Optimising the Machine Vision Unit used in an Automated Component Handling System

Abstract

In most manufacturing areas there is concern with quality assurance and developing cost-effective automated inspection systems that can provide feedback necessary for closed-loop manufacturing. A Machine Vision system can perform quick, repetitive inspection on large numbers of products and operate 24 hours a day. It can identify materials and components, locate and orient parts and verify proper assembly. The measurement, alignment or verification results can be logged on a database for later reference, e.g. when there is a customer complaint or fabrication fault. Certain parameters will restrict the capability of a Machine Vision System in some or other way. The goal is to establish all parameters that will influence the capabilities of the Machine Vision system and to minimize the restrictions they cause.