Using the eye is visual. The use of magnified imaging by eye or with a camera is a common part of manufacturing. Some of that use is for inspection. Some is for measurement. Some is online. Some is offline. There are vision-inspection systems. There are video-inspection systems. There isn’t a standard definition of each, and they’re different from each other.

Visual (not vision) inspection
We all know about visual inspection—inspection by the naked eye. Parts are inspected for proper color, fit and finish, presence or absence of labels or other parts, and much more. Visual inspection can be improved by lighting. Colors are most easily seen under bright, white light. Other inspections are done with lights of different wavelengths. For example, certain inks appear only under ultraviolet light. Inspections of these kinds can be performed by unaided observation of the part.

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