Low-cost open-source two-axis barcode-scanning platform for automated inventory of small storage grids

Manual inventory of storage racks in small warehouses, maintenance workshops, and teaching laboratories is time-consuming and exposes workers to awkward postures. Several small organizations do not deploy industrial warehouse management systems and continue to rely on ad hoc stock checks with handheld scanners. Here, we present a low-cost, open-source two-axis motion platform with an integrated two-dimensional barcode scanner, designed to automate the reading and logging of barcodes over a small storage grid. The hardware consists of a compact X–Y gantry mounted over a removable shelf, providing a usable scan area of approximately 40 x 40 cm within a 60 x 60 x 42 cm frame. Two stepper motors, driven by an Arduino Uno with CNC shield and A4988 drivers, position the scanner head above each cell of the grid in a parameterized scan pattern. The design only uses widely available mechanical and electronic components, and all CAD models, wiring diagrams, firmware, and host-side scripts are released under open-source licenses. We describe the mechanical structure, electronics, and firmware in sufficient detail for replication and adaptation, and provide build and operation instructions aimed at non-specialist users. At present, the prototype has undergone basic functional testing to verify end-to-end operation (gantry motion, barcode decoding, and data logging); however, it has not yet been characterized quantitatively. We propose a minimal validation protocol and example data formats for measuring throughput, read reliability, and scan-to-scan repeatability. The platform is can aid further development of small-scale inventory automation.