1998 Vision Systems Buyer's Guide
by Dirk Dusharme and Laurel Thoennes
Ever since vision systems arrived on the market nearly two decades ago, an increasing number of manufacturers are coming forward with new products and services to meet the growing demand for video inspection and noncontact measuring in product manufacturing.
The many different vision systems use a variety of technologies, including measuring and inspection microscopes, miniature cameras, high-resolution cameras mounted on CMMs, lasers and x-rays. Components common to most systems include cameras, frame grabbers, PCs and software.
The uses for vision systems are equally as varied. Online gaging and measurement, orientation, presence/absence, parts sorting, detecting foreign material, high-volume part inspection and part installation verification represent just some of the ways this important new manufacturing technology is put to work.
In the following text, you'll find the 1998 Quality Digest Vision Systems Buyers Guide. This year's guide features more than 50 vision systems manufacturers that responded to our information requests.
The guide presents an alphabetical listing of vision systems companies, including the company's contact information (address, phone, fax and Web address) and descriptions of its products and services.
As with all of our guides, the Vision Systems Buyers Guide is in no way meant to endorse or exclude any particular organization. It is intended to assist our readers in the search for the products and services they need. To ensure the guide's accuracy, we only list information provided to us directly by the vendors.
If you find this guide helpful or have any observations you would like to share, please feel free to telephone, fax or e-mail us at vision@qualitydigest.com .
A.A. Jansson Inc. 2070 Airport Road Waterford, MI 48327 Ph. 248-674-4811 Fax 248-674-1234 ww.aajansson.com
Optek vision systems, Opti-Flex vision systems and used vision systems -- rebuilt and updated vision-based CMMs.
Assurance Technologies Inc. 396 Fenton Lane West Chicago, IL 60185 Ph. 630-231-4800 Fax 630-231-8844
Online machine vision systems.
Boeckeler Instruments Inc. 4650 S. Butterfield Drive Tucson, AZ 85714 Ph. 520-745-0001 Fax 520-745-0004 www.boeckeler.com
Boeckeler introduces the VIA-300 Windows-based image measuring, marking, archival and transmission software package. With a Boeckeler knob controller, users have the precise and quick feel of measuring images that is the hallmark of other Boeckeler VIA measuring products.
Brown & Sharpe Custom Metrology 51170 Grand River Ave., Unit B Wixom, MI 48393 Ph. 800-344-8372 Fax 248-347-5906 www.tesa.thomasregister.com
Noncontact profile measuring systems. Several different models. Designed specifically for precision turned parts and screw machine parts. Typically reduces inspection time up to 90 percent.
Burton Precision Co. Inc. 5737 Vinton N.W. Comstock Park, MI 49321 Ph. 616-784-1756 Fax 616-784-4368 burton.digiweb.com
Automated Vision -- Real-time process monitoring for physical defects as well as dimensional inspection.
OGP Smart Scope -- Video-based coordinate measuring. CAD integration with automatic scanning capabilities. Touch probe capabilities using Renishaw TP-20.
Clemex Technologies Inc. 800 Guimond Longueuil, PQ J4G 1T5, Canada Ph. 514-651-6573 Fax 514-651-9304 www.clemex.com
Clemex ImPak -- A robust turnkey image analysis system with Clemex Vision software.
Cognex Corp. One Vision Drive Natick, MA 01760 Ph. 508-650-3000 Fax 508-650-3344 www.cognex.com
Checkpoint 900C -- High-speed color vision system for the PC. Features a suite of color image analysis tools for verifying, inspecting and sorting products based on their color. A Windows-based development interface combines ease-of-use with the power and flexibility of a programming language.
MVS-8000 product family -- Cognex's new series of industrial machine vision systems. Offers both frame grabber and embedded CPU hardware configurations, full library of MMX-accelerated vision software tools and a choice of PCI, compact PCI or VME bus architectures.
PatMax -- Object and pattern location software technology. Able to locate objects with up to 10 times greater accuracy than traditional technologies despite changes in the object's angle, size or appearance.
Compix Inc. Imaging Systems 705 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066-6426 Ph. 724-772-5277 Fax 724-772-5278 www.cimaging.net
SimplePCI -- Compix provides high-performance quantitative imaging systems and software for light microscopy. Materials science and biological science applications supported.
Computer Recognition Systems Inc. 639 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02139 Ph. 617-491-7665 Fax 617-491-7753 www.crs-vision.com
CRS Reader -- State-of-the-art, online machine vision system that performs generalized, unconstrained optical character recognition.
Scanmaster -- A versatile machine vision system that processes data from line scan cameras to provide high-resolution inspection and measurement of moving items.
Videogauge -- Noncontact precision measurement of length, width, height, thickness and radius in milliseconds to micron accuracy.
