EngineeringNews

ifm’s versatile multicode reader is as simple as a sensor!

With four times the resolution and ten times the processing speed of their predecessors, the latest multicode readers from ifm electronic can read virtually any type of 1D or 2D code on objects that pass in front of them at speeds of up to 7 m/s. And, despite their performance and versatility, these new readers are as fast and easy to set up as conventional sensors, with the aid of a smartphone app that’s free to download from the ifm website.

The new code readers work reliably with printed, lasered or dot peened codes even on difficult surfaces such as reflective metal. They also deliver dependable results with objects where the background colour or reflectivity is not consistent. The ‘one button teach’ set up process takes only seconds and allows the readers to automatically optimise image contrast and recognise the code(s) in use.

The configuration of the readers for standard applications is completed with the aid of the smartphone app. Users simply enter the IP or network address for the reader along with trigger data, where needed, and the app generates a dot matrix code on the smartphone display. When this code is held in the reader’s field of view, the configuration is instantly loaded.

For advanced applications, such as those that involve recognising multiple codes simultaneously in the same image, the readers can be configured using ifm’s intuitive yet powerful Vision Assistant software, which provides even greater flexibility and versatility.

To ensure compatibility with the widest possible range of user requirements, ifm’s new multicode readers are offered in versions with standard, wide-angle and telephoto lenses, and for operation with red or infra-red light. All versions are available for use with either Ethernet/IP or Profinet networks.

https://www.ifm.com/gb/en/shared/product-news/2020/digitale-markteinfuhrung/multicode-reader