High resolution lenses for machine vision — standard and custom lens design
The Market Grows For Laser-Based Technology
High Resolution Lenses for machine vision, instrumentation, inspection and vibration-sensitive applications. Standard and custom hi-res lens assemblies.
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Manufacturers understand that laser-based machine vision tools can enhance myriad areas of production including assembly, inspection and prototyping. Machine vision tools are considered more accurate and faster than human-based line work. Enhancements in the technology have also enabled better three dimensional visualization throughout the manufacturing process and the technologies continue to evolve.
There are many big players in the machine and laser-based machine vision technology arenas and they continue to work toward making the systems more user friendly and more affordable for more manufacturers.
When laser machine vision developers were asked what they considered the next “big thing” for the industry many of them noted that power, price point and quality were the major enhancements. Additionally the reduction of costs of the high power lasers necessary to operate the machine vision applications were dropping as well which will put the technology in reach of more manufacturers.
As with any technology and its implementation there are challenges in both integrating it into the current processes as well as getting buy in from company owners. What are the biggest challenges the industry sees currently? Price continues to top the issue. Quality control and integration into current practices is a close second as well as the sometimes tedious calibration of the 3-D measurement applications required to run products on a production line. Laser safety is sometimes raised as an issue by those who’d be working with the technology on a daily basis but it’s been proven that the lasers in these devices are “eye-safe” when used properly.
The areas in which this type of technology are really taking hold include processes that require triangulation and measurement where three dimensional information is crucial. Using it in in large volume laser scanning applications in industrial and manufacturing environments that are considered “harsh” for humans to be involved in are also viable for this technology. Medical, general manufacturing, biophotonics and automotive fields are also embracing the technology.
Universe Optics is a manufacturer of standard and custom lens assemblies for scanners, CCTV, CCD/CMOS, medical imaging, surveillance systems, machine vision and night vision systems.