Author Archives: admin

New Project “Catch 2”

Posted on 9 December 2013 by admin

Looks like I’m going to be re-writing my production processing software for one of my favourite client Omega Seafoods to add sales order functionality and enhance the production side accuracy using barcodes, all left off the original 2007 spec and … Continue reading →

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Fill Sensor Testing

Posted on 9 December 2013 by admin

The fill Sensor Mark 4 has proven to work real well with normal white and reds but sucks a bit when using clear bottles, so it was time to rip it out and look at where this bit went wrong. … Continue reading →

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Version 4 or is that 5!

Posted on 29 November 2013 by admin

While I’m looking into writing some of the firmware, and a PC Program to handle all the comms I thought I’d better fix all the hardware bugs I found and get a new version out. Version 4 was just me … Continue reading →

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Mobile Terminal Version 3 Up and (nearly) working

Posted on 20 November 2013 by admin

Getting a solder stencil really paid off as the new board came out of the oven cooked to perfection (well almost!) Prototype powered on with Wi-fi connection made. So whats working? Well the inspection showed a few pins of the … Continue reading →

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Boards and stencils from smart prototyping

Posted on 9 November 2013 by admin

Just for info, here are the latest PCB’s that I made at Smart Prototyping. First is the 3rd Version of the Mobile Terminal board, the gold finishing is nice but doesnt really come out on the photo. Below is the … Continue reading →

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Almost there!

Posted on 7 November 2013 by admin

Stuart installed the latest revision onto the production line yesterday as they had a run of Sauvignon Blanc in standard green bottles going through. When I got there I was greeted with a “it dont work” as the manager had … Continue reading →

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Things not quite right

Posted on 29 October 2013 by admin

As predicted the fill sensor performed miserably on clear bottles using the default settings and one of the operators noticed a mysterious lock up, where the sensor seemed to hang every now and then but became responsive again after a … Continue reading →

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Barcode Scanner Selection

Posted on 11 October 2013 by admin

There are two types of barcode scanner engine, the laser one which oscillates a mirror to produce a line which with good timing and a photo-sensor can be converted into 1’s and 0’s. The second type is a CMOS barcode engine which … Continue reading →

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Fill level sensor update

Posted on 2 October 2013 by admin

Did a final tweek of the firmware and installed it in the production line. The system will now 1. On Power-up or Reset wait for user input from the (soon to be depreciated) keypad for 20 seconds then default to … Continue reading →

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PCB’s and Prototypes

Posted on 2 October 2013 by admin

Version 1.0a schematic and board were completed in September and the PCB Gerber files  sent to Seeed Studios to be made up. These guys did a great job and a swift turnaround on my last project so I was keen … Continue reading →

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