Camera on a Robot

For certain applications, the camera is required to be mounted on a robot. This may be to inspect many different entities on a very large part or to inspect many different parts in the same robotic workcell. Mounting the camera on the robot provides the flexibility to inspect many different areas where a single camera cannot provide the required resolution or when using multiple cameras is not feasible.

Benefits:

	Flexible - Allows the user to inspect any parts that are within the reach of the robot.
	Single camera - No multiplexor switching between multiple cameras
	Part shape - Robot can articulate camera into different planes to inspect            3-Dimensional pieces

In certain quality checks it is required to measure a distance or dimension to ensure that the part is within a specified tolerance.  The vision system is used to measure an entity and provide feedback to the automated system to perform the next task or to scrap the part.  The system could have single or multiple cameras mounted in a fixed location or have a single camera mounted on a robot in a flexible inspection application.

This robotic inspection solution is easily installed on current manufacturing lines to provide measurement or quality checks.  As specifications for manufacturing are increased and the strive for 6-sigma is mandated, a robot inspection system can easily be added to an existing  system to improve quality and provide validation of part tolerances.

Feedback to Automation:

The measurement technique can also be used to provide feedback to adjust the next automated process.  This could include adjusting a robot motion program or other parameters in an automated process.  An example might be a vision measurement system that would measure the location of bolt holes prior to inserting bolts.

Benefits:

	Quality – Validates parts are within a specified tolerance
	Feedback to Automation – Identify feature for additional processing
	Exceptional Resolution - Generally within ± 0.25mm – 0.5mm

Quality

In certain quality checks it is required to inspect a part to make sure that certain entities are present on the component or the correct style entity is in place prior to continuing the assembly process.  This may be a check for machined holes, screws, bolts, gaskets, flanges, etc.  The vision system is used to validate processes that were completed in previous operations.  The system could have single or multiple cameras mounted in a fixed location or have a single camera mounted on a robot in a flexible inspection application.

In some inspection applications it is necessary to measure components to make sure that they are within specified tolerances.  For resolution with ± 0.5mm, Vision should be considered an effective and inexpensive solution.

Benefits:

	Quality – Validates previous processes where human operator or machine errors can be detected
	Continued Process – Identify feature for additional processing
	Measurement – Perform a measurement on the feature for quality check or continued process

Robot Articulation

For certain applications, the robot is required to pick up a component and manipulate it in the presence of a vision system.  This may be to inspect a part for measurement, quality or feature presence or location.  The use of a robot allows more flexibility than a fixed camera system with parts moving on a conveyor.  The robot system can manipulate the parts to inspect or measure more than one side of the part making the fixturing of the parts less critical. 

This robotic inspection solution is easily installed on current manufacturing lines to provide measurement or quality checks. As specifications for manufacturing are increased and the strive for 6-sigma is mandated, a robot inspection system can easily be added to an existing system to improve quality and provide validation of part tolerances.
 

Benefits:

	Flexible – Allows the user to inspect multiple sides of a part as well as many different part styles
	Single Camera – No multiplexor switching between multiple cameras
	Part Shape – Robot can articulate part under camera to inspect 3-Dimensional pieces