No abstract

A new approach of data recording during manufacturing is to store information directly on machine components. This way, the components may serve as their own information carrier throughout the whole manufacturing process, and later in the working cycle. Such a concept is called “gentelligent” (for genetically intelligent) and aims at allowing to inherit fabrication and application data to the product's next generation. This requires a new kind of machine parts, which are capable for collecting, preprocessing, and storing information (e.g. temperature and forces during use of the component) on their surface. For storing the required information, proven principles of the peripheral magnetic data recording including inductive writing and a magneto‐optical readout are applied. The storage medium used is a material developed recently: “magnetic magnesium”, i.e. magnesium filled with hard magnetic particles. To allow a magneto‐optical readout based on the Magneto‐optical Kerr Effect (MOKE), bulk material is covered with a soft magnetic layer, called a keeper layer. The keeper layer is supplied to generate a homogeneous magnetic and reflective surface which is not provided by pure “magnetic magnesium”. This paper describes the development of the recording system. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

A new approach on tracking components throughout the entire manufacturing processes is to apply magnetic recording technology to storing key production data on the component itself. The system investigated uses "magnetic magnesium", i.e. a magnesium matrix filled with hard magnetic particles. For storing the data, a classic inductive write head, consisting of a soft magnetic ring core with a write gap in the flux path and a coil for creating the magnetic flux is chosen. For an application in a machine environment, readout has to be done at a distance. On approach of such non-contact readout, an advantage of the Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE), which senses the direction of magnetization of a reflecting surface, is to be taken. As in the case of data storage, information is encoded in the magnetization pattern of data tracks.