Bar Code Scanners for shopfloor Control

Examples of barcode scanners for factory data collection

 

Data Collection terminals today come in many form factors and can be in form of traditional bar code scanner for receiving and shipping, aterminal with a gun handle.  Costs are often $2000.00 - $3000.00 but you can get same features for factory data collection terminals that range from $500 and up. 

Any tablet is great for Quality Control to scan data and pull up drawings and prints for inspecting parts but are awkward to scan bar codes - there are small bluetooth scanners the size of a garage door opener you pull out of your shirt pocket that scan to the tablet screen.

Any Android smartphone can be used by shop floor employees to scan bar codes and enter quantities of parts completed and non-conforming parts. Hence all three form factors would be included for an MES System.

Below are three ruggedized data collection terminals that have push to talk feature (walkie talkie) and scanner that will work with Omega Cube

The TC70/TC75 Series, available from Advanced Automation is the professional-grade device built from the ground up for the enterprise: ... 4G/LTE (TC75 Series Only) and 802.11a/b/g/n connectivity for anywhere, anytime access to information. Zebra's Mobility Extensions (Mx), a layer of features that transform Android from ...call vendor for pricing

This Sprint phone is built with the same durability you

would expect from CAT equipment for $500.00

New Horizon has a competitive ruggedized terminal that functions like a walkie talkie and scans bar codes SonimXP8 for $675.00

Machine Interfaces for Data Collection to ERP manufacturing

ERP Software for Manufacturing

 Increasing Data Automation in a Metal Fabrication Enterprise

OmegaCube includes MES to solve manufacturing problems and includes data collection from factory machines.

Example of Direct Machine Interfaces to MES

Scotts Note: I have reviewed the productionprocess.com website that is recomended by Omega Cube and the MDT-20 should work on Power Brace (PB) machines for collecting and transmitting data to OmegaCube.  That's good news.  However they are on the East Coast with I assume no local support.  There may be finger pointing between third party machine interface (MI) vendor hardware and Omega Cube software when interface problems arise.  Production Process and Omega Cube need to assure seemless integration with PB machines. 

This is a RED FLAG and should be thought out carefully

MDT 20

MDT-20 costs $1,200 (quantity one) as shown without tablet and is supported with three levels of system software:  OEE Manager, Production Manager or Job Manager.???... firmware or switch selectable?

Scotts note:  Production Process trys to sell the tablet option with the MDT-20 interface to create MES information from data collected from each machine.  

1. Omega Cube can collect data and perform MES functions without optional tablet......all you need to purchase is the MDT-20 and associated interface cables which are different for Mills, Saws, Robots, and Tables, etc.

2. Could use MDT-20 optional Tablet with bar code wand and eliminate use of 3rd party bar code tablets or hand helds planned for shopfloor control.

Since finger pointing always exists. I have included local vendors from my website http://scottolson.name/bio/sensors.html The vendors listed below sell similar machine interfaces who we can negotiate with to get assurance that they will help get system up and keep running.  Below are couple ways to proceed.

http://www.usconverters.com/serial-wifi-adapter-wf5000

DIY Approach (need network guy)

If you want a DIY approach to getting all PB machines interfaced wirelessly to MES you can buy WIFI serial interfaces for all PB machines for closer to $100 each machine - plus associated cables and connectors found at these three companies listed below.

Contact local vendors (Integrators)

I would encourage you to contact local companies for machine wireless interfaces similar to Production Process.  Costs are $500.00 +/- 25%.  Choose local vendor wisley because they could become partners with PB well into future and salesmen can often do work of consultants.  I have included links to the products to interface to PB machines

 Braas - DSM  

 https://www.braasco.com/products/industrial-networking/wireless-communications-io/

Banner Engineering - Cedar Rapids

https://www.bannerengineering.com/us/en/products/wireless-sensor-networks/wireless-io-data-and-network-connectivity.html?pageNum=1&#all

PowerMation - DSM

https://www.powermation.com/products/industrial-internet-networking/