CPC F42B 33/14 (2013.01) [B23K 26/362 (2013.01)] | 8 Claims |
1. A headstamp marking method, comprising:
fabricating a plurality of substantially identically sized and shaped unmarked inventory cases suitable for use in manufacturing a plurality of different caliber cartridges, each of said substantially identically sized and shaped unmarked inventory cases being identical with a round surface, a bare metal head, and a body, and each head thereof and each body thereof being suitable for the different caliber cartridges and of a length greater than that needed for the different caliber cartridges;
at least one of trimming or necking a number of said substantially Identically sized and shaped unmarked inventory cases such that the bodies of said cases have a size and a shape for manufacturing the different caliber cartridges;
selecting a number of said substantially identically sized and shaped unmarked inventory cases for manufacturing one of the different caliber cartridges;
inscribing, via a laser inscription device, the selected number of said substantially identically sized and shaped unmarked inventory cases upon their head with at least one inscription to identify at least the caliber of the one of different caliber cartridges the selected number of said cases to be used to manufacture, while removing material of the head along a path of the laser inscription device at insufficient heat to compromise the structure of the cartridges and to avoid ignition of the cartridges;
said inscribing, via a laser inscription device, the selected number of unmarked inventory cases comprises inscribing a head of each of the selected number of unmarked inventory cases with additional indicia that differs from the selected one of the plurality of different caliber cartridges the selected number of unmarked inventory cases are to be used to manufacture, wherein said additional indicia includes one or more of a trademark, a serial number, a tracking code, a bar code, a QR code, an image, and a picture;
said inscribing, via a laser inscription device, wherein said laser inscription device remains in a fixed location as said selecting a number of said substantially Identically sized and shaped unmarked inventory cases moves and then presents a head before said laser inscription device and providing a small central region of said head adapted to receive primer;
wherein said laser inscription device and said head attain mutual coaxial alignment as said small central region of said head centers over said laser inscription device during said inscribing, via a laser inscription device; and
said inscribing, via a laser inscription device, occurring on a common plane of the head of each of said cases upon at least one axis while transporting heat in material ejected from the head retaining the hardness of the head.
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