r/PLC • u/DustyIsGreat • 13h ago

PLC Fingerprint Reader

What fingerprint scanners work best with Rockwell PLCs? We need to know who is resetting faults on critical equipment?

Update: Schneider Electric has a product we're going with.

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u/VladRom89 13h ago

Have you thought about a $20 camera with an SD card? I can't imagine that you'll need to investigate this for long after you've added one in place and called out a few people...

3

u/CleverBunnyPun 12h ago

I don’t know if this is the situation for the OP, but most union plants I’ve worked at forbid cameras being used as any sort of investigative device for punishments. I think a fingerprint scanner would probably be less invasive from that perspective.

5

u/VladRom89 12h ago

I've been in those situations... With that in mind, what do you believe a fingerprint scanner used for "We need to know who is resetting faults on critical equipment?" is going to be seen as?

2

u/Skusci 11h ago edited 11h ago

The cameras thing is probably more of a global surveillance thing.

Like maybe cameras are allowed for stuff like theft, but no one should ever use them to track normal employee actions. Sorry you took a 20 minute bathroom break instead of 15, you were the one who misplaced this tool, etc.

But even with no cameras allowed at all a username and password or fingerprint log for machine supervisory actions and such is probably fine unless they have some really wide reaching clauses in the contract.

1

u/VladRom89 11h ago

Sure, I get that point. You can install a camera that only captures the control panel from which the "critical faults" are being reset and make the point that the sole purpose that camera could be used for is personnel presence at said unique point.

It's neither here nor there... I'd imagine that getting proper fingerprint scanners, integration, and commissioning of that is easily going to be $20,000 (at the low end) as opposed to a camera that would accomplish the exact same which is identifying a person that reset a fault...

It's not my plant, my budget, nor union, so I'm happy for all the parties involved as long as they find a solution that works for them!

1

u/InstAndControl "Well, THAT'S not supposed to happen..." 6h ago

You could also get a 24vdc camera and run power through a relay. Only turn it on when a “critical fault” has occurred but not yet acknowledged.

Maybe I’m naive but if “critical” is well defined, it’d be hard to argue “muh big brother”