In-line 3D measurement and inspection.

The Z-Trak™ Express 1K5 3D laser profiler series has been introduced by Teledyne DALSA. Purpose-built for cost-effective, in-line 3D measurement and inspection, the Z-Trak Express 1K5 is the latest innovation in the Z-Trak family. It delivers high-speed 3D inspection with real-time processing, achieving a maximum profile rate of 5,000 profiles per second across its full measurement range. This makes it ideal for a wide range of industries, including secondary battery production, automotive, lumber inspection, factory automation, and logistics.

Featuring a 1,700mm horizontal field-of-view, the Z-Trak Express 1K5 enables precise measurement and inspection of wide-body objects such as wooden planks, road surfaces, pallets, and automotive body parts, using a single sensor. It also supports the integration of multiple sensors in a variety of topologies, enabling advanced measurement and inspection tasks such as measuring the thickness of moving parts, performing continuous 360° inspections, and extending the horizontal field-of-view, all without compromising Z-resolution. To simplify deployment and reduce costs, the Z-Trak Express 1K5 synchronizes multiple sensors using a data cable and supports content-based triggering for enhanced flexibility.

All Z-Trak profilers are deployment-ready, delivering micrometer level measurements without the need for in-field calibration. To accommodate objects of varying sizes, shapes, colors, finishes, and material compositions, Z-Trak Express 1K5 includes real-time, user programmable profile enhancement functions, two-point HDR, and models with eye-safe red or blue lasers. Like all Z-Trak laser profilers, Z-Trak Express 1K5 performs on-board processing without compromising the profile rate.

The Z-Trak Express 1K5 series comes bundled with:

• Z-Trak 3D Apps Studio – a license for a powerful suite of software tools for in-line measurement and inspection
• Z-Expert – a graphical configuration utility
• Sherlock™8 – a field proven rapid deployment platform for machine vision, enabling seamless communication with PLCs and other devices via industry standard communication protocols such as TCP/IP, MODBUS®, ProfiNet® and more.

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@TeledyneDALSA  #PAuto #Manufacturing #TandM

Occlusion-free automated innspection.

"A new bench mark for high precision is set!"

SmartRay has launched the latest addition to its ECCO X industry-leading sensors. The ECCO X 025 Dual-Head is the first in the range to offer the full capabilities of the X family, delivering 100% inspection at metrology grade level combined with occlusion-free scanning.

While traditional single-head sensors experience shadowing from raised surface areas when the laser hits the target point but the camera is blocked from viewing it, the ECCO X 025 Dual-Head features a second camera head positioned symmetrically to the first, which significantly reduces occlusions and enables uninterrupted visibility even on complex surfaces.

The dual-head sensor ensures accurate 3D point capture across all parts of the sample without missing data that could occur due to shadowing, as the two cameras overcome this.

The ECCO X 025 Dual-Head is the first dual-head sensor to have X capabilities, which include up to 40 kHz scan rate and 4096 3D points per profile. It also comes standard in lc 3R, with higher scan speeds through shorter exposure times.

It is suitable for a wide range of applications that may be affected by shadowing, including the automotive sector, where the ECCO X 025 Dual-Head can meet the high inspection demands of structural and reflective parts like battery trays. In semiconductors and electronics, high precision is essential for inspecting small, shiny, metallic objects, including conductor wire bonding, BGA and also PCBA, and this new sensor is a game-changer in this process.

Claire Rathsack, ECCO Business Manager said: “We’re setting a new benchmark for high-precision, shadow-free 3D scanning with the launch of the ECCO X 025 Dual-Head. By integrating dual-head scanning into our industry-leading X platform, manufacturers can now achieve faster, more reliable inspection with precision, especially for challenging, reflective, or complex parts in demanding applications."

Key specifications include a field of view (FOV) of 25mm at mid-field, a typical measurement range of 20mm and a laser wavelength of 450 nm (brilliant blue), the ECCO X 025 Dual-Head offer accurate inspection and precise measurement.

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@SmartRay3D @codacomms #Testing #Metrology

Tools for in-line 3D measurement and inspection.

The Z-Trak™ 3D Apps Studio, a suite of software tools developed for in-line 3D machine vision applications has been introduced. Designed to work with Teledyne DALSA’s Z-Trak family of laser profilers, it simplifies 3D measurement and inspection tasks on production lines. Capable of handling 3D scans of objects with varied surface types, sizes and geometric features, Z-Trak 3D Apps Studio is ideal for factory automation applications across a wide range of industries including electric vehicles (EV batteries, motor stators etc.), automotive, electronics, semiconductors, packaging, logistics, metal fabrication, lumber, and many more.

It features streamlined tools for measuring object thickness, inspecting glue-beads, weld seams, and identifying defects on flat, inclined, and curved surfaces on machined, assembled, or extruded parts. It also includes anchoring and data enhancement features like reflection elimination to ensure reliable and repeatable results under diverse operating conditions.

The Z-Trak family of laser profilers features various multi-sensor topologies to enhance the field of view while preserving height resolution, to overcome occlusion, or to provide a 360° view of objects for inspection and measurements. Z-Trak 3D Apps Studio simultaneously acquires, processes, and analyzes 3D scans and 2D gray scale images (reflectance data) all with 3D visualization capabilities.

For easy integration and quick deployment, the Z-Trak 3D Apps Studio is accessible via Sherlock 8.30 (or higher), a field proven, no-code, graphical development environment for factory floor applications. Z-Trak 3D laser profilers include a Sherlock 8 license for in-line measurement applications.

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@TeledyneDALSA  @Notified #PAuto #Manufacturing

AI-powered smart camera.

