Abstract: A marked article includes a substrate including a first surface and a surface material, a raised pad on the first surface, the raised pad including a second surface, and a design on the raised pad. The raised pad is formed on the first surface using a material addition process to prevent mechanical stress from being propagated from the raised pad to the substrate in response to the design being formed on the raised pad.

Abstract: A method for marking an article may comprise forming a raised pad on a substrate of the existing article by applying a material to a surface of the substrate using a material addition process, and forming a design on a surface of the raised pad. The raised pad may be formed on the surface of the substrate to prevent mechanical stress from being propagated from the raised pad to the substrate in response to the design being formed on the raised pad.

Abstract: A method for improving visual contrast of laser etch markings on painted substrates may comprise applying a laser light to a surface of a painted layer to ablate an ablated portion of the painted layer, applying a contrast layer over the surface of the painted layer to fill the ablated portion with the contrast layer, and removing the contrast layer to leave a contrasting portion within the ablated portion. The method may further comprise forming a floor beneath a surface line of the ablated portion, the floor defining an underlying portion comprised of the painted layer. The method may further comprise applying a protective layer over the contrasting portion.

Abstract: A method for marking an article may comprise forming a raised pad on a substrate of the existing article by applying a material to a surface of the substrate using a material addition process, and forming a design on a surface of the raised pad. The raised pad may be formed on the surface of the substrate to prevent mechanical stress from being propagated from the raised pad to the substrate in response to the design being formed on the raised pad.

Abstract: Studs, nodes, and study assembly systems formed by various methods are disclosed. Various disclosed methods include cold spraying a powder onto a substrate to form a node on the substrate and drilling a hole only into the node. Various disclosed methods include cold spraying a powder onto a substrate to form a node and machining the node to form a stud.

Abstract: Studs, nodes, and study assembly systems formed by various methods are disclosed. Various disclosed methods include cold spraying a powder onto a substrate to form a node on the substrate and drilling a hole only into the node. Various disclosed methods include cold spraying a powder onto a substrate to form a node and machining the node to form a stud.