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Individual part traceability for anodizing

Our company has recently acquired a Purchase Order to refurbish some aluminum aircraft parts, this refurbishment includes stripping the parts of their Chromic Anodizing, re-working them to their dimensional requirements, and then re-anodizing them.

The problem is that they are in four piece matched sets and are serialized, and must maintain individual part traceability thru out these processes. The parts cannot be engraved or steel stamped. I have heard about "plating tags" that can be placed on the individual parts and can withstand the plating process, but have not been unable to locate a source. The parts have holes that would easily facilitate the use of such a tag. I have been told by one source that we could use aluminum wire with an aluminum tag, but have also been told that such a wire could cause an arc or burn on the part. I was hoping that I could find some type of plastic tag that would avoid this problem. The anodizing will be performed by an outside source and I would really like to insure the traceability of the parts prior to them leaving our facility. If anyone could suggest ideas or possible sources, I would appreciate it.

John Harper
- Hazel Green, Alabama
2004

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I've never tried it to see if they stand up to the chemicals, but couldn't you just use plastic zip ties of different colors and lengths?

Jim Gorsich
Compton, California, USA
2004

Consider marking their places on the rack (either by engraving or tagging the portions of the rack). This is more efficient especially if you have to run multiple batches.

Dado Macapagal
- Toronto, Ont., California
2004