Their next generation AI-powered BOA™3 smart camera for industrial automation and inspection has been announced by Teledyne DALSA. This new BOA3 smart camera is designed to leverage the best features from previous BOA generations and combine them with new sensor and AI (Artificial Intelligence) inspection technologies developed by Teledyne. BOA3 is a highly integrated vision system in a compact, rugged smart camera format designed to meet the needs of the most complex, demanding machine vision applications.

“The new BOA3 is an exciting next step in our smart camera development,” said Szymon Chawarski, Product Line Manager, Vision Systems. “Its modular and flexible architecture will allow us to offer new and powerful solutions for embedded machine vision inspections.”

It offers sensor resolutions from 1.2 to 12MP, integrated or C-mount lens options, onboard I/O, and includes easy-to-use machine vision software, all in one common platform. BOA3 smart cameras deliver the flexibility and uncompromised functionality to enable quick, cost-effective embedded machine vision deployments.

It also comes with iNspect™, an easy-to-use, no-code inspection development software with tools for positioning, part locating, pattern matching, measuring, barcode reading, feature or defect detection, including automatic reading of characters (OCR) based on a pre-trained AI inference network. Combine the broad range of traditional vision tools with powerful AI Classification or Object Detection models created in Astrocyte™, Teledyne DALSA’s GUI-based AI Trainer software.

BOA3 models with 1.2, 5MP, and 12MP monochrome sensors are available immediately. Color versions are planned for release at the end of 2024. New sensor and lens options will be added to the platform in 2025.

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@TeledyneDALSA  @Notified #PAuto #Manufacturing

High performance 5GigE Camera.

The Teledyne DALSA Linea™2 4k Multispectral 5GigE line scan camera is now in production. This new camera takes vision systems to the next level with its performance and value, offering a 5GigE interface with five times the bandwidth of the Linea GigE camera.

The Linea2 4k Multispectral 5GigE simultaneously captures high resolution RGB plus Near Infrared (NIR) multispectral images to reveal invisible features that cannot be detected using visible lighting alone. This makes it ideal for identifying hard to see defects, contaminants and security features in applications such as automated optical inspection, printing inspection, optical sorting systems, material grading and inspection, web inspection and many other machine vision applications.

Packed into a small form factor, this camera is powered by Teledyne’s high-performance quadlinear CMOS sensor with a 4,096 x 4 pixel resolution and 7 x 7 μm pixel size. There are four sensor rows for red, green, blue, and NIR channels, with spectrally independent color and NIR outputs for minimal crosstalk. Unlike prism-based cameras, the Linea2 cameras do not require high-cost optical lenses which helps significantly reduce the overall vision system cost.

@TeledyneDALSA #Manufacturing #PAuto

High-speed, high-resolution system is ideal for high-speed applications.

Cognex Corporation has released the In-Sight® 3800 Vision System. Designed for high-speed production lines, In-Sight 3800 offers an extensive vision toolset, powerful imaging capabilities, and flexible software to deliver a fully integrated solution for a wide range of inspection applications.

“The In-Sight 3800 offers twice the processing speeds of previous systems, performing tasks like a quality inspection in as little as one-third of a blink of the eye,” said Lavanya Manohar, Vice President of Vision Products. “This added power allows users to maximize throughput and accommodate faster lines while delivering the high accuracy that they have come to expect from the In-Sight product line.”

This new system is embedded with a comprehensive set of vision tools that includes Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based edge learning technology and traditional rule-based algorithms. Easy-to-use edge learning tools solve tasks with high variability and are set up in minutes with just a handful of training images. The industry-proven rule-based tools are well-suited to solve deterministic tasks with specific parameters.

Customers have begun using the In-Sight 3800, with impressive results. “When we selected Cognex, we were under the assumption that the processing time of the In-Sight 3800 would be 30% faster than the current In-Sight 7900 vision system being used,” said Nicolas Chomel, Technology Development Director at SIDEL, a leading provider of equipment, services and complete solutions for packaging consumer products. “However, during qualification tests, the In-Sight 3800 proved to be 50% faster in our application.”

IS3800-Vial-OCR

In-Sight 3800 is powered by In-Sight Vision Suite software, a common platform across all In-Sight products, which offers both EasyBuilder® and Spreadsheet development environments. The intuitive, point-and-click EasyBuilder interface guides users step-by-step through the development process, making it ideal for simple or common applications, while the robust spreadsheet interface enables finetuning of job parameters for advanced or highly customized applications.

“Flexible development options allow users to easily modify their application for new or changing requirements,” said Manohar. “In doing so, In-Sight 3800 offers a scalable solution for addressing both current, and future, factory automation needs.”

@Cognex_Corp @mepaxIntPR #Pauto

3D sensors for inspection.

SmartRay, has launched a new 3D sensor within its popular inspection series, to provide customers with "the latest cutting-edge technology".

Clare Rathsack, Business Unit Manager – ECCO Sensors, SmartRay, said: “As part of our ongoing commitment to providing customers with the best user experience, we will continue to work with all existing ECCO 65 and 75 customers to ensure their applications operate with the latest cutting-edge technology. We are confident the ECCO 85+ can provide the best alternative.”

Following the success of the ECCO 65 and 75 models, SmartRay continues to support customers with the new ECCO 85+ range. Their best price-performance sensor to date within its category, the 85+ is economic and compact, bringing superior 3D image quality for reliable inspection and measurement. The sensor is placed within industrial compact housing promising stability and flexibility for machine and robot integration.

The launch follows confirmation that the ECCO 65 and 75 series will no longer be applicable for new applications.

@SmartRay3D @codacomms #PAuto #Metrology

Powering semiconductor automatic optical inspection.

