material must be capable of being formed into a suitable Bumpy Bar Code.
Most materials easily meet the first criterion.
Materials to be wary of include clear materials and extremely shiny materials, such as polished stainless steel. Even in these materials, Bumpy Bar Codes may be usable if the surface can be roughened to a matte finish. Contact a Mecco Application Engineer before proceeding with difficult materials. Almost all materials can be formed into Bumpy Bar Codes, but some can be impractical because of the time required or because of the hardness of the material. Some processes require adjusting the Bumpy Bar Code dimensions to achieve a readable bar code.