The
days of the dedicated SPC data collector are dead. With the PC
getting smaller, faster, more powerful, and less costly, many of the SPC
hardware specialists have either been acquired or have gone out of
business. Unfortunately for manufacturers though, the need for portable
data collection equipment has all but declined. Roving and vendor
audits, machine capability studies, incoming and final inspection, and
measurements on large parts, are just a few of the many needs portable
data collectors now satisfy.
In many cases, fragile,
environmentally unprotected notebook computers have been used to pacify
portable data collection requirements, all too often with tragic
consequences. In situations where the data collection can be done at
a PC desktop workstation, gage multiplexers are utilized to enable the use
of a variety of gages. Unfortunately, this is impractical in
portable applications. The need has been justified, and can only be
met with a handheld PC. The problem remains the integration of
everything else into this handheld PC, while at the same time keeping the
unit affordable. Manufacturers tell us they need it to be Microsoft
Windows based, handheld, light, battery operated, capable of wireless
networking, environmentally sealed, able to interface with gages, able to
read barcodes, run SPC software, and all for under $4,000.
Are they demanding the
impossible? Not any longer. I&R Partners has combined all the best
SPC components in order to proudly present the new DC-4413 and DC-4423
Handheld Data Collectors.
Or call
702.456.2264!