MHD TECHNOLOGY
With product traceability becoming more important to industry, selecting the best method of product identification is increasingly difficult.
BREAKING BARCODE BARRIERS W
hile linear barcodes are still the most common method of identifying a product, they are very limited in the information they can contain. For this reason, 2D barcodes and RFID tagging solutions are becoming more popular, but what is the best solution for your application? Darryl Blackeby, Product Sales Manager at ifm efector presents the options available.
2D BARCODES Whilst most of us would be familiar with QR codes that typically contain URL information to link to a website, other 2D barcodes such as ECC200 Data Matrix Code, PDF-417 and Aztec code are also available. In particular, the ECC200 DMC is ideally suited for industrial applications due to its compact size, high data density and ability to be read with significant damage or soiling. In addition to the standard printing methods, ECC200 DMC can also be laser marked, electrolytic chemical etched or dot peened onto a surface. 2D barcodes require a camera-based code reader and therefore the code must be presented in a defined region within the cameras field of view. Reading ranges of up to two metres are possible depending on the code size and resolution, but typical reading ranges are less than 200mm. Being a camera-based system the lighting is 40 | MHD SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019
also critical for consistent results. The ifm O2I Multicode Readers are capable of reading both 1D and 2D barcodes, as well as character recognition and verification. The code information can be transmitted via TCP/IP, Ethernet IP, Profinet or RS232, with other industrial Ethernet protocols also possible using the ifm AC14 Smart PLC as a gateway and a dedicated app. The latest O2I5xx Multicode Readers also offer unparalleled simplicity, with a one touch teach function to learn the code type, set up lighting exposure time and automatically focus the camera. A mobile phone app can be utilised to set the IP address and make other minor changes.
RFID SOLUTIONS RFID is common in many everyday applications such as toll collection, smart cards and livestock identification, and the uses in industry are growing rapidly. RFID technology is grouped into three main technologies – UHF, HF and LF depending on the operating frequency utilised. RFID systems offer the advantage over 2D barcodes in that the codes can be read when completely soiled, and independent of lighting. Information can also be written to the tags using the same devices that read the codes, meaning the tag data can be updated readily. Ultra High Frequency (UHF) systems can operate in the 800 – 900 MHz
2D barcodes and RFID tagging solutions are becoming more and more popular.