Coreco 6969 Transcanada Highway #142 St. Laurent, PQ H4T 1V8, Canada Ph. 514-333-1301 Fax 514-333-1388 www.coreco.com
Bandit -- A next-generation board that combines the seamless integration of a frame grabber with a high-speed VGA card. A single slot PCI board solution, Bandit transfers digitized video data directly into the on-board frame buffer and displays live video in a window.
Cobra/C6 -- The first C6201-based vision engine for the PCI bus. A powerful color and monochrome image processor, the Cobra/C6 features the fastest programmable image processing devices in the industry. With six ALUs and two multiplier units, 64 Kbytes of on-die cache memory and an integrated software language for parallel processing, the C6 can execute 1,600 million instructions per second.
Python/C6 -- A high-performance quad DSP board based on Texas Instruments' TMS320C6201 digital signal processors. A single slot PCI card, the Python/C6 features 6,400 MIPS, 100/200 Mbytes/sec. inter-DSP communication links and provides up to 16 Mbytes/DSP of 100 MHz SDRAM, up to 512 Kbytes of 200 MHz SBS RAM and 4 Mbytes shared memory.
CR Technology 27752 El Lazo Road Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-3914 Ph. 949-448-0443 Fax 949-448-0445 www.crtechnology.com
RTI-6500 -- A fast, online PCB vision inspection system that delivers accurate and reliable production verification.
RTI-6520 with Solder Inspection -- An in-line PCB inspection system used for detecting defects. The system uses neural net solder joint inspection.
RTI-XR -- The first automated in-line PCB inspection system to combine vision and X-ray. The system is designed to check every feature on assembled PCBs.
Deltronic Corp. 3900 W. Segerstrom Santa Ana, CA 92704 Ph. 714-545-0401 Fax 714-641-0946
DVC 120 Video: fully automated DVC 115 Video: semi-automated DVC 110 Video: manual DVC 220 Video: 18" x 24" stage travel
Design Technology Corp. 5 Suburban Park Drive Billerica, MA 01821 Ph. 978-663-7000 Fax 978-663-6841 www.design-technology.com
Design, building, installation and integration of complete handling and vision systems for assembly, inspection, gaging and packaging applications. All major vision platforms supported.
Don Richetts Co. 828 E. Valley Blvd. San Gabriel, CA 91778 Ph. 213-283-8515 Fax 626-280-5510
Optical comparators, video comparators and microscopes
EMCO InterTest Inc. 27-1 Ironia Road Flanders, NJ 07836 Ph. 973-927-2900 Fax 973-927-8004 www.emco.net
Specialists in visual inspection products and services.
EPIX Inc. 381 Lexington Drive Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 Ph. 847-465-1818 Fax 847-465-1919 www.epixinc.com
4MEG Video Model 12 -- ISA bus image capture board for analog, digital, line scan, high-resolution and high frame-rate cameras.
COC402 -- Add-on board for the 4MEG Model 12 featuring two TMS320C40 DSP processors to enhance processing capabilities up to 550 MOPS.
Image Processing Software -- Windows 95/98, Windows NT, DOS DLLs and menu-driven packages supporting all EPIX hardware.
PIXCI D -- PCI bus image capture board for digital area and line scan cameras.
PIXCI D32 -- PCI bus interface board for high-speed, multitap digital cameras.
PIXCI -- PCI bus image capture board for NTSC, S-Video, RS-170, CCIR and PAL analog cameras.
Flexbar Machine Corp. 250 Gibbs Road Islandia, NY 11722-2697 Ph. 516-582-8440 Fax 516-582-8487 www.flexbar.com
Opti-Flex provides affordable vision systems for shop floor and quality lab application. The systems usually replace optical comparator applications and are easily upgradable to powerful software, motorization, image capture and e-mail capabilities for electronic communication of images.
Futec International Corp. 212 N. Center Drive North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Ph. 732-821-4555 Fax 732-821-6655 www.futec1.com
PCD -- For printed web automatic defect detection. Installs online and automatically detects printing and substrate defects. Displays full-color images of detected defects, with 100-percent coverage. Inspects paper, paperboard and flexible packaging products.
PKD -- Automated defect-detection system for paper, film, foil, nonwoven and other Web materials. Installs online. Detects coating, laminating, substrate and other defects.
General Scanning Inc. 1650 N. Voyager Ave. Simi Valley, CA 93063 Ph. 805-522-8439 Fax 805-578-5249 www.genscan.com
Noncontact, vision-based dimensional measurement Voyager series for use as a key component of quality control in diverse industries, including precision metal stamping, automotive, electronic components and circuit board manufacturing.
i2S The Line Scan Co. P.O. Box 9028 Niskayuna, NY 12309 Ph. 518-374-3045 Fax 518-346-4134 www.i2s-linescan.com
Line Scan Vision Systems -- Horizon line scan interface board with on-board processing, line scan cameras and software.
