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Best practices for RFID tag installation
Unlock the full potential of RFID technology with our comprehensive guide on RFID tag installation. Discover best practices for optimal placement and performance, ensuring seamless integration into your RFID application. This resource covers everything from mounting standard tags to specialized scenarios, tailored to maximize reading distances, improve returnable asset tracking and enhance system reliability.
Best practices for tag installation
The suggestions below are presented solely to aid in the initial design of an RFID application. All read distances are based on lab conditions and should be tested in the application before finalizing the application design.
Mounting standard RFID tags
Ideally, mount standard RFID tags on materials such as plastic, wood and paper. This eliminates potential interference of metal or wet environment. If metal or moisture are in the near vicinity, follow the guidelines below.
Allow a metal- / moisture-free zone of 2 times the tag diameter adjacent to the tag as shown in the image.
- Standard RFID tag with diameter D
- Non-metallic material
- Metal
Allow a metal- / moisture-free zone of 2 times the tag diameter in front of the tag as shown in the image.
- Standard RFID tag with diameter D
- Non-metallic material
- Metal
While not recommended, you can mount a standard RFID tag to a metal surface when you place a plastic or epoxy spacer between the tag and surface. For best results, the spacer should be a minimum of 10 mm or ½ of the tag diameter, whichever is larger. Be sure to test this installation thoroughly. As shown in the image:
- Standard RFID tag with diameter D
- Plastic or epoxy spacer
- Metal
While not recommended, you can recess a standard RFID tag into metal by following all three guidelines below. Be sure to test this installation thoroughly.
- Provide a plastic or epoxy spacer between the tag and the surface. For best results, the spacer should be a minimum of 10 mm or ½ of the tag diameter, whichever is larger.
- Size the recessed area at a minimum of 2 times the tag diameter.
As shown in the image:
- Standard RFID tag with diameter D
- Plastic or epoxy spacer
- Metal
Tip: A smaller recess may be possible, but this may create an inductive current that will affect the reliability of the installation. In some cases, a radial cut in the metal surface may be enough to interrupt the induction current.
- When selecting an antenna for this installation, consider the size of the inductive field. A flush mount antenna has a more confined field than a non-flush mount antenna. Similarly, a smaller diameter antenna has a smaller field.
Standard tag / antenna reading distance
Antennas ("xxx" = DTI for IO-Link, ANT for modular, DTE for all-in-one) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tag | Memory (Bytes) |
Block size (Bytes) |
Dimensions (mm) / Type |
xxx410 (M12) |
xxx411 (M12) |
xxx420 xxx424 (M18) |
xxx421 xxx425 (M18) |
xxx430 xxx434 (M30) |
xxx431 xxx435 (M30) |
xxx513 (40x40x54) |
xxx515 (20x7x48) |
xxx600 (120x50x113) |
Maximum reading distance (mm) | ||||||||||||
E80383 | 2000 FRAM |
8 | Ø50 Thru-hole disc |
15 | 25 | 10 | 45 | 35 | 60 | 80 | 45 | 170 |
E80384 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø50 Thru-hole disc |
15 | 25 | 15 | 50 | 35 | 65 | 90 | 50 | 190 |
E80380 | 8192 FRAM |
32 | Ø30 Thru-hole disc |
15 | 20 | 10 | 30 | 25 | 40 | 65 | 30 | 115 |
E80370 | 2000 FRAM |
8 | Ø30 Thru-hole disc |
12 | 20 | 10 | 30 | 25 | 40 | 60 | 30 | 105 |
E80371 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø30 Thru-hole disc |
15 | 20 | 15 | 40 | 30 | 50 | 65 | 35 | 140 |
E80349 | 2000 FRAM |
8 | Ø20 Disc |
10 | 15 | 10 | 30 | 25 | 35 | 50 | 25 | N/R |
E80377 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø20 Disc |
14 | 20 | 12 | 30 | 25 | 40 | 50 | 25 | 110 |
E80344 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø16 Disc |
10 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 20 | 35 | 45 | 20 | 90 |
UR0002 | 128 EEPROM |
4 | Ø9.5 Disc |
12 | 17 | 13 | 23 | 18 | 33 | 42 | 28 | 62 |
E80379 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | 80 x 50 Label |
22 | 35 | 20 | 65 | 50 | 85 | 120 | 50 | 250 |
E80410 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | 65 x 30 Label |
15 | 24 | 10 | 40 | 30 | 50 | 60 | 35 | 130 |
E80382 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | 65 x 30 Label |
15 | 24 | 10 | 40 | 30 | 50 | 65 | 35 | 130 |
E80407 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | 86 x 54 x 1 ID card |
22 | 35 | 20 | 65 | 50 | 85 | 120 | 50 | 230 |
E80387 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | 40 x 31 x 5 Key fob |
10 | 20 | 15 | 40 | 30 | 45 | 60 | 30 | 80 |
N/R = Not recommended
Allow a metal- / moisture-free zone of 2 times the tag diameter adjacent to the tag as shown in the image.
