A new method of storing or embedding information on the surface of metals is presented here. The feed marks left behind by the passing tool in micro-milling are used as a way to embed the information. By simply varying the feed rates during milling in predetermined way information can be stored similar to how an optical storage disc embeds digital information in a binary fashion. Such storage is demonstrated by creating the surface topography using micro-milling and performing information retrieval by extracting and analyzing the surface profiles. Expected applications of this are in steganography and water marking of products for authenticity checks.

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