Imagenation Corp. 10220 S.W. Nimbus, Suite K5 Portland, OR 97223 Ph. 503-495-2200 Fax 503-495-2201 www.imagenation.com
Imagenation designs and manufactures machine vision components and systems. Product line includes machine vision systems and frame grabbers for the standard ISA and PCI-bus PCs, and embedded system formats PC/104, PC/104-Plus, STD and CompactPCI.
Javelin Systems 23456 Hawthorne Blvd., Bldg. 5 Torrance, CA 90505-4716 Ph. 310-378-6823 Fax 310-378-0283 www.javelin.com
Color and black-and-white CCD cameras and monitors; video generators and measurement systems.
JMAR Precision Systems Inc. 9207 Eton Ave. Chatsworth, CA 91311-5808 Ph. 818-700-8977 Fax 818-700-8984 www.jmar.com
JMAR Precision Systems Inc., formerly Pacific Precision Labs, provides high-precision measurement and inspection along with positioning and motion control systems.
KAPPA Opto-Electronic Systems Inc. 15745 Valley Blvd. Industry, CA 91744 Ph. 626-333-8891 Fax 626-330-8791 www.techexpo.com/www/kappa
3-D Video Cameras offer true 3-D view, available as observation system, on microscopes, borescopes and fiberscopes.
DX 3 and DX30 digital video cameras transfer precise digital data. Camera works well even under extreme environmental conditions.
MFK II measures distances, angles and circles in a video image. It works with almost any analog video camera and monitor.
MicroViewer -- Handheld video microscope with built-in fiber-optic light provides magnifications from 1-150X on a 13" monitor.
The L.S. Starrett Co. 121 Crescent St. Athol, MA 01331 Ph. 978-249-3551 Fax 978-249-8495 lsstarrett.com
AV868 -- Fully automatic system complete with color camera, motorized zoom lens, and powerful measurement and control software.
Lenox Instrument Co. Inc. 265 Andrews Road Trevose, PA 19053-3427 Ph. 215-322-9990 Fax 215-322-6126
Lenox offers a full range of visual inspection equipment for virtually any application.
Logical Vision -- A Division of Coreco 4299 Canada Way #265 Burnaby, BC V5G 1H3, Canada Ph. 604-435-2587 Fax 604-435-8840 www.logicalvision.com
WiT 5.2 -- Visual programming software for imaging development for Windows 95 or NT 4.0. The first product to combine multiple Pentium execution with MMX-based image-processing operations to deliver a fast, parallel execution environment.
Machine Vision Systems Inc. 311 Wells St. Greenfield, MA 01301 Ph. 800-446-3458 Fax 413-773-9934
Turnkey quality assurance and production control inspection systems, and mold protection systems. Focus on plastics (shorts, flash, assemblies), packaging, stampings and turnings.
Mahr Corp. 11435 Williamson Road Cincinnati, OH 45241 Ph. 800-969-1331 Fax 513-489-6302 www.mahr.com
The Perthometer Concept Roughness/Contour plus Topography measuring station serves for the 3-D assessment of surfaces. The Perthometer Concept Roughness measuring station with PMB measuring head serves for measuring and evaluating cylinder faces in the video image; distances and angles can be directly determined.
Micro-Metric Inc. 1020 Commercial St., #103 San Jose, CA 95112-1404 Ph. 408-452-8505 Fax 408-452-8412
High-accuracy noncontact dimensional coordinate measuring systems and critical dimension measuring systems.
Micro-Vu Corp. 7909 Conde Lane Windsor, CA 95492 Ph. 707-838-6272 Fax 707-838-3985 www.microvu.com
Micro-Vu Corp. combines the latest in electronics, mechanics, software, optics and service to meet all noncontact measuring needs.
Matrix Series -- Affordable, extra-large, fully automated measuring system. Sizes up to 60" x 36".
Quantum Series -- The combination of noncontact mechanics and Windows NT place this vision machine in a class by itself.
Qubix Series -- Granite, servomotors and linear ways make this top performer an affordable industry favorite.
Vector Series -- A fully automated precision measuring system proven to be a best value.
Moritex USA Inc. 6440 Lusk Blvd., Suite D105 San Diego, CA 92121 Ph. 800-548-7039 Fax 619-453-7907 www.moritexusa.com
V215 -- Custom configurable video zoom inspection system for multiple zoom magnification ranges and working distances with one lens.
MSI Technical Sales P.O. Box 9028 Schenectady, NY 12309 Ph. 518-346-7136 Fax 518-346-4134
XCaliper -- Dimensional measurement machine vision system. High-speed, high-accuracy, noncontact inspection systems, incorporating XCaliper software and customizable for specific requirements.
