
adccommunitymod (AutomationDirect) asked a question.
Created Date: December 03,2012
Created By: SouthwestMfg
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Hi All, I am looking for some input on using RFID equipment and connecting to a PLC/PAC system. Looking at using Productivity 3k PAC. Looks like there is a lot of RFID equipment out there, not sure where to start. Most of these have serial output, I'm assuming this is a bit like a bar-code reader. Trying to understand how to get this into the PAC, yes through the serial port (?). Any experience with this would be appreciated. - Thanks in advance. Paul Swinney
Created Date: December 06,2012
Created by: Adisharr
Do you need to write any data to the tags? If not, there are simple 'flag ' type systems if you just need to identify a nest or something similar.
Created Date: December 07,2012
Created by: kewakl
First, I'll ask some questions, since you provided relatively little information about your application.
Is RFID Required or Desired?
Do you have a large number of items to be RFID TAGGED?
--- It may not be appropriate to invest in RFID infrastructure if you only have a small number things that need to be identified
Do you need to identify your items for long-term or short-term?
Can barcodes work?
--- Do you have a reason that a simple barcode cannot be sufficient?
... Printed barcodes for temporary identification
... stamped or etched barcodes for longer-term identification however chemicals, abrasion, temperatures, paint (...) can alter the readability of the barcode
Do you need read/ write access to the Identifying Device ?
Now to attempt to answer your question:
Trying to understand how to get this into the PAC, yes through the serial port (?)
Which port would depend on the RFID hardware you choose - and the distance from RFID hardware to PAC.
I am using some ethernet RFID hardware. It watches RFID tags go by. At one location I can program the ID number into the RFID Tags. My PAC (over the ethernet cable) uses modbus reads to query the RFID hardware. (as fast as I want to clog my network ;))
Created Date: December 03,2012
Created by: SouthwestMfg
Hi All,
I am looking for some input on using RFID equipment and connecting to a PLC/PAC system. Looking at using Productivity 3k PAC. Looks like there is a lot of RFID equipment out there, not sure where to start. Most of these have serial output, I'm assuming this is a bit like a bar-code reader. Trying to understand how to get this into the PAC, yes through the serial port (?). Any experience with this would be appreciated. - Thanks in advance.
Paul Swinney