| All of the press for AutoID these days seems to indicate that RFID tags can solve all problems -- but properly applied barcode tags and a good barcode reader terminal are still adequate for solving your problem. I would use a good programmable wireless handheld barcode reader such as made by Symbol Technologies, Intermec, or others. Then apply your own durable (metal) barcode tags on the hub mechanism close to where the reels of electronic components are mounted. A small program, perhaps written in Basic or one of the languages supported by the barcode reader, can be used to validate the mounting of the component reels. The procedure would be as follows: 1) First, read the hub barcode where the reel is to be mounted.
2) Then read the barcode on the reel of components to be mounted.
3) Wait for the barcode reader/terminal to give the OK (message, beep.)
4) The barcode reader/terminal then sends the data with both barcodes to the master station for the assembly machine for data collection.
The program in the reader/terminal has a look-up table to validate that for the product being made, which components (identified by the barcode SKU on the selected reel), are to be mounted on which hub. If the SKU is found in the table for the hub that was just read, then the GO is given. If NOT, then there should be an alarm (NO GO.) I am assuming that there is a master station for the assembly machine that is to run the Vista data collection software used for reporting component usage and alarms. The data collected can be reviewed so that more training can be given to operators making frequent mistakes. 802.11a in the 5 GHz band would be a better choice for the wireless connection from the barcode reader/terminal to the master station, just to get the radio out of the overloaded 802.11b/g/u band at 2.4 GHz. |