Introduction to inForce 3.0

Important

The new 3.0 operating system and software are still running inside the inForce 2.0 hardware, which is why the silkscreen naming isn't updated on the hardware case—it is still the same, very capable hardware as the previous generation.

What is inForce?

inForce is a hardware device which serves several purposes in a PCB manufacturing line. First, it acts as a gatekeeper between two pieces of equipment on an assembly line— conveyors or assembly equipment. The device interacts with SMEMA-compliant manufacturing equipment to prevent or allow a PCB from proceeding into the next machine based on validation received from FactoryLogix.

inForce can ensure that a valid barcode was read from a PCB, that the board in question belongs at that location, that the board will not exceed the batch quantity, that the downstream equipment is set up correctly, that all Entry Conditions have been satisfied, that no Line Stop is currently active, and there are no workstation restrictions.

How is inForce 3.0 different from 2.0?

Unlike its predecessor, the new inForce 3.0 device runs a version of Linux called Raspbian OS utilizing a web-based Blazor application. The device has 4 USB ports for barcode scanners and input devices, such as a keyboard/mouse. It has an HDMI port for connecting an optional monitor but is designed to run in a “headless” environment where a single workstation monitors an entire line of inForce devices. There is also a serial (RS-232C) port built-in for transferring scanned and validated barcodes to other pieces of equipment. Audible indicators such as alarms may be achieved with a USB speaker.

Why is my inForce device labeled 2.0?

inForce 3.0 is a software update to inForce. This new operating system and software are still running inside the inForce 2.0 hardware, which is why the silkscreen naming isn’t updated on the hardware case. It is still the same exact, very capable hardware as the previous generation.

What scanners work with inForce 3.0?

Most USB barcode scanners will work with inForce 3.0, unlike the prior version. However, the Microscan MS-4X scanners used with inForce 1.0 will not work with inForce 3.0. This is a limitation of the MS-4X scanner’s power requirements.

Device connections

The following photos show you the inForce hardware device connections.