Marking means laying off the shape and size of a workpiece from data in the manufacturing drawing onto the blank.
Figure 1 Marking
This is done by scribing, with special scribing tools, lines on the workpiece which must remain visible during the period of manufacture.
Punch marking means impressing conical marks for permanent marking of the scribed lines by means of a special tool - the prick punch. Punch marks are also applied as a guide for dividers points or drills.
Figure 2 Punch marking
Marking and punch marking are necessary preparatory operations for subsequent working operations, such as cutting, forming and joining in single-piece production.
Careful and accurate scribing, easily visible during the entire manufacturing process is essential for the dimensional accuracy of the finished product.
In batch and mass production, scribing is of minor importance since tools and workpieces are guided so that the required dimensions are necessarily maintained during the working process.