Decode Direct Part Marking barcodes directly from mobile, web and industrial applications with barKoder. The DPM Barcode Scanner SDK is designed for challenging Data Matrix symbols created by laser marking, dot peen, engraving and other permanent marking methods, on metal, plastic and electronic components.
A direct part marking scanner is only as good as its reads on your real parts. barKoder's DPM mode runs on the phones, tablets and industrial mobile computers your teams already carry, without a dedicated hardware reader.
Collect parts that represent your production line:
Record successful reads, failures and time to result on your target devices and lighting.
Start an SDK trialPaper labels peel, burn and fade. A direct part mark becomes part of the item, so its Data Matrix code stays readable from the production line to recycling or remanufacturing. That makes DPM the basis of component-level traceability for serialized components in automotive, electronics, aerospace, manufacturing and healthcare.
Engine blocks, transmission housings and safety components are marked so each part can be traced through the supply chain. This supports quality control, recalls and compliance with industry standards.
Barcode scanning for automotive →
Manufacturers mark PCBs, small components and turbine parts for maintenance, inventory and traceability of individual components. DPM codes carry the data needed for inspections and repairs.
Barcode scanning for manufacturing →
Medical instruments, equipment and implants carry DPM codes for patient safety, usage history, drug distribution and regulatory requirements. Reusable instruments are marked directly because packaging doesn't survive sterilization.
Barcode scanning for healthcare →
DPM codes track packages, pallets and shipments across the supply chain and give real-time visibility of each marked item.
Barcode scanning for logistics →Each marking method leaves a different visual signature, which affects how easy the code is to scan later.
| Method | How it marks | Typical use and scanning notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laser marking | Melts, ablates or discolors the surface of metal, plastic or ceramic | Precise and fast. Usually the easiest DPM codes to scan, but glossy or reflective finishes cause glare |
| Dot peen | A stylus strikes small pits into heavy metal parts | Common on cast engine components. The dots are disconnected, one of the harder problems for a decoder |
| Chemical etching | Removes material through a mask, for thin or delicate parts | Thin metals and delicate parts that can't take mechanical stress or heat, such as surgical instruments |
| Engraving | Cuts grooves with a rotating bit or carbide tool | Structural parts that see heavy handling, repeated cleaning or outdoor exposure |
| Inkjet | Sprays ink directly onto plastic, metal or glass | Fast to apply, less durable than surface-altering methods |
| Molding and casting | The code is machined into the mold or die | High-volume plastic and die-cast metal parts, where the code forms as a raised or recessed feature |
Decoders built for black ink on white paper often fail on direct part marks. barKoder's DPM algorithm is built for these five problems.
DPM mode has been part of the barKoder SDK since version 1.2.2, as a decoder setting and as a predefined template.
Data Matrix (ECC 200) is the standard symbology for direct part marking. Working with inexto, barKoder also added DPM support for QR Codes, so track-and-trace apps can read direct-marked QR Codes alongside DPM Data Matrix and DotCode.
Read more in Direct Part Marking: what DPM codes are and how to scan them.
The same settings work on every platform. These examples are copied from the barKoder docs.
Barkoder.setEnabledDecoders(Barkoder.constants.Decoders.Datamatrix);
Barkoder.setDatamatrixDpmModeEnabled(true);
Barkoder.setRegionOfInterest(35, 40, 30, 14);
Barkoder.setDecodingSpeed(Barkoder.constants.DecodingSpeed.Slow);
Barkoder.setCameraResolution(Barkoder.constants.CameraResolution.FHD);
Or apply the template: Barkoder.applyTemplate('template.json', 'dpm');
private fun setDpmMode() {
bkdView.config = BarkoderConfig(this, "LICENSE_KEY") {
Log.i("Licensing SDK: ", it.message)
}
bkdView.config.isRegionOfInterestVisible = true
bkdView.config.decoderConfig.Datamatrix.enabled = true
bkdView.config.decoderConfig.Datamatrix.dpmMode = true
bkdView.config.decoderConfig.decodingSpeed = Barkoder.DecodingSpeed.Slow
bkdView.config.barkoderResolution = BarkoderResolution.FHD
bkdView.config.setRegionOfInterest(35f, 40f, 30f, 15f) //this is pretty important for DPM mode
}
DPM mode examples: Android, iOS, Web, Flutter, React Native, Capacitor, Cordova, .NET MAUI and NativeScript.
DPM mode is documented for Android, iOS, the Web SDK and every cross-platform framework, with the same Data Matrix settings everywhere.
Direct SDKs for mobile, browser, desktop and server environments.
Official integrations for teams building one application across platforms.
Manufacturing and industrial teams running barKoder on mobile devices instead of dedicated scanners.
Verified credentials
Certified information security management built around internationally recognized controls.
Official Solution Provider supporting standards-based barcode and data-capture workflows.
Solution Provider listing covering barcode, mobile application and 2D barcode capabilities.
Discover the barKoder Web SDK listing and connect through Microsoft Marketplace.
Registered Independent Software Vendor in Zebra's PartnerConnect ecosystem.
Install the free barKoder demo app, or open the web demo, and scan your own barcodes before you integrate the SDK.
iPhone and iPad
Scan with your camera, or point it at the QR code to open the App Store.
Android phones and tablets
Scan with your camera, or point it at the QR code to open Google Play.
Any modern browser
Runs the Web SDK in your browser, on desktop or mobile, with nothing to install.
Test with known samples. Print or display the testing sheet and scan each 1D and 2D barcode with the demo app. The data sheet summarizes the SDK for your team.
A DPM (Direct Part Marking) barcode is marked directly into an item's surface by laser, dot peen, chemical etching, engraving, inkjet or molding, instead of being printed on a label. It is usually a Data Matrix code and is harder to read than print, because it depends on surface texture and reflected light.
Standard camera apps usually struggle with DPM codes because of low contrast, glare and surface noise. With the barKoder SDK in your app, ordinary iOS and Android devices, as well as Android-based industrial mobile computers, can read DPM codes without a dedicated hardware scanner.
Yes. The WASM Barcode Scanner SDK supports DPM mode through setDatamatrixDpmModeEnabled, a config object or the DPM template. See the Web DPM example.
A dot peen stylus strikes separate indents into the surface, so the code is made of disconnected dots rather than solid squares. Dot depth and spacing also vary with stylus wear and material hardness. barKoder's de-dotting connects the dots into readable Data Matrix modules.
Data Matrix (ECC 200) is the standard for direct part marking, and DPM mode is built around Data Matrix DPM codes. barKoder also reads direct-marked QR Codes and DotCode, as used in inexto's track-and-trace projects.
Combine a small lighting change, such as dark-field or diffuse lighting at the marking station, with a decoder tuned for DPM. In the SDK, use DPM mode with slow decoding, Full HD resolution and a small region of interest around the code.
Scanning runs locally on the device. The SDK connects only for the license check, at least once every 30 days. For segregated networks, barKoder can issue license keys that work without the licensing server, on custom terms, as in the Omicron deployment.
Test DPM mode on your own parts with a free 30-day trial, or talk to an SDK expert about your traceability project.
