Definition (quote-ready): On an SMT / electronics line, inline means the PCB label station sits in conveyor (or track) flow so every board is labeled in line takt. Offline means a standalone cell—tray, magazine, or operator load—buffered from the main SMT takt. Separately choose print-and-apply (on-demand print + vision place) or feeder / pre-printed labels (reel-fed artwork already printed). Vision finds the feature; servo places the label.
Buyers often say “SMT label mounter” or “PCB label mounter.” On Anjelio pages that maps to industrial vision labeling (CCD / robot-guided application)—not consumer smart-home brands, and not dataset annotation software. See the brand note if the domain check matters.
What “inline” and “offline” mean on an SMT / electronics line
These words describe material flow, not whether the station uses vision. An offline cell can still be vision-guided; an inline station can still use a simple feeder.
Inline — in the conveyor / track flow
Inline wins when boards already transfer automatically and you need every panel labeled without a side loop.
Plan for, early:
- Transfer height and flow direction relative to upstream/downstream equipment
- Part-present / handshake signals and available floor length
- Guarding and maintenance access without stopping the whole line longer than planned
- Cycle targets validated at line level—not only on a brochure rate
Anjelio catalogue families that speak to existing-line / PCB-tray flow include the Embedded Inline Vision Labeler (VL-EM) and the Track-Type Vision Labeler (VL-TR). VL-EM integrates conveying, vision location, and label feeding into an existing line; VL-TR is intended for boards and tray-carried products with track support and handoff defined for the line. Layout and cycle targets require line-level validation. Final configuration is subject to the mutually confirmed technical proposal and quotation.
Offline — standalone cell, buffered from main takt
Offline wins when the main SMT line cannot absorb another station’s cycle, or when work is NPI, rework, high mix, or simply short on floor length for another inline bay.
Typical load modes: tray, magazine, or operator place into a nest. Takt is yours to set—decoupled from the chip-shooter or AOI conveyor. Use offline when labeling is a side process that must not gate every board on the primary flow.
Pose variation in trays still benefits from vision; offline does not mean “open-loop only.”
Print-and-apply vs feeder (pre-printed) labels — a second decision axis
Inline vs offline answers where the station sits. Print vs feeder answers how the label content arrives. The two axes are orthogonal: you can combine either layout with either supply mode.
When print-and-apply wins
Use print-and-apply when data is late-bound or unique at the place station: barcodes, QR, serials, dates, or small-lot variable print. Anjelio’s catalogue family for this path is the Inline Print and Apply Vision Labeler (VL-PA): variable information is printed and applied in one workflow. The live PDP notes that barcode verification and production-system interfaces can be evaluated as configuration options—confirm artwork, label size, data transfer, and reprint rules in the RFQ. Do not treat that sentence as a blanket MES / Mark / protocol claim; those details belong in a written proposal (and deeper MES topics are separate from this chooser).
Catalogue reference rate on VL-PA: 800–1200 labels/h, subject to sample validation—not a guarantee for every board.
When feeder / pre-printed wins
Feeder (pre-printed) wins when artwork is stable, lots are long enough to justify printed reels, and you want a simpler peel-and-place station. Typical Anjelio families: VL-SS (single material) and VL-DD (two materials in one pass). Vision still corrects pose; you are not printing at the head.
If you mention VL-SS rate, use only the live catalogue figure: 1200–2000 labels/h, subject to sample validation.
Four combinations (decision cues only)
| Layout ↓ / Supply → | Print-and-apply (VL-PA path) | Feeder / pre-printed (VL-SS / VL-DD path) |
|---|---|---|
| Inline | Variable data on every board in takt; confirm data + interfaces in RFQ | Stable artwork, conveyor/track synced place |
| Offline | NPI / rework / buffered cells that still need unique print | Standalone peel-and-place without gating the SMT conveyor |
No invented cycle times in the cells above—lock UPH only after samples and the mutually confirmed proposal.
Decision checklist before you shortlist a machine
Answer these before picking a model code:
- How do boards arrive? Conveyor / track handoff vs tray / magazine / operator
- Must every board be labeled in main-line takt? Yes → lean inline; No / buffer OK → offline is fair
- Is label content stable or variable? Stable → feeder; unique / late-bound → print-and-apply
- How many materials per board in one pass? One → single-head feeder families; two → dual-head; print path → VL-PA first
- Is the target a feature or a fixed index? Feature / tray float → vision-guided place; generous fixed index may still allow a simpler traditional slap (see I2)
- Changeover mix? High mix favors clear offline buffers or fast feeder change; do not assume one nest fits all panels
Honest gate: if a traditional fixed-index applicator already holds yield, do not buy vision or print-and-apply for marketing language alone.
For ±mm claim language and acceptance conditions, use I6—this page does not invent Anjelio ±mm.
Which Anjelio families map to which choice
| Your constraint | First look | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Drop into an existing line (convey + vision + feed) | Embedded inline | VL-EM |
| PCB / tray-carried track flow | Track-type | VL-TR |
| On-demand print + vision apply | Print-and-apply | VL-PA |
| One pre-printed material, vision place | Single-head feeder | VL-SS |
| Two materials in one pass | Dual-head feeder | VL-DD |
| Offline cell driven by pose / reach | 4-axis robot (only if pose drives it) | VL-4A |
Head-count and robot vs fixed-head detail: I3 config chooser. Full catalogue: /products. What vision labeling is: I1.
This article stays on label application. Laser+label exists as a catalogue family name elsewhere; do not turn this page into a laser-vs-label comparison.
What to send for a quote
- Panel / board drawing with placement position marked
- Label size, stock, and whether content is pre-printed or print-on-demand
- How boards arrive (conveyor vs tray/magazine) and target layout sketch
- Target UPH as a requirement to evaluate, not as a promised catalogue guarantee
- Changeover mix and sample boards + label materials for validation
- Any questions about data interfaces or verification—ask in the inquiry; confirm only in the written proposal (no invented protocol claims here)
Start at /contact or sales@anjelio.com.
Next step
Share layout, label mode (print vs feeder), and samples. We confirm inline vs offline and the matching family—then lock the mutually confirmed technical proposal and quotation.