I've been playing with marking prints (DataMatrix) for traceability for quite some time and it turns out some inks embed into the first layer permanently while remaining easy to wipe down from the print-bed 💡 Who could use this? Or should we go RFID instead? 🤔

Thats a really fascinating technique Jo. I would have assumed inking on the top layer would make more sense but I suspect thats more prone to bleed and you get cleaner imprint this way. The killer application here Ive been looking for is automating part serialization. Not just on a per part basis but truly integrating a spreadsheet/ database feed similar to a mail merge function. 💪

This is the biggest productivity cheat code right now. Kiss reading documents goodbye. You can get an instant summary of any document with this tool.

It’s a cool implementation, but I still think that RFID would be better

I wonder if the same thing could be done with an ink jet head. That would be soooooo cool. Printable first layer.

Can you ink at any layer? Then could make a 3d watermark? Especially if it is a metalic ink.

I think there are justifiable use cases for both.

Sequential serialization is something just being implemented into metal 3D nesting softwares. Extremely useful for tracing back to the exact position on the build plate.

Cool idea. I’ve been embedding NFC discs into prints along with 2 color printing and it’s addicting.

Cool idea, but how permanent is it really? Can it compete to uv printing the mark on it?

I build a lot of enclosures for electronics projects. This would generally be very useful if it was something i could adapt my Mk4 to do. Clip the pen on the head, setup the pen in the slicer and have the printer tell me to add and remove the pen.

You should go RFID just for user base convenience. The ink stuff is just a mod that any printer can get. RFID is a harder mod, yet convenient. You can even rethink the whole RFID process by using something simpler that does not involve RFID tags… *cough* QR codes *cough* 😎