Facing Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) applications relating to, and caused by the shortcomings of consumer DRAM.

The recent launch of Innodisk AI provides a complete AI solution for industrial integrators, DDR5 series DRAM plays a key role for a variety of applications, including Automated Optical Inspection solutions. With the rise in demand for semiconductors, and the trend towards smaller and smaller processes, the need for automatic systems to detect semiconductor production defects has grown significantly. AOI systems are now used at every step of the semiconductor manufacturing process, and their stability is paramount to production efficiency.

Modern AOI systems face three core issues that Innodisk’s DDR5 RDIMM (registered memory) help to solve: memory bandwidth, accuracy, and high temperatures.

Memory Bandwidth.
Due to the high memory bandwidth needed for training models, AOI systems often struggle when lower capacity modules are used. Innodisk’s DDR5 RDIMM solves this issue with large capacities, including 32GB and 64GB modules.

Accuracy.
Due to semiconductor processes going down to the nanometer level, the resolution requirement and accuracy requirements for AOI systems has increased. Innodisk’s DDR5 RDIMM features a new dual 40-bit sub-channel architecture, and supports rigorous side-band ECC, which can handle AOI’s high-accuracy detection demands.

High Temperatures.
The high-speed and high-precision inspection that AOI systems provide generates high amounts of heat at the DRAM level, and this can cause overall system temperatures to rise sharply. Innodisk’s DDR5 RDIMM solves these heat concerns via a two-pronged strategy, involving an integration of both hardware and software. Two thermal sensors on the modules detect ambient temperatures, and two software tools: iCAP (Innodisk Cloud Administration Platform), and iSMART monitor temperatures and send warning messages.

Although memory technology is constantly being updated, Innodisk’s observation of the industry's current situation shows that customers' demands for new technologies vary greatly.

@Innodisk_Corp @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Manufacturing

Optical inspection.

For fast, high-precision scanning of manufactured materials.

The LMI Photon™ Optical Inspection System has been released by LMI Technologies. This non-contact system provides surface characterization of multi-layered, textured, mixed, and a wide range of other manufactured materials. The system is CE and FCC certified.

This system leverages Line Confocal and Laser Profiler sensor technology to provide out-of-the-box surface characterisation and reporting of multi-layered, textured, mixed and other precision-manufactured materials.

Photon™ leverages LMI's Line Confocal and Laser Profiler sensor technology to scan material surfaces with submicron precision, and at a level of quality and speed that outperforms competing technologies.

The system uses high-precision encoders, vibration-free movement, and automated stitching software to scan challenging materials--over large fields of view--in a variety of offline and at-line quality inspection applications, as well as laboratory and R&D processes.

Every Photon™ Optical Inspection System includes vacuum table, industrial PC (with onboard motion path planning and standard inspection software), display, keyboard, mouse, joystick, and calibration block. It's surface characterization capabilities include part alignment, automatic feature detection and profile extraction, multi-coordinate measurement, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), surface roughness analysis, and more.

Photon™ can be used to perform surface characterization and reporting of some of the most difficult applications including:

• Multi-layered cell phone display glass
• Curved-edge cell phone display glass
• Glue bead volume & position (transparent/translucent)
• Medical seal integrity
• PCB to chip solder ball / ball grid arrays
• Battery weld seam integrity
• Non-contact surface roughness on practically any material

“ Photon provides manufacturers with a versatile, high-speed scanning system that can be used in a wide variety of offline and at-line quality inspection, lab metrology, and R&D applications, where challenging material surfaces need to be characterized and reported on. And, this system comes in at a significantly lower cost than competing technologies such as optical microscopes and CMMs, while still delivering the high-precision measurement results production engineers demand,” said Len Chamberlain, Chief Commercial Officer with LMI.

The Photon™ Optical Inspection System is now available for order in limited stock.

@lmi3d @PresseBox #PAuto #Manufacturing

Surface inspection.

Automated online surface inspection solutions are becoming increasingly vital to improving efficiency and product quality, streamlining operations, and reducing costs and waste in industrial processes. Using these types of automated systems adds significant value in many ways. AMETEK Surface Vision provides the industry-leading SmartView® and SmartAdvisor® product lines, used by many customers worldwide.

SmartView detects, identifies and visualizes surface defects in a range of processes. It combines state-of-the-art software and hardware into an advanced surface inspection platform, providing high-speed defect detection, monitoring, and reporting.

To complement SmartView, SmartAdvisor provides high-speed, multi-dimensional video monitoring and process analysis. Easy to use, the system uses synchronized cameras strategically placed in the process, helping to identify the root cause of defects.

Together these systems help industrial process manufacturers increase their efficiency, productivity and quality:

By identifying defects fast – and early in the process – cost savings are achieved through less waste, and machine efficiency and yield rates are maximized Productivity and reliability are increased through process improvements Operators are removed from the direct process, improving health and safety Quality claims can be reduced through 100% surface inspection

Marco Saitta, Sales Account Manager at AMETEK Surface Vision said: “Our surface inspection solutions can be installed quickly so that the benefits are realised almost immediately. This leads to significant quality and reliability improvements, cost-savings, reduced waste and improved customer confidence, which is priceless.”

@surfacevision @codacomms #Automation 

Carbon fibre inspection.

The quality of aerospace-grade carbon fibre is still largely assessed manually, a process often rife with human errors. Automated monitoring solutions are necessary to ensure high-quality standards during production continuously.

