5 proven methods for successful vision system installs in industry

Industrial Vision Systems (IVS) has been installing vision systems for the last 15 years into diverse industry sectors. Here are our top 5 tips for successful installation of a machine vision system.

#1 Lighting. Machine vision lighting is critical. Get a good image to start and you’re a step closer to installing a successful vision system. The selection of the machine vision lighting will be dictated by the position of the component, mechanical constraints and finally the surface finish and texture of the part under inspection. You can choose different coloured lights to help differentiate the color of the product under inspection and to help segmentation. In addition filters can be used (e.g. polarising, IR cut filters) in conjunction with the light to cut out ambient light and help achieve a quality image to start processing from.

#2 Camera resolution, field of view and optics. You need enough resolution to see the defect or measure to an appropriate tolerance. Modern vision systems use sub-pixel interpolation but nothing is better than having whole pixels available for the measurement required. If in doubt, over specify the camera resolution, most machine vision systems can cut down the image size from the sensor anyway.

#3 Software and Tools. Use the correct image processing for the inspection needed. Most vision solutions need some level of image pre-processing combined with segmentation prior to the classification of defects. In addition you need the ability to display good graphical data, save statistical information and image data for archiving results.

#4 Integration. Probably the most important aspect. Without correct integration and set-up of the vision system at the beginning your application will never work. If you have no experience of vision system installations why not use a third party engineering company who specialise in vision systems, such as IVS, to do it for you. The payback will be worth it, providing a right first time application deployment. Take a look at our many case studies of successful vision system installations.

#5 Planning and Test. Project manage the machine vision installation so that samples can be tested, and tested again. The vision system will need hundreds, if not thousands of samples to run through so that the variation in product types can be seen and catered for. Installation will need to work around current production needs. Planning is the key to success.