Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

Russ Berg <[email protected]> · Thu, 15 Jan 2015 08:34:24 -0600

Hi Matt, 
About 5 years ago I created an app for the Microscan QuadVelocity 2D USB barcode scanner
http://microscan.s3.amazonaws.com/products_pdf/qminivelocityspec.pdf.  It uses libusb and libhid. It is deployed onto one of our protein crystallography beam lines (with a robot for auto mounting) for a similar purpose as yours which is to read 2 barcodes off the bottom of protein pins as they pass by the scanner on the way from the dewar to the goniometer at speed of about 20 cm/s. We built a triggering circuit to detect the pin on its way by so the code could be read. 

I am not sure now how many users have gotten into the habit of buying/bringing pins with barcodes on them so as a result I don't really have any details on how well it has performed in the field, but even with issues of icing (samples stored submerged in liquid nitrogen) it did perform quite reliably during testing as I remember.

-Russ

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pearson, Matthew R.
Sent: January-14-15 3:56 PM
To: [email protected] list
Subject: industrial barcode reader

Hi,

Has anyone had experience with RS232 or Ethernet industrial type 1-D barcode readers? We may need to integrate one into an Epics controlled sample changer system, that will use laser etched 1-D barcodes on aluminum sample holders. So I'm thinking an industrial one with an ASCII command/response interface would be a good way to go.

For example, this one:
http://www.datalogic.com/eng/products/industrial-automation/fixed-industrial-barcode-readers/ds4800-pd-352.html
or:
http://www.microscan.com/en-us/Products/Laser-Barcode-Scanners/QX-830-Industrial-Barcode-Scanner.aspx

Cheers,
Matt

Data Acquisition and Control Engineer
Spallation Neutron Source
Oak Ridge National Lab

Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System

Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System