Building off the success of the AirCarbon II automatic inspection system introduced in 2016, Fraunhofer IGCV, Europe's largest application-oriented research organization, partnered with SGL Carbon GmbH and Chromasens GmbH to develop the next generation AirCarbon III for monitoring carbon fiber production and adjacent processes. The AirCarbon III system relies on the Chromasens allPIXA wave line scan camera and a Chromasens Corona II LED line scan light to achieve seamless and continuous surface monitoring.

AirCarbon III detects protruding filaments, lint, and similar foreign bodies and distinguishes the types of defects in carbon fiber. Combined with data management and a user-centered interface, the AirCarbon III system enables carbon fiber production processes to be continuously and automatically monitored from precursor production through the various intermediate steps to the final sized fiber.

Compared to conventional CCD sensors, the significantly higher resolution of the Chromasens allPIXA wave camera's CMOS color line sensor makes the detection of the protruding filaments, which range from 7-12 µm in diameter, possible. To expand the sensor's measurement width, a novel and patented optical concept was designed and implemented that triples the Chromasens camera's field of view while keeping the data volume the same. The system was designed primarily for large-format line sensors up to 85 mm. However, it is transferable to smaller sensors or area sensors. To integrate the system quickly and easily into the process, it also provides autofocus, which also allows process-related fluctuations in the object plane to be compensated for.

Chromasens allPIXA wave camera

Since deep black materials such as carbon fibers absorb an extremely large amount of light, they are difficult to make visible in image processing. The particularly dark surface of the fibers therefore requires special industrial lighting to ensures that a high-contrast image is generated on the sensor. With the Chromasens Corona II illumination system capable of up to 3,500,000 lux, high-contrast images are provided that enable excellent fiber monitoring. The high resolution of the camera sensor allows defects to be made visible down to almost the filament level (up to 10 µm). In this way, even the smallest anomalies can be detected.

An image processing algorithm developed for fiber production was ported to a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). This is because high-volume image data is captured at up to one gigabyte per second. Thanks to FGPA, data can be processed in real-time. Downstream data processing was implemented in software developed in-house by Fraunhofer IGCV, which reliably handles defect detection. With a machine learning approach and selected training data, the reliable differentiation of the detected defects is successful. Thus, not only defects on the fiber material can be reliably detected, but also a separation according to defect types can be performed automatically. This eliminates the need for manual analysis while increasing the information content.

Fraunhofer equipped its own vision PC for AirCarbon III with all the necessary interfaces for CameraLink cameras, lighting control, Gig1000 Ethernet, and an enclosure to protect against flying fibers. After filtering and preprocessing, the image data is stored in a database on the PC. Data is analyzed using INFIMO (Inline Fiber Monitoring) software, which provides both roving-specific viewing of defects and a deeper understanding of the data.

The partners and scientific participants are already in the final phase of the project. Here, tests are being carried out at the pilot plant of the SGL Carbon, and data is being evaluated. The developed systems are being tested and improved both in the laboratory and in the pilot plant.

@chromasens @FraunhoferIGCV @sglcarbon @OConnellPR #Manufacturing #PAuto 

Handheld thermal imaging camera.

Features a professional quality thermal resolution and provides on-camera routing capability for more efficient inspections.

An E52 camera has been added to Teledyne FLIR's range of Exx thermal Imaging devices which currently include the E96, E86, E76 and E54 models. The new E52 camera offers professional quality thermal resolution to ensure that images are easy to read easy-to-read and on-camera routing capability to improve field survey efficiency. Ergonomic and easy to use, the E52 has the same user-friendly design to help professionals detect the early signs of building issues, identify hot spots, troubleshoot electrical and mechanical systems, and prevent problems before they cause damage that leads to expensive repairs.

The 43,200 pixel infrared resolution and four-times digital zoom provides a professional level of clarity to help detect subtle changes in temperature that are indicative of developing faults and issues. It delivers improved measurement results, so professionals can safely diagnose electrical faults or locate hidden anomalies at temperatures up to 550°C (1022°F), including harsh manufacturing and production environments where conditions are especially challenging, to help keep the workplace running smoothly.

FLIR Inspection Route™ is now offered as a standard feature on every Exx-Series camera and is complemented by the FLIR Thermal Studio Pro software with Route Creator plugin, sold separately as an annual subscription. The complete routing bundle enables professionals to create and export custom inspection and pre-planned routes, ideal for large or multi-location electrical or mechanical projects.

“The Exx-Series advanced thermal imaging cameras enable building professionals, inspectors, engineers, researchers, and facility maintenance personnel to do more than ever before with a handheld thermal camera,” said Rickard Lindvall, General Manager, Solutions Business at Teledyne FLIR. “With excellent thermal resolution and on-camera routing capabilities, the E52 Thermal Imaging Camera can help our customers make better, more informed decisions to complete the job more efficiently and effectively, at a competitive price point.”

The full range or Exx cameras include MSX® Image enhancement to include details from the visual camera to add depth and perception, the E52 camera is fitted with a 24° lens which provides a practical field of view suitable for most applications. The new E52 camera is available across Europe and Asia.

@flir @mepaxIntPR #PAuto 

Find failure issues faster.

Founded by former Apple engineers, Instrumental is a manufacturing optimization platform that proactively identifies issues in real-time as they appear on the assembly line. Their platform provides engineers and manufacturing teams with the complete data record they need to quickly discover new issues, complete failure analysis, communicate concisely with the factory team, and make process improvements in production. 

Instrumental helps remote engineering teams discover correlations between multiple data sets from the line, including functional tests and visual records, in order to find the root cause behind failures.

Using 20 MP Blackfly S cameras, Instrumental imaging stations capture high levels of detail required for inspecting small electronic micro assemblies where very small errors can lead to failures (among several other applications).

