System and method to automatically count components embedded or coupled with assembly and storage equipment

An automatic parts counter, comprising:

• an x-ray imaging system configured to image parts disposed in at least one of a component reel, component trays, and cut tape;
• an image processing algorithm in the x-ray imaging system, the algorithm identifying a part type after being x-ray imaged as one of a plurality of different part types for x-ray imaging and configuring the x-ray imaging system to properly x-ray image subsequent parts of the identified part type and properly count the x-ray imaged parts, without requiring manual intervention by an operator;
• a docking interface for docking the parts counter to a storage unit, the interface configured to channel parts in a removably docked storage unit;
• and,
• wherein the docking interface is a plurality of docking interfaces, enabling the x-ray imaging system to x-ray image parts from a plurality of docked storage units.