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.