- Pre-tuned RFID tag with diameter D
- Non-metallic material
- Metal
Allow a metal- / moisture-free zone of 2 times the tag diameter in front of the tag as shown in the image.
- Pre-tuned RFID tag with diameter D
- Metal
When recessing a specialized RFID tag into metal, follow both guidelines below.
1. Size the recessed area at a minimum of 2 times the tag diameter as shown in the image.
- Pre-tuned RFID tag with diameter D
- Metal
Tip: A smaller recess may be possible, but this may create an inductive current that will affect the reliability of the installation. In some cases, a radial cut in the metal surface may be enough to interrupt the induction current.
- When selecting an antenna for this installation, consider the size of the inductive field. A flush mount antenna has a more confined field than a non-flush mount antenna. Similarly, a smaller diameter antenna has a smaller field.
Fully embedded tags
Some applications require a fully embedded tag, for example in a metal tool. ifm offers one tag, E80381, which is tuned especially for this type of application. Note the reduced read distance in the table below.
Pre-tuned tag / antenna reading distance
Antennas ("xxx" = DTI for IO-Link, ANT for modular, DTE for all-in-one) | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tag | Memory (Bytes) |
Block size (Bytes) |
Dimensions (mm) / Type |
xxx410 (M12) |
xxx411 (M12) |
xxx420 xxx424 (M18) |
xxx421 xxx425 (M18) |
xxx430 xxx434 (M30) |
xxx431 xxx435 (M30) |
xxx513 (40x40x54) |
xxx515 (20x7x48) |
xxx600 (120x50x113) |
Maximum reading distance (mm on metal) | ||||||||||||
ZH4036 | 2048 FRAM |
8 | Ø50 Thru-hole disc |
8 | 15 | 6 | 23 | 23 | 35 | 50 | 27 | 68 |
E80341 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø47 Thru-hole disc |
N/R | N/R | N/R | 15 | 10 | 20 | 35 | 10 | N/R |
E80342 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø34 Thru-hole disc |
5 | 10 | 5 | 25 | 10 | 25 | 40 | 15 | N/R |
UR0003 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø34 Thru-hole disc |
8 | 15 | 8 | 24 | 18 | 30 | 50 | 30 | 62 |
E80404 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø22 Thru-hole disc |
6 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 10 | 40 |
E80388 | 128 EEPROM |
4 | Ø12.3 Disc |
5 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 2 | N/R |
E80381 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø4.3 Embeddable Pill tag |
4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 10 | N/R | N/R | N/R |
E80343 | 112 EEPROM |
4 | 90 x 34 x 7 Rectangular tag |
10 | 15 | 5 | 30 | 25 | 40 | 55 | 25 | N/R |
UR0006 | 1280 EEPROM |
4 | 76 x 19 x 28 Rectangular tag |
10 | 22 | 10 | 30 | 23 | 35 | 50 | 25 | 85 |
E80348 | 256 EEPROM |
4 | 33 x 13 Triangular corner |
4 | 5 | N/R | 10 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 5 | N/R |
ZH4033 | 2048 FRAM |
8 | M8 x Ø22 Bolt tag |
10 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 10 | N/R |
N/R = Not recommended
High temperature tag / antenna reading distance
Antennas ("xxx" = DTI for IO-Link, ANT for modular, DTE for all-in-one) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tag | Process / Read temp (ºC) |
Memory (Bytes) |
Block size (Bytes) |
Dimensions (mm) / Type |
xxx410 (M12) |
xxx411 (M12) |
xxx420 xxx424 (M18) |
xxx421 xxx425 (M18) |
xxx430 xxx434 (M30) |
xxx431 xxx435 (M30) |
xxx513 (40x40x54) |
xxx515 (20x7x48) |
xxx600 (120x50x113) |
Maximum eading distance (mm on metal) | |||||||||||||
ZH4036 | -40...160 -40...85 |
2048 FRAM |
8 | Ø50 Thru-hole disc |
8 | 15 | 6 | 23 | 23 | 35 | 50 | 27 | 68 |
E80341 | -40...110 -25...85 |
112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø47 Thru-hole disc |
N/R | N/R | N/R | 15 | 10 | 20 | 35 | 10 | N/R |
E80404 | -25...120 -25...90 |
112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø22 Thru-hole disc |
6 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 10 | N/R |
UR0006 | -50...250 -50...80 |
1280 EEPROM |
4 | 76 x 19 x 28 Rectangular tag |
10 | 22 | 10 | 30 | 23 | 35 | 50 | 25 | 85 |
ZH4033 | -40...125 -40...85 |
2048 FRAM |
8 | M8 x Ø22 Bolt tag |
10 | 12 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 10 | N/R |
E80381 | -40...125 -40...85 |
112 EEPROM |
4 | Ø4.3 Embeddable Pill tag |
4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 10 | N/R | N/R | N/R |
N/R = Not recommended