This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
This Website Uses Cookies By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.
Marc Stalker is global product manager of PC-DMIS Vision for Wilcox Associates, a Hexagon Metrology Co. (North Kingstown, RI). For more information, call (800) 343-7933 or visit www.pcdmis.com.
High volume producers of 2-D parts like electronics components have long used vision systems to inspect their parts. However, mainstream manufacturers of machined components are just beginning to adopt this technology.
To program vision equipment offline, all you need is software that can import the CAD model of the part and interact with it in a virtual environment for vision and multisensor system programming.
The vast majority of vision and multisensor equipment is handicapped with software that hasn’t changed much in a couple decades. So it’s no wonder that users would be very interested in upgrading the capabilities of existing vision systems with something as simple as a software upgrade.
Within the past five years, vision measurement has become a radically different animal in terms of capabilities and ease of use. The transformation began with the advent of computer-aided design (CAD)-based programming, which made the application of vision measurement analogous to other types of measuring technologies.
Multisensor measurement systems are capable of collecting geometric data from 3-D parts using various combinations of measurement technologies. For the most part, such systems are based on vision systems made more versatile by the addition of tactile probes as well as lasers, white light and other devices.
Almost all multisensor measurement systems today are equipped with cameras and tactile probes. Beyond these, operators choose from a range of additional sensors. Right now, white light probes are surpassing lasers as the most frequently selected add-on to many multisensor systems.