Development of a Recording Head for Magnetic Storage of Information on Machine Components

A new approach on tracking components throughout the entire manufacturing processes is to apply magnetic recording technology to storing key production data on the component itself. The system investigated uses magnetic magnesium , i.e. a magnesium matrix filled with hard magnetic particles. For storing the data, a classic inductive write head, consisting of a soft magnetic ring core with a write gap in the flux path and a coil for creating the magnetic flux is chosen. For an application in a machine environment, readout has to be done at a distance. On approach of such non-contact readout, an advantage of the Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect (MOKE), which senses the direction of magnetization of a reflecting surface, is to be taken. As in the case of data storage, information is encoded in the magnetization pattern of data tracks.