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parts labeling systems Pages: 12

calairematt on Thu February 05, 2004 2:51 PM User is offlineView users profile

Anyone know of an easy way of labeling hundreds of parts and doing it quick... at least on the printing and inputting of numbers... I currently have The Print Shop and it is just really tedious and time consuming to each number separatly and an ink jet printer is super slow with 30 labels a page


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Matt

Independent shop parts and airconditioning specialist.

Stevo30 on Thu February 05, 2004 3:13 PM User is offline

I just bought myself a Brady TLS2200 thermal labeling printer. I use it for cable and parts labeling. It also can do bar coding, but I've never used it for that. It can even do data plates for equipment if that's important to you. I have been thinking of using it for doing retrofit labels. I've done the ball point and preprinted label bit, but they usually don't survive the first engine cleaning. Brady also has a software package available that allows you to build the label on your PC and then just download it to the printer. I've got the software, but just haven't had time to load and use it. Maybe take the book with me to Cancun as a distraction from the bikini watching. Well, maybe not...

The TLS is a professional type of printer so it isn't cheap ($500 is a decent price), but I've been through ink jet and laser label phase. My big problems were with the ink or toner getting rubbed off or washing away with solvent. With the thermal labeler, the print is as stable as the label material. If you need extreme solvent resistance, you can buy appropriate material. If you can get by with a vinyl or paper label, that's available too. For a lot less money per label...

Print time is quick. I would imagine it takes 5 seconds or so per label. Usually takes me longer to get the label off of the backing paper than the printing cycle. It does take a little time to get familiar with how the keyboard works. Mostly how to use the fancy function keys to change font size and styles. No big deal now, but I did get a little frustrated with it the first few times. I think that using the PC based software would have taken care of a lot of that hassle. But I tend to think that I'll use it more as a portable on-the-job printer than attached to my PC.

I looked at Panduit and T&B component and wire labelers, but they aren't as easy to get supplies for as the Brady is. At least in my area. And label availability will likely be more important to you long term than the initial price, IMO...

Hope this helps!


Stevo30

calairematt on Thu February 05, 2004 3:24 PM User is offlineView users profile

What about just inputting a list and qty of labels and telling it to print and .... viola pages and pages of labels for multiple part #'s and thier individual qty's is that possible... .. over here we label everything.. every fitting, every oring package,every drier, and every compressor. I mean everything...even books. i have a label on me right now...

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Matt

Independent shop parts and airconditioning specialist.

TXAB on Thu February 05, 2004 3:40 PM User is offline

If you've got Microsoft Excel, Lotus 123 or even Microsoft Works on your computer, you could build a simple database. From there you could print all or print selectively. There is, of course, inventory software that can be bought and used to print labels as well. TRB probably has an answer, I'm sure he must print inventory labels for his place.

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TRB on Thu February 05, 2004 4:09 PM User is offlineView users profile

I use Linux so I can't do anything!!! That will get our friends BigChris and K5 going.

Warehouse uses a simple label maker program and I use MS Word with a laser printer. Used to use a thermal printer but it died and labels were a little costly. In word I select the Avery layout and insert the number as many as I need on a sheet. Usually fill the sheet and save it for the dbase. If I have a half sheet I just remove the number on those labels. Same with the program the warehouse uses but they X out the certain label.

PS: Unless you have no other option I would not be using a inkjet for labels.

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k5guy on Thu February 05, 2004 4:30 PM User is offline

Here is a utility Chris and I can use:

http://www.kbarcode.net/

Here is a driver for using a barcode reader.

Here is a database system that supports barcode readers.

Nope, not much software for us to use.



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TRB on Thu February 05, 2004 4:59 PM User is offlineView users profile

We were talking Label Makers. Now we are on to bar codes!!!! You Linux guys always have to change something!!!

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Contact: ACKits.com

bohica2xo on Thu February 05, 2004 9:03 PM User is offline

This one has always worked well for me....

