As a part of the industry's automated production process, the magnetic stripe machine is an indispensable component in the production process of products such as smart cards and electronic tags, and the magnetic stripe is welded on PET/PVC/paper cards. The choice of machine affects production efficiency and qualification rate. We have invested more than ten years in the research and development of magnetic stripe machines. With the competitive advantages of servo drive and precise temperature control, its customers are located in more than 50 countries around the world, serving more than 2,000 international customers. This article aims to systematically solve the buyer's confusion through several aspects such as performance, adaptability, and avoidance.
The performance stability of the magnetic stripe machine directly affects the quality of mass production. Therefore, when purchasing, we should focus on the five core indicators for accurate evaluation.
The welding accuracy depends on the positioning. For best results, the best magnetic stripe machines must be driven by servo motors. This gives them the necessary control over operation, running, speed, and length control. And the welding position error must be within ±0.3 mm. It is recommended to check the motor brand, such as Panasonic and Siemens, and test the stability in the speed range of 10-50 m/min. The length control parameters must also be made public.
Magnetic strip welding is affected by temperature changes. If the temperature is too high, the substrate may be deformed and lose its demagnetization. If the temperature is too low, the substrate is prone to false welding, blistering, and other phenomena. The advanced process equipment adopts a heating tube and imported temperature control module; the temperature control accuracy can reach ±1℃, the temperature can be controlled quickly, and it can be adjusted according to different substrates (PET180-220℃, PVC150-180℃).
Different sizes of magnetic strips and substrates require different temperatures and pressures. For this reason, high-end equipment uses magnetic stripe laying heads, and operators can independently set the temperature and pressure, and there is no need to shut down the entire system when the specifications change. Therefore, it is essential to verify the adjustment mechanism of pressure (0.1-0.5 MPa) and temperature (0-300℃) and its range and stability.
Welding stability is fundamental. Good quality equipment can run 24 hours a day with a defect rate of ≤0.1%. When purchasing, it is necessary to continuously test for 4 hours to check the peeling strength and flatness. It is best to use a floating welding head to accommodate fluctuations in the thickness of the substrate.
The magnetic stripe machine must complete the welding and cutting tasks at the same time. For high-end equipment, the cutting accuracy is ±0.5 mm, and the incision is flat and burr-free. When purchasing, the length error must be evaluated, and the cutting stability of 50 pieces per minute must be verified. It is best to choose equipment with an automatic sharpening function to reduce maintenance costs.
The characteristics of PET, PVC, paper cards, and other cards are quite different, and this difference must be considered when purchasing a magnetic stripe machine. The following are the core adaptation suggestions.
PET is resistant to high temperatures, has high hardness and good rigidity, but has high requirements for temperature control uniformity and cutting accuracy. When selecting the model, the equipment with temperature control of ±1℃ should be selected first, and the hard alloy cutter should be equipped at the same time, and the cutting pressure can be adjusted to 0.3-0.5 MPa. It is recommended to use silicone for the feeding roller to avoid scratches.
PVC is flexible, which is very beneficial, but its thermal stability is poor, and bubbles are easily generated during welding. In addition to paying attention to the model, it is also necessary to ensure that the independent pressure regulation of the paving head is 0.1-0.3 MPa and the welding temperature is accurately controlled at 150-180℃ (response time ≤2 s). The thickness range of the equipment is preferably 0.1-1.0 mm.
Considering the soft material, low strength, easy wrinkling, and easy damage of paper cards, this poses a challenge to the paper feeding system and temperature control system. The paper feeding roller system proposed by the customer preferably adopts a servo motor, with a paper feeding speed range of 5-30 m/min. The paper feeding roller is made of anti-slip rubber material to prevent damage to the surface of the paper card. The temperature controller of the paper feeding mechanism should be within the range of 120 degrees Celsius to avoid carbonization of the paper card. The cutting technique of the playing cards is very important. A cutting pressure range of 0.1-0.2 MPa is recommended, and the use of thin, sharp cutting blades will help to leave smooth, tear-free edges on the cards. To ensure the equipment is well adapted, it is recommended to use cards of various weights ranging from 80 to 200 g for on-site testing.
The details that are most easily overlooked and may lead to selection failure in global procurement. These details should be avoided.
Some manufacturers, in order to attract attention, promote "highly automated" equipment, but in fact, these devices often only complete a single welding function; feeding, cutting, and other links still need manual intervention and ultimately produce equipment that is "highly automated" but still needs manual intervention. A good magnetic stripe machine can fully realize automatic feeding, welding, cutting, and other processes, and can be connected with the production line. Therefore, when purchasing equipment, it is best to inspect the entire process of feeding, welding, cutting, and finished product stacking to see if it meets the requirements of process automation.
Many manufacturers claim "compatibility with all substrates and magnetic strips," but in fact they only adapt to basic specifications. When purchasing, remember to ask the manufacturer for a detailed compatibility list and recommended tests. The thickness of the substrate (0.1-1.2 mm), width (50-300 mm), magnetic strip (3-20 mm width), compatibility of the substrate and magnetic strip, etc. should be tested to solve the compatibility problems that may occur in the later stage. For enterprises with unique specifications, choose Shenzhen manufacturers that support customization to make the equipment meet the production needs.
The timeliness of after-sales service is crucial for the "magnetic stripe machine" after shipment. This is because equipment sold overseas sometimes cannot enjoy a fully integrated service network, resulting in production stagnation. This in turn affects the response speed of after-sales service. This includes the location of the manufacturer's overseas service network, such as service centers in Europe and Southeast Asia, after-sales response time (≤24 hours), remote technical support, and preferably English operation manuals and video tutorials. In response to this, our company has set up 8 service outlets around the world to ensure on-site maintenance services within 48 hours. This fully guarantees the continuity of the customer's production.
Due to the new global environmental protection policies, high-energy-consuming and uncertified equipment may be restricted. This is something to look out for when purchasing equipment, as well as new energy consumption policies, with equipment power recommended to be less than 3 kW. Choosing energy-saving motors and heating tubes can help reduce monthly operating costs. In addition, it is very important for the equipment to have international certifications such as CE and UL so that the equipment can meet the environmental protection, health, and safety standards of the target market and will not be rejected by the market.
In this regard, magnetic stripe machines help to improve overseas competitiveness, especially in China. More specifically, it is the competitiveness of Shenzhen, the global procurement center of "magnetic stripe machines." In this regard, procurement needs to focus on the three core comprehensive assessments of performance, adaptability, and after-sales service. Our products have seven core comprehensive advantages in various indicators and have passed CE and UL certification standards. Our customers are located in more than 50 countries. Welcome to customize solutions or other consultations! The parameters have been recorded for your convenience, and the maintenance manual will be provided later.
We are a local Shenzhen enterprise, and our magnetic stripe machine has seven core advantages: servo precision feeding, imported temperature control, and independent paving head adjustment. Thru CE and UL certification, serving customers in more than 50 countries and regions. If you want to know more about the equipment specifications or a customized quotation, please contact us. We are writing a "Daily Maintenance Manual for Magnetic Stripe Machines," which will be published on our website to help our international customers reduce the failure rate of equipment. Stay tuned.
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