BSU Electronics has brought a state-of-the-art Scienscope AXC-800 III X-ray inspection system into its Austin stockroom. Instead of unspooling a reel and counting parts by hand or by tape length, the stockroom team places the sealed reel in the system, which X-rays it and counts every part inside in seconds.
Scienscope AXC-800 III X-ray inspection system. Image: Scienscope.
The equipment
- System: Scienscope AXC-800 III X-ray inspection system
- Speed: under two seconds per reel
- Accuracy: 99.99% stated accuracy and repeatability
- Part sizes: reels, trays and bags of parts, down to 01005 size
- Labels: a built-in barcode reader scans the reel label while it counts, so each count is tied to the right part number and lot
How we’ll use it
- At receiving. Every incoming reel, from our distributors or from customers’ consigned kits, is counted before it goes on the shelf, so short shipments are caught on day one, not on the line.
- For cycle counts. The stockroom counts a slice of inventory on a rolling schedule. With the X-ray system, a reel takes seconds instead of minutes, so we can count more often and cover the whole stockroom faster.
- When partial reels come back from the line. After a build, the leftovers on a reel are counted and the record updated, so the next job starts from the real number.
- For consigned parts. We count customer-supplied parts when they arrive and again before we return what’s left, so customers know exactly what went into their boards.
Why cycle counts matter
A build is only as fast as its last missing part. If inventory records say a reel holds 3,000 resistors but it really holds 300, the job stops partway through while someone chases a replacement, and a short delay at the start of the line becomes a missed ship date at the end.
Cycle counts keep the numbers honest. Rather than one big count a year, part of the stockroom is counted on a regular schedule, so errors are found and fixed while they’re small. Accurate counts mean:
- Complete kits. Jobs aren’t released to the floor until every part is there.
- Reliable dates. Delivery dates rest on parts we actually have, not on what a spreadsheet says.
- Better quotes. When we quote using stock on hand, we know it’s really there.
- Accountability for your parts. Consigned and customer-owned inventory is tracked to the piece.
The X-ray system makes that work fast enough to do often. It’s one more way we cut the time between a quote and a finished build.
Questions about parts supply, consignment or our stockroom? Start a quote or email info@bsuinc.com.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Scienscope AXC-800 III?
- The Scienscope AXC-800 III is an X-ray inspection system built to count electronic components. It X-rays a reel, tray or bag of parts and uses AI to count them, down to 01005 size, in under two seconds per reel, with a stated accuracy of 99.99%. It reads barcode labels at the same time.
- What is a cycle count?
- A cycle count checks part of the inventory against the records on a rolling schedule, instead of shutting down for one big annual count. Over time every part number gets counted, and errors are found and fixed while they are small.
- Does BSU count consigned parts?
- Yes. Consigned parts are counted at receiving, and leftover parts are counted again before they are returned, so customers know exactly what went into their build and what came back.
