Introduction to Machine Vision in the Industrial Environment

What is Machine Vision? How can we use it? How can it benefit the Manufacturing Workforce of Tomorrow?

Every day, the manufacturing world (which we all live in) is improving, new technology hits the market and provides an indefinite level of potential for those who choose to use it. Through hard work and constant innovation this new technology is refined and improved so much that it lays the groundwork for the jobs that our children will be applying for in the future.

Among today's most advanced manufacturing technologies is Machine Vision, a topic that has been refined and improved by companies like Cognex since the end of the 20th century.

Bottle Inspection

What is Machine Vision?

To begin, we will start by defining what machine vision is:

Machine Vision is the use of devices for optical non-contact sensing to automatically receive and interpret an image of a real scene in order to obtain information and/or control machines or processes.

-The Society of Manufacturing Engineers

In other words, Machine vision is the use of cameras in the workplace to both take and analyze pictures in order to help make decisions on your manufacturing line.

What benefits come from Machine Vision?
Using Machine Vision in the workplace comes with a variety of benefits, to name a few:

Increase in Quality Control

Implementing camera systems on your manufacturing lines allows you the chance to collect real-time information and automatically provide necessary computer data feedback.

Ensures Quality Standardization

Protect your company's brand name by being able to make sure that every single part or product that gets inspected is now held to the same exact quality standards. No two people have the same eyes but multiple cameras can have the same programs.

Precise Non-Contact Measurement

With new cameras being released and resolutions being higher than ever before part inspection, gauging, and measuring has never been faster, more accurate, or more repeatable. Measuring a part on the line can now be done without stopping your machine or causing any downtime.

Increase Productivity

Replace older and slower methods of manual inspection with a more efficient camera system, reallocate those workers to a more important task while continuing to inspect faster and more accurately than ever before.

Decrease Capital/Labor Costs

Decrease your manufacturing cost by implementing a single camera system which can replace multiple manual inspectors on any line. Also, by having a quality inspection station early on your line can cut down on wasted materials by scraping unwanted parts early in your process.

How can I use Machine Vision?
Cognex has unique way of categorizing possible applications that could use machine vision, they promote the four major categories as Guidance, Identification, Gauging, and Inspecting ... otherwise known as GIGI.

Guidance - Use a camera to tell a robot where a particular part is on a pallet, conveyor, and bin etc.

Identification - Recognize shapes/colors, use OCR/OCV to read characters, read 1D/2D Barcodes

Gauging - How long is my part? Set a Fail output for a part shorter than 10mm or longer than 12mm

Inspecting - Which part is on my line right now? Is my part skewed? Are there any surface flaws?

To Learn more go to Cognex's What is machine vision?

How can I try Machine Vision?
If you have enjoyed learning about machine vision and would like to look into it a little more feel free to reach out to Gibson Engineering, the distributor of Cognex vision products through out New England, New York, and northern New Jersey.

Let us know if you interested in a product demonstration or would like to schedule a visit with one of our automation engineers!