The robotics industry is not slowing down. Last year the robotics industry shipped more robots to North America than ever before. And companies today are figuring out that they can utilize machine vision and robotics in many new applications.

The cameras, lenses and illumination used in a machine vision system all make significant contributions to the overall quality of the images that are produced. The rapid developments in CMOS image sensor technology over the last few years have created significant challenges for lens manufacturers. 

Lighting selection and setup play a critical role in the success of a machine vision application. Vision systems rely on specific types of lighting to optimize contrast or to highlight a specific feature of interest. 

The L.S. Starrett Company has introduced its AV450 Automatic Vision System. Versatile, accurate, fast, and American made, the new 3-axis vision system allows users to cost-effectively achieve high throughput in their inspection process, and is ideal for both repetitive, larger part-run applications and routine quality assurance.

The L.S. Starrett Company has introduced its AV450 Automatic Vision System. Versatile, accurate, fast, and American made, the new 3-axis vision system allows users to cost-effectively achieve high throughput in their inspection process, and is ideal for both repetitive, larger part-run applications and routine quality assurance.

Rapidly evolving, high-quality imaging technology is ushering in a new world of vision guided robotics (VGR) for manufacturers in diverse industries. 

Vision systems provide peace of mind when it comes to production quality but they can also generate valuable data that tracks process variability. Diving into the world of vision data can seem overwhelming, but with the right tips and tricks you can set up a system to work for you.

First introduced in the 1980s, smart cameras or “smart sensors” combine lenses, embedded sensor, processors, interfaces and software together into small, all-in-one vision systems.

Offering superior specific strength, even compared to other composite materials, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is used in aircraft and some transport vehicles for the purpose of saving fuel through weight reduction. 

Machining metal has its challenges, but machining glass is another matter—one that Dan Bukaty Jr., president of Precision Glass & Optics (PG&O) is well schooled in.