Parts & Vendors

I have used it for several years now in manufacturing - it may be overkill for repair parts stock.

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"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

Bigchris on Thu February 05, 2004 9:45 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: TRB
We were talking Label Makers. Now we are on to bar codes!!!! You Linux guys always have to change something!!!
It sure is a struggle to drag you Windows guys into the 21st century but those branding irons you've been using are going to wear out one day.

TRB on Thu February 05, 2004 9:48 PM User is offlineView users profile

We still rub sticks together to create a fire for our heat source.

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Bigchris on Thu February 05, 2004 11:17 PM User is offline

Really? K5 and I thought you were trying to rub us.

~|

k5guy on Fri February 06, 2004 12:08 AM User is offline

Actually, I was going to be nice and post an accounting system that might work for you, Tim. Hmmmm, should I?

Ok, here it is. Linux double ledger system

Sigh. If you really want a label maker.....The kbarcode package I posted earlier will print labels. If you had a Linux system, it's really easy to code your own.


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TRB on Fri February 06, 2004 12:17 AM User is offlineView users profile

Accounting is important but we need a bill of materials package also.

Here is a link to the modules for mas90. We don't use all of them but do use the core modules.


http://www.bestsoftwareinc.com/mas90/pdf/default.asp

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Edited: Fri February 06, 2004 at 12:17 AM by TRB

k5guy on Fri February 06, 2004 1:24 AM User is offline


It seems that the package I mentioned has it. It's called the assembly feature.



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NickD on Fri February 06, 2004 9:11 AM User is offline

The wrecking yards around here use a yellow grease pencil.

Bigchris on Fri February 06, 2004 10:00 AM User is offline

Here too! Wish I'd thought of that. And it doesn't have a registry!

NickD on Fri February 06, 2004 12:02 PM User is offline

In general, labeling and packaging is becoming a pain in the butt when they put those super sticky labels on the good side of oak moldings or trying to scrape the label off a new non-stick Teflon frying pan. One store labels individual nuts and bolts and you can spend hours trying to pull the labels off. The plastic used on shrink wrap is tougher than what its covering and difficult to peel off without wrecking that cheap piece of junk its covering. I purchased some exhaust gaskets with a real tough plastic label on those, almost wrecked the gaskets trying to peel those off.

The tag number on my Dell computer fell off. To get my dogs OFA certified they have to be injected with a microchip, my turn is next.

The latest technology appears to be laser printing, I had the chance to view a first rate diamond and couldn't even find the registration number using the standard X10 viewing, but it was clear and beautiful printing about 2 mils high on the X50 range. They are also laser etching electronic components now, and have to hold them in the light just right to read them. The rear of my entertainment center components is all black print on a black surface, I cuss in that dark corner trying to read them.

Would be nice under that dark dash if they would say what a module is for instead of some strange bar coded number, with many all about the same size all jammed together, can't tell one from the other. So I mark them with a yellow grease pencil.

Bigchris on Fri February 06, 2004 10:13 PM User is offline

Nick, are you aware that WalMart has placed a requirement on all its suppliers that all merchandise will carry RFtags for automatic POS scanning and inventory control? Similar setup to that used for dogs and cats.

What a boon for the b-girls who care what kind of underwear you're wearing before accepting a drink. It should also make possible a sock alarm in case you inadvertantly have a mismatch. Ain't American technology grand?!

k5guy on Fri February 06, 2004 11:51 PM User is offline

Yea, now the FBI can verify that you wear different underwear every day!



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Bigchris on Sat February 07, 2004 1:25 AM User is offline

It'll unleash the full potential of Windows!

Say K5, I wonder if we could trademark the name "Shades"? I think that name has a lot of potential future value!

k5guy on Sat February 07, 2004 11:48 AM User is offline

Yea, think of the millions we could rake in. Then there is "porthole". Imagine all the licensing fees we could get from anyone that owns a ship or a boat!

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