Unique features and ease of integration provided by Spinnaker SDK combined with our renowned 20 MP Blackfly S USB3 cameras were ideal for Instrumental’s manufacturing optimization platform. The system aggregates images and functional test data from throughout the supply chain, leveraging artificial intelligence to automatically rank potential root causes, enabling customers to accelerate issue resolution, gain faster yield, and improve quality. Read the case study to learn more and contact a specialist about Instrumental’s inspection solutions and Teledyne FLIR machine vision cameras.

• How Instrumental’s inspection platform delivers automated defect detection • Platform features that combine root cause analysis and reporting • Benefits of secure product data management, and native collaboration tools • Why Instrumental chose Teledyne FLIR’s 20 MP Rolling Shutter CMOS • Unique features, ease of use and integration enabled by Spinnaker SDK • How Teledyne FLIR enables Instrumental an easily customizable setup.

@flir @mepaxIntPR #Pauto Manufacturing

Reducing Waste by reducing defects.

AMETEK Surface Vision has helped a major Japanese paper product manufacturer improve the quality of its papermaking, as part of an upgrade to its production facility.

Based in Osaka, Japan, Rengo Co. Ltd provides paper solutions to support the flow of goods in a range of industries, including general packaging. Its Kanazu plant is a corrugated board base paper production facility, which underwent the upgrade in 2017.

Initially, AMETEK Surface Vision’s SmartView system was added to inspect the paper for defects. This was supported by a single-camera Advanced Winder Advisor (AWA) tool, which enables automatic stops at the detected defect location. Designed specifically for paper inspection systems, it allows immediate resynchronization after a web break or sheet splicing.

Due to the enhanced stopping accuracy of the AWA, defects are dealt with much faster, leading to increased production speed and product yield. This led to a further investment in the SmartAdvisor's web inspection system to reduce the number of paper breaks by identifying the cause of the defects.

They installed a SmartAdvisor system with 12 cameras alongside the existing SmartView system. In addition, the SmartSync tool was also applied, which integrates the multi-camera video monitoring power of SmartAdvisor with the flexibility and proven quality of SmartView surface inspection.

This enhanced level of surface inspection provided an immediate identification of the cause after the defect occurred, leading to rapid results and a reduction in the amount of waste paper created by defects. Additionally, paper breaks reduced by 17% year-on-year.

Takefumi Nakanishi, Rengo’s Deputy General Manager commented: “Before we installed SmartSync, it took me a while to find the information I needed. Now we have succeeded in narrowing down the paper break and defect information.

“Our next step will be to install more cameras and require a more accurate system performance, which we are able to do thanks to the modular nature of the AMETEK Surface Vision solution.”

The SmartView and SmartAdvisor systems can be applied to the full spectrum of paper, packaging, and tissue applications, enabling customers to inspect the surfaces of materials to improve quality, reliability, and speed.

• Read the full Rengo case study here.

@surfacevision @AMETEKInc @AmetekUK @codacomms #PAuto #Paper

New performance services enhance inspection systems.

A range of expert system services to ensure optimum levels of operation for the lifetime of its inspection and monitoring products is now available from AMETEK Surface Vision.

Customers will benefit from AMECare Performance Services throughout their system lifecycles. AMECare — which features a range of global services available 24/7 — offers assistance for a variety of needs, from initial set up to trainings and spare parts.

Starting from purchase, AMECare provides tailored support for the installation, alignment, calibration, and configuration of new systems. On-site engineers will ensure the system is designed for individual requirements, using unique recipes and configured communications to ensure seamless integration with existing plant systems.

AMECare also provides service contracts to ensure customers receive dedicated on-site and remote support in response to any critical system problems, as well as general maintenance and software updates.

Yamina Lansari, Global Manager of Technical Services for Surface Vision, said: “We understand our customers often have mission-critical systems where downtime is not an option. AMECare service and support engineers understand the importance of remote and on-site services to ensure the most appropriate action in the event of any problems.”

Preventative maintenance is included in the AMECare package to identify and solve potential problems early, before they cause significant, costly process downtime. This service can also lead to less general maintenance, fewer part failures, and optimal system performance.

Other services offered as part of AMECare include expert technical support, training to ensure operators get the best out of their systems, and advice on stocking the right spare parts.

Paul Stuyt, Global Manager Projects and Service at Surface Vision added: “With over 2,500 installations worldwide, we understand how important it is to keep your systems working. Our global team of service and project engineers are constantly reviewing and updating our processes, ensuring customers always receive best-in-class service and support to get the most out of their systems.”

Other benefits of using AMECare include reduced material waste, improved product quality, enhanced defect detection, and process optimization.

@surfacevision @codacomms #PAuto

Light industrial camera.

The latest additions to the FLIR Blackfly S GigE camera line – the BFS-PGE-50S4M-C (Mono) and BFS-PGE-50S4C-C  (Colour) have been introduced. These 5 MP models are particularly well suited for integration into small handheld devices with their impressive low weight of 53 grams and high pixel density ideal for integrating with compact, less expense lenses. Leveraging Sony’s IMX547 sensor they deliver exceptionally low-light performance with superior quantum efficiency and very low absolute sensitivity making them suitable for a range of challenging applications from biometrics to scientific research and more.

These new GigE cameras with power over ethernet also take advantage of their Lossless Compression feature, delivering 25% higher frame rate of 30 FPS without compromising on image quality. Read along for more detailed specs, pricing and to consult a specialist about your project requirements.

