Most profile cutting machines are equipped with a marking device and Line Marking is an inbuilt feature of FastCAM. It is frequently used for marking the reference lines for bending, welding, as well as center points for drilling.

You can create a 'Text Entity' within the FastCAM drawing program which is useful for visually identifying parts on a nest however if you want to permanently mark the plate at the time of processing you need to purchase the TextMarker software program. Uniquely, it uses stroked characters with minimal machine movement to mark letters and numbers onto parts. Very useful for lasers and a real boon for plasma machines with plasma markers.

The technology utilizes a low power plasma torch to write directly onto cut components. Users simply need to add the required text at the CAD stage or within the FastCAM drawing editor and the process will automatically add text to all components within the nest. It is similar in concept to the BUGE character generator in the older ESAB controls but exists in every postprocessor so that every machine can mark if it has a line marking device. The font is actually a FastCAM drawing and the font itself is our own 'stick' font. It is copyright and available only to FastCAM customers under their user licence.

TextMarker aims to :

- have automatic marking from any text on the part, including the name
- make this marking as fast as possible, preferably without head lifts
- have the whole thing seamless in the postprocessor.

In addition to needing FastCAM®, a suitable Plasma torch or other marking device will need to be fitted to the Burning machine. Some users have fitted marking pens to the normal torch station for extremely good results where a semi permanent mark is required such as with Aluminium or Stainless Steels. This technique is also useful for Carbon steel where the surface finish is very good.

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