- HMI Model: CMT3108XH
- EasyBuilder Pro Version: 6.09.02.510
I have several CMT3108XH HMIs in the field with a non-powered USB hub connected to the USB port to allow for simultaneous use of a barcode scanner and a flash drive. The barcode scanner is setup as a Barcode Scanner/Keyboard device in the HMI. The scanner is connected all the time, and the flash drive is only connected when they need to upload new recipe data.
The issue my customer is having, is that it seems the barcode scanner takes complete control of the USB port. When they need to connect the USB drive to upload new recipe data the HMI will not recognize the drive until the HMI is power cycled, and often times it even requires the barcode scanner to be disconnected before the power cycle for the USB drive to be recognized. On the original machine with the original barcode scanner this problem was never seen. Since then that scanner was replaced with a new model, and the newer machines were built using the newer model scanner, and the issue is now constantly prevalent on all of the machines.
Is this a sign of low power from the USB port? I am tempted to believe that that the new scanners use significantly more power than the original unit; but I also need concrete evidence before presenting a solution.