• 5 MP global shutter CMOS
• At 53 grams, the lightest weight camera with IMX547
• Lossless Compression enables 25% higher FPS (from 24FPS to 30 FPS @ full resolution)
• High QE and low noise yield a low Absolute Sensitivity Threshold (4.4 photon AST)
• Superior quantum efficiency (68% QE @ 525nm)
• Excellent low-light performance (2.49 e- read noise)
• Small pixel size enables less expensive, more compact optics
• High sensitivity (High QE and Low AST) reduces lighting system requirements

Customization Options and Special Requests
Researchers, manufacturers, and diagnosticians in specialized fields know the smaller the scale, the more important it is imaging devices are free from any particles that might obstruct or blur a magnified sample. Teledyne FLIR cleans and assembles all its machine vision camera optical assemblies in an ISO certified clean environment (ISO7 - Class 10000). This standard level of dust control is sufficient for most uses however, some applications require an even higher standard. In such cases, their Enhanced Dust Control Service is available on all area scan machine vision cameras except Blackfly S Board Level (USB3/GigE) and Firefly models.

@flir @mepaxIntPR #PAuto 

Inspecting vials.

Combating the Covid-19 pandemic is at the top of the global agenda. Around the world, efforts are being made to supply the population with vaccine as quickly as possible. But providing around 8 billion doses - at least one for every person in the world - is no easy task. 

Vaccine bottles production is subject to
particularly strict quality requirements.

Glass vials are a crucial factor in the delivery of the billions of doses of vaccine. About 50 billion of them are produced worldwide every year. Currently the producers of the vials are massively ramping up their production so as not to become the proverbial bottleneck in the supply chain. However, medical-grade vaccine vials are not standard glass tubes. Whether rolled-rim bottles, threaded bottles or ampoules, they are all made of the special glass borosilicate and require customized production lines. Any interaction between the container and the liquid inside must be prevented, as any chemical interference could affect the vaccine. Even the smallest scratch, crack or fissure can render an entire batch unusable, contaminate the line during the filling process or even lead to a machine standstill.

The demands on manufacturers are enormous: it is not only a matter of producing large quantities quickly, but also of maintaining particularly high quality standards. At the same time, increasing production capacity is usually time and capital intensive. A cost-effective, quickly integrated, extremely reliable solution for inspecting vaccine vials comes from Bad Königshofen (D): Isotronic GmbH, has developed the automatic tubular glass inspection system "VialChecker". IDS industrial cameras from the uEye CP camera family are used as image processing components for dimensional and surface inspection.

Application
Vaccine vials usually hold between 2 ml and 100 ml of liquid. They are on average 45 mm high and 11.5 mm wide. Manufacturers use borosilicate glass for this purpose to keep the vaccines in the required stable condition during storage and transport - even at extreme temperatures. The small containers for the precious contents are subject to high quality requirements. At the same time, large quantities currently have to be produced in the shortest possible time. What is needed is very fast quality control with high reliability in defect detection - how can that work?

Take high-performance cameras that have high-resolution sensors while enabling high frame rates and combine the GigE industrial cameras from the IDS uEye CP family with industrial-grade touchscreen monitors, control cabinet, connection to the respective production system and intelligent software. VialChecker is the name of the all-in-one inspection system for automatic dimensional and surface inspection of vaccine vials, available in two versions. Compliance with the dimensions is checked by the "VialChecker Geometry", while the "VialChecker Cosmetic" checks the surface of each individual bottle for flawlessness. The latter can optionally be used as part of the geometry inspection or take on more demanding tasks as a separate system.

The VialChecker Geometry contains more than 50 dimensional checks and performs tests for both standard and non-standard tubular glass products with a measurement accuracy of up to 0.01 millimetres. Defects such as cracks, scratches, chips, inclusions or stains, on the other hand, are detected with an accuracy of 0.1 square millimetres thanks to the powerful cameras. Intelligent software enables accurate fault description analysis and classification.

Testing takes place at various points in the manufacturing process, such as directly after the bottles have been formed or shortly before packaging. A system usually supports between three and eight cameras, so that different measuring stations can be integrated along the production line. "Depending on customer requirements, the system is specified or supplemented with appropriate sensors or cameras, for example to measure glass thickness," explains Valentin Mayer-Eichberger, Chief Operating Officer at Isotronic. "If more than eight cameras are needed, several computers are sent into action." For example, they observe the laterally rotating tube glass or the glass bottom and provide high-resolution images.

The cameras capture at least 20 images per rotation, allowing the VialChecker to check up to 120 vials per minute with a very high degree of accuracy. It is up to 0.01 millimetres for dimensional tests and 0.1 square millimetres for cosmetic tests. In addition to real-time, low-latency processing, there is detailed logging of system operation. The high reliability of the software ensures that the products are within the geometric product specification and are error-free, while meeting the quality requirements.

Depending on the requirements and the testing task, different camera models are needed for the measuring station. Currently, Isotronic mainly uses the IDS camera family GigE uEye CP. They offer maximum functionality with extensive pixel pre-processing and are perfect for multi-camera systems such as the VialChecker thanks to the internal 120 MB image memory for buffering image sequences. The cameras deliver data at full GigE speed and, thanks to PoE ("Power over Ethernet"), also allow single-cable operation up to 100 meters.

One of the preferred models is the UI-5250CP-M-GL with a 2 megapixel CMOS sensor, one of the most sensitive sensors in the IDS portfolio. It is available in two versions, mono and colour, and is characterised by outstanding light sensitivity. In addition, it offers various switchable shutter modes that enable the image-true capture of moving subjects or the particularly noise-free recording of high contrasts. "This is particularly important for the fast, reliable detection of defects on the glass surface," says Valentin Mayer-Eichberger, explaining the choice of the uEye+ camera from IDS. This allows either several characteristics to be checked simultaneously or the AOIs to be captured in an exposure series with different parameters.

