PC controls label printing machines
A label printer manufacturer needed a robust, high-reliability, small computer to be mounted inside each system.
Industrial Computers designs and manufactures custom and COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) industrial PCs.
A recent request from a label printing machine manufacturer, with specific requirements, necessitated the design of a custom industrial PC as a controller/interface for its range of label printing machines.
The requirement provided some challenges.
The brief was for a robust, high-reliability, small computer to be mounted inside each system.
Additional requirements were for a long-life product with minimal design changes throughout the product life cycle.
A reduction in cost was also a goal.
The chassis was designed in house by Industral Computers' engineering staff to house and cool all of the computer components as well as meeting all of the regulatory approvals required.
Following completion of the prototypes a complete suite of testing was embarked upon.
This included high and low-temperature, shock and vibration, thermal efficiency and air flow dynamics testing.
The resulting product was reduced from a 4U rack mount system to a 2U system of reduced depth.
The configuration incorporated a dual-core motherboard with a five-year production life.
Processors from the Intel Embedded group were also used for long life.
For traceability all major components are serialised in each system.
A final soak test is carried out to minimise infant mortality.
The customer was issued with a single part number for ordering which included a revision number.
This revision number also linked in with the detailed build guide to ensure the highest possible quality is maintained at all times.
It also means no changes can take place without customer approval as the part number would need to be changed.
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