Systems and methods are provided for placing non-destructive marks onto a part via an end effector of a robot. One embodiment is a system comprising an end effector of a robot. The end effector includes an extendable punch that places targets onto a part, and supports that hold a strip of reflective adhesive tape between the punch and the part. Extending the punch cuts out a target from the strip and applies an adhesive side of the target to the part, and retracting the punch leaves a reflective side of the target visible on the part.

A marker device is provided for use with a horizontally disposed CNC layout table. The device of this invention is a one-piece device for supporting a tubular ink marker tube above the surface of the layout table. The device includes means for yieldably urging the marker tip of the ink marker tube downwardly into contact with the item being marked.

A surface of a workpiece has a smooth region, and a stepped region including a step. A three-dimensional object printing method includes first print operation of ejecting liquid from a head onto the smooth region, and second print operation, antecedent to or subsequent to the first print operation, of ejecting liquid from the head onto the stepped region. The amount of change in an angle of ejection, which is angle formed by a first normal line and a second normal line, during execution of the second print operation is larger than the amount of change in the angle of ejection during execution of the first print operation. The first normal line is a line normal to the ejection face. The second normal line is a line normal to the surface of the workpiece at a point of intersection with the first normal line.

A tool including a tool surface and further including coding indicia linked, at least indirectly, with the surface of the tool, the coding indicia capable of being detected by a sensor, the coding indicia functioning as a pointer to information relating to said tool or its use.

Working equipment includes a tool configured to work a structure at a working location thereon, with the structure having an applied marking at a known location with a known relationship with the working location. A computer system is configured to determine placement of the structure, and accordingly position the tool into at least partial alignment with the working location, and which in at least one instance, the tool is aligned with a second, offset location. A camera is configured to capture an image of the structure and including the marking, and further including the second location with which the tool is aligned. And the computer system is configured to process the image to locate the working location, reposition the tool from the second location and into greater alignment with the located working location, and control the repositioned tool to work the structure at the located working location.

A tool including a tool surface and further including coding indicia linked, at least indirectly, with the surface of the tool, the coding indicia capable of being detected by a sensor, the coding indicia functioning as a pointer to information relating to said tool or its use.

An identifier management method is executed by a welding system. The identifier management method includes: acquiring information on identifiers of a plurality of original workpieces; randomly selecting any one of the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces to be adopted based on completion of execution of a welding process using the plurality of original workpieces by the welding system; and setting the any one of identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces, which has been selected, as an identifier of the welded workpiece generated in the welding process.

A welding method is executed by a welding system in which identification signs are arranged on a plurality of original workpieces to be used in a welding process, respectively. On the identification signs, identifiers of the respective original workpieces are readable. The welding method includes executing the welding process such that a part or an entire of the identification signs is hidden in a joint surface on which the plurality of original workpieces are joined in the welding process.

An identifier output method is executed by a welding system. The identifier output method includes: acquiring information on identifiers of a plurality of original workpieces to which identification signs are assigned, respectively, the identification signs being assigned such that information on the identifiers are readable; selecting, from the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces according to a predetermined rule, an identifier to be set for a welded workpiece to be produced by a welding process using the plurality of original workpieces; and after the selecting, in a case in which any identification sign among the identification signs assigned to the plurality of original workpieces is read by the reading device, outputting, as an identifier of the welded workpiece, the information on the identifier that has been selected to the reading device.

A tool including a tool surface and further including coding indicia linked, at least indirectly, with the surface of the tool, the coding indicia capable of being detected by a sensor, the coding indicia functioning as a pointer to information relating to said tool or its use.