This small powerhouse with a frame rate of 52 fps is thus predestined for the various inspection tasks along the production line - at high speed: "The system enables high-speed processing, it manages up to 120 cycles per minute," Valentin Mayer-Eichberger underlines. Besides the convincing performance of the cameras, however, other factors play a role: "We appreciate the uniformity and durability of the IDS cameras. And the service," says Gregor Fabritius, Managing Director of Isotronic, explaining the historically grown, long-standing relationship with IDS.

The IDS cameras are directly connected to the system using C++. A software algorithm developed by Isotronic GmbH detects errors and outputs the error message via the monitor. "We not only have a measurement system that reports good/bad, but also records the quality of each product and displays statistics over time. The machine adjuster uses this to check that everything is still correct and that the bottle has been adjusted well."

The Isotronic software has an intuitive, user-friendly interface that has been developed to meet the needs of customers. In addition, the VialChecker is optimised for remote support with continuous updates and software improvements. Valentin Mayer Eichberger is convinced: "This is the basis for a dynamic, sustainable system. We use machine learning for demanding tasks such as error classification.” On-site or cloud-based solutions for handling large amounts of data, as well as detailed analytics and process optimisation are part of the scope of services. It is possible, for example, to analyse the frequency of faults over time as well as to monitor tool wear and raise alarms. The cloud service for production monitoring is extensive: "At the end of production, we calculate charts per quality measure. Certificates on the accuracy of the measurements can be issued for the acceptance of the measurement system."

Experts estimate that global demand for vaccine vials will further increase by one to two billion over the next two years. The head of AstraZeneca, one of the major vaccine producers, also warned early in the pandemic: "There are not enough vials in the world." Vaccine vial manufacturers worldwide are ramping up production of the glass that is supposed to protect the precious liquid. To ensure that this valuable liquid is protected accordingly, automatic, high-performance testing systems are more in demand than ever to guarantee the immense demand for quality. "In addition, there is a general growth in the industry and in demand from the Asian region - and that even before the pandemic," notes Valentin Mayer Eichberger. Good prospects for systems like the VialChecker: It helps producers avoid becoming a bottleneck in the vaccine supply chain.

@IDS_Imaging @isotronic_bv #PAuto #Medical #coróinvíreas #COVID19 #coronavirus

3D vision system for automated inspection.

An exciting new 3D vision system is making inspecting parts in 3D as easy as using a 2D smart camera. While optical inspection in 3D previously required a great deal of programming but offered few benefits, Cognex's new technology brings better image quality, simplified application development, and a wide range of true 3D inspection tools - significantly expanding the range of applications in industrial automation.

When it comes to inspecting parts, users can choose from several established technologies. If the decision is made in favor of machine vision, the question arises: Do you need an inspection in 2D or 3D and how much effort is required to implement the respective solution? Depending on the application, a proven 2D system is then often the first choice, even if the (theoretical) advantages of 3D image processing may be obvious.

There are two reasons for this. The first: Until now, there was no 3D vision system that met the requirements of most inspection applications in terms of ease of use and cost. Three-dimensional vision inspection was simply too expensive and complicated for most companies, and there were also few vision tools that worked with true 3D images. So, an additional PC had to be installed to actually solve the application, resulting in significantly more space and programming requirements. The second reason: 2D inspection with a smart camera works very robustly and with great ease of use. Therefore, in many cases, there is or was no real need to make the costly and difficult transition to a 3D inspection system

New possibilities for automatic 3D inspection
This situation is now changing with the introduction of the Cognex In-Sight® 3D-L4000 vision system. This unique smart camera enables engineers to solve a range of inline inspection, guidance and measurement applications on automated production lines quickly, accurately and cost-effectively. It offers a comprehensive suite of true 3D vision tools that are as easy to use as Cognex's industry-proven 2D vision tools, thanks to the familiar and robust In-Sight spreadsheet environment. In addition, the patented speckle-free blue laser optics are an industry first, enabling the capture of high-quality 3D images.

Blue laser optics make the difference
Users of 3D image processing are probably familiar with this: Typically, 3D imaging systems struggle with speckle - light effects that occur when laser light is scattered from the surface of the part back to the imaging system. Speckle is a problem in existing 3D vision systems because it changes the appearance of the part and reduces image accuracy. The system can only estimate where the laser is located. To date, no 3D system has been able to eliminate speckle and thus produce good enough images to perform reliable inspection applications in 3D.

However, the type of laser used in the In-Sight 3D-L4000 is a significant technical advance in laser-based imaging - and a reason for the excellent results delivered. The 3D-L4000 eliminates speckle by using a special laser in the blue light range. As a result, the imager sees a clear laser line, resulting in higher accuracy 3D images. In addition, the laser provides its own illumination for both 3D and 2D images - the system does not require any external light.

On board: Intelligent processing on real 3D point cloud images
In most "traditional" laser-based 3D vision systems, the laser head captures an image that is sent to a PC for processing. At the same time, they offer a limited selection of tools, most of which can only be used for simple height measurement. The dependence on PC programming makes 3D inspections cost-effective only for very complex applications. The In-Sight 3D-L4000, on the other hand, has its processing power built right in. This allows the vision tools to perform true 3D point cloud inspections without the need for an external controller or third-party PC-based software. A nice side benefit is that with onboard processing, image analysis can be completed in a very short time.

