Marker-Free, Single Item Traceability in Gear Wheel Production Based on Inherent Surface Patterns

In this work the application of Track & Trace via Fingerprint developed by Fraunhofer IPM to gear wheels was investigated. Track & Trace via Fingerprint is an image-based, marker-free identification technology for identification on single item level. It employs the surface microstructure as a unique identifier. The results of feasibility studies for two industrial use cases are presented. Optical setups as well as image processing routines were developed to carry out several experiments. The main finding is that Track & Trace via Fingerprint is well suited for gear wheels and parts are safely identified on single item level without any marker. In use-case 1 the identification was successful demonstrated for 20 automotive gear wheels also over a hardening process, which changed the surface slightly. In use-case 2 almost 100 rotationally symmetric micro gears were successfully tracked on their curved side face, even including heat treatment and grinding processes.