COGNEX
INNOVATIVE 3D VISION SYSTEM OPENS UP NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR AUTOMATED INSPECTION An exciting new 3D vision system now makes 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.
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hen 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. Threedimensional 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.
All in one: The In-Sight 3D-L4000 simplifies 3D inspections by having image processing already integrated in the system.
03 - AUTOMATION Mag - JUNE 2021
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New possibilities for automatic 3D inspection This situation is now changing with the introduction of the In-Sight® 3D-L4000 vision system from machine vision specialist Cognex. 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 InSight 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.