In the past, 3D visual inspection was difficult to understand and use. Most existing systems transform 3D data into 2D images. In doing so, the height of a point is represented as a gray value. So to understand the height information, one uses a false color representation of the rasterized 3D image in the 2D image. In this representation it is very difficult to see and successfully process the nuances of the 3D part. A common method is to convert a section of the rasterized 2D image into a 1D height profile. However, with the new technology used in the 3D-L4000, the image is a pure point cloud; what you see and evaluate is a true 3D image, not a reduction to a 1D height profile. And since 3D inspection is new to most users, the 3D tools are designed so that everyone can fully understand and use the new three-dimensional tools. In other words, you are essentially doing the same thing, but unlike before, you are working on an image that looks exactly like the part itself.

Intuitive setup with advanced 3D inspection tools – without programming skills
Another new feature of the In-Sight 3D-L4000 is the use of the intuitive In-Sight Spreadsheet development interface to quickly and easily set up and run 3D applications without the need for programming or external processing. It simplifies application development and streamlines factory integration with a complete I/O and communications feature set. It also allows 2D and 3D vision tools to be combined in the same application, resulting in faster deployments.

The In-Sight 3D-L4000 includes all the traditional 3D measurement tools expected of a 3D vision system, such as for plane and height determination. In addition, it has a comprehensive set of 3D vision tools such as PatMax3D, Blob3D, 3D Geometry and many more, designed from the ground up for inspections in a real 3D space. This makes it easy to measure or identify parts or irregularities on the surface, as well as gaps, edges and angles - even for parts with complex geometry such as pistons or hinges.

A wide range of applications
The new 3D-L4000's technical advancements and user-friendly features make it ideally suited for a wide range of applications in a number of industries, including food and beverage, consumer products, packaging, automotive, medical devices and electronics. Its great ease of use and the fact that no external PC, and therefore no programming skills, are required for setup and processing finally make laser-based 3D imaging a viable and affordable option. Automation engineers now truly have the choice between 2D and 3D.

@Cognex_Corp @CognexEurope @mepaxIntPR #Pauto 

Videoscope for underground utility vaults.

FLIR Systems has announced the FLIR VS290-32™, an industry-first, videoscope that combines thermal imaging and a visible camera specifically designed for safer and more efficient inspections of hard-to-reach underground utility vaults. The VS290-32 is the company’s first industrial-grade, electrical safety-rated, flexible dual-sensor videoscope on a replaceable, two-meter-long camera probe.

“The ruggedized and electrical-safety rated videoscope with MSX will drastically increase the ease of thermal inspections within tight, hard-to-reach places at power generation plants, power distribution systems, manufacturing facilities, and for public safety, and building diagnostics inspections,” said Rickard Lindvall, General Manager, Solutions Business at FLIR Systems.

For use in the most demanding environments, the VS290-32 is CAT IV 600 V safety rated for electrical inspections, along with an IP67-rated camera tip and IP54 base unit to protect against dust and water. The device features FLIR Systems’ patented Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX®), which improves image clarity by embossing visual scene details onto full thermal images, providing crucial context to accurately and safely assess and identify potential issues to prevent blackouts and asset failures. A low-profile tip and bright LED work light provides illumination for MSX in dark environments, including under manhole covers or in other tight spaces such as attics, within HVAC systems, and inside machinery.

The VS290-32 features a FLIR Lepton® thermal sensor and offers the option of hot/cold color alarms, or isotherms, to quickly identify areas of concern across a temperature range from -10 to 400 degrees Celsius (14 to 752 degrees Fahrenheit). The device includes a dual battery charger along with lithium ion rechargeable batteries that each provide up to six hours of continuous use.

“Safety is Con Edison’s top priority,” said Andrew Reid, Section Manager for Engineering and Analysis in Distribution Engineering at Con Edison. “This new tool allows our crews to safely, efficiently, and effectively inspect vented manholes and identify potential problems without having to remove the cover or even having to enter the structure. This reduces the physical effort required by our crews, the time it takes to complete an inspection and enhances data collection activities to support our ongoing infrastructure planning and maintenance.”

@flir @ConEdison @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Power 

Inspection of drains.

Ashtead Technology has been appointed as the Preferred Rental Partner for the CCTV inspection equipment needs of Drain Doctor, Britain’s largest drain clearance and emergency plumbing company. With over 57 locations across the territory, the deal will ensure that all Drain Doctor’s plumbing and drainage engineers are provided with quick and easy access to the latest inspection tools including crawlers, push rods and ATEX systems, from leading brands such as MiniCam, iPEK, Pearpoint and Wohler.

Drain Doctor’s Purchasing Manager Steve Pickwell, says: “With Drain Doctor franchisees spread across England, Scotland and Wales, and engineers serving both residential and commercial customers, every job is different, and the equipment requirement varies accordingly. Access to Ashtead’s fleet of inspection tools will therefore help to avoid significant investment costs and ensure that we are able to quickly solve customers’ plumbing and drainage problems.”

Drain Doctor has been providing professional plumbing and drainage services in Britain since 1994, and CCTV drain surveys form an important component of the services provided. This is because remote visual inspections help to identify the cause of problems quickly and cost-effectively, without having to dig holes or trenches. Typically investigations are undertaken in response to the problems caused by blockages, leaks, displaced joints, tree root ingress, pipe corrosion, scale, debris or fat accumulation, cracked or collapsed drains, or even poor installation. In addition, drain inspections are required for pre-tenancy, homebuyer and vendor surveys, as well as build over surveys at construction sites.

Expressing his delight with the announcement, Ashtead Technology’s Regional General Manager, Ben Travis said: “We have invested over £198k in our CCTV inspection rental fleet in the past 12 months which demonstrated to Drain Doctor our ability to serve all of their franchisees. Our partnership with Drain Doctor will help them to deliver peace of mind to customers, by ensuring that their engineers have access to the most appropriate CCTV equipment for every job.”

#Environment #Waste @ashteadtech @_Enviro_News #Britain