Any RFID experts here?

[MR2 Fan]

As part of my new 3D printer I'm working on....I'm trying to come up with a way for the printer to read the RFID chip on 4 different filament spools, so it recognizes which of 4 containers has which filament.

Setting up 1 RFID is easy, but I'm trying to figure out how to set up all 4, and not interfere with each other. Going to be using an Android tablet for an interface along with a custom mainboard (Arduino Duo based)

[mk]

(not even a novice)

If all becomes on at the same time collision is eminent and if tags can't change that you're stuck.

From google pictures it seems that additional hardware is again a big no no.
Can't understand that.

I'd connect "tanks" like printers did, like fixed colours to fixed places.

For dynamic positions I'd propably go with barcodes, handheld reader and initialization procedure.

[MR2 Fan]

cool, thanks for the input!

Edit: also wanted to clarify that it can't work like a 2D printer, because there's about 50-100 different filament options/colors/materials that could be used, it's not just a 4 color system (If you want that, you can buy the $3,500+ XYZ printer, but the parts probably won't be as strong)

[mk]

Clearly a dynamic approach then.

If tags are not there yet I'd use passive smart tags.
Then you can switch them individually on and off as you like.

For dumb tags and minimal hardware I'd use external system.

A reader with three buttons, start, skip and end.
First press start for empty magazine.
Then read a tag or press skip for next container.
Finally max. containers is reached or end pressed.

With external system you can minimize collicions with maximized choices.

If it's possible to alter printer's software I'd consider changing external dumb magazine to smart one with tractored reader.
Shouldn't be a hardware problem.

[mk]

Obviously fully automated then.

Keep in mind that R is radio and quite a bugger to do any distance thingies without sophisticated antenna structure.