MTI/Mitutoyo Corp. 945 Corporate Blvd. Aurora, IL 60504 Ph. 630-978-6455 Fax 630-978-6475 www.mitutoyo.com
Quick Scope manual and CNC field-of-view measurement sizes to 8" x 10" x 4" (XYZ). Quick Vision CNC stage, co-axial and programmable ring lighting. Pattern focus sizes to 24" x 24" x 6". NT operating system, visual basic programming/scripting language.
Mycrona Inc. 14777 Keel St. Plymouth, MI 48170 Ph. 734-453-5880 Fax 734-453-4076 www.mycrona.com
MAGNUS -- Very high-precision video-based inspection system, multisensor-capable, touch probe, laser and 3-D software running on Windows NT. Size ranges 16" x 16" x 12" through 48" x 36" x 20".
PRIMUS -- A 12" x 6" x 6" desktop video-based inspection system, full 3-D inspection software, Windows NT operating system, ± 4 µm (0.00016") across 12", multisensor (touch probe) capable.
SIGNUM -- A "stand-alone" video inspection system for general metrology applications, size ranges 12" x 12" x 6" through 24" x 24" x 16", high-precision, Windows NT-based, multisensor-capable.
National Instruments 11500 N. Mopac Expressway Austin, TX 78759-3504 Ph. 800-258-7022 Fax 512-683-8411 www.natinst.com
IMAQ Vision -- Machine vision and image-processing application development software for National Instruments LabVIEW, BridgeVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, ComponentWorks and ActiveX Containers.
PCI-1408, PXI-1408 -- National Instruments high-quality monochrome and StillColor image acquisition boards for PCI, CompactPCI and PXI.
PCI-1424 -- National Instruments digital image acquisition board for PCI. Designed for high-speed, large-image, high-resolution digital image capture.
Navitar Inc. 200 Commerce Drive Rochester, NY 14623 Ph. 716-359-4000 Fax 716-359-4999 navitar.com/
Navitar makes Zoom 6000 and TenX video and microscope systems, the MicroMate Inspection measurement work station as well as Macro CCTV lenses for machine vision systems.
Operations Technology Inc. (OPTEK) P.O. Box 408 Blairstown, NJ 07825 Ph. 908-362-6200 Fax 908-362-5966 www.optek.net
OPTEK V-Series -- Video measurement and inspection systems provide rapid automatic two- or three-axis noncontact coordinate measurement.
OPTEK VideoMic -- New video measurement and inspection systems offering higher speed transports and enhanced stability. Transport sizes to 34" x 26".
OPTEK G-Series -- Large-format video measurement and inspection machines of gantry-style construction with workpiece capacities to 60" x 48".
OPTEK InnerVision -- X-ray video measurement and inspection systems accurately measure X, Y positions of hidden features inside molded, encapsulated or laminated parts.
OPTEK InnerVision II -- High-resolution X-ray video inspection systems reveal hidden features and defects. Programmable transport automation and image-analysis software optionally available.
Optical Gaging Products Inc. 850 Hudson Ave. Rochester, NY 14621 Ph. 716-544-0400 Fax 716-544-0131 www.ogpnet.com
Avant Apex -- Ultra-high-accuracy, non-contact coordinate measuring system featuring 0.0001 mm resolution noncontact scales, high-accuracy fixed objectives, granite base and column, and high-resolution, black-and-white camera.
Avant -- Video measuring system for measurement of large parts includes long travel stages, multisensor options, operator work station and Windows software.
SmartScope MVP -- Entry-level video measurement system with motorized zoom lens, manual or motorized stages, substage and ring lights, PC and software.
SmartScope ZIP -- Full-featured, noncontact benchtop coordinate measuring system featuring precision zoom optics, multiple illuminators and high-resolution video camera.
Perceptron Inc. 47827 Halyard Drive Plymouth, MI 48170 Ph. 734-414-6100 Fax 734-414-4700
The OPTIFLEX-OCF is a 3-D noncontact measurement system designed to replace checking fixtures and CMMs used to examine automotive parts.
The P-1000 vision system provides in-line process measurement via laser cameras. The system computes real-time dimensional variation in the manufacturing process.
The RGS system uses laser cameras for industrial robotic guidance applications. The RGS controller provides path correction data for automated assembly operations.
Quality Control Solutions Inc. 43339 Business Park Drive, No. 101 Temecula, CA 92590 Ph. 909-676-1616 Fax 909-676-8970 www.qc-solutions.com
SEEBReZ video noncontact measurement and inspection can be used as a manual, motorized or fully automatic CNC. Full XYZ, submicro benchtop system.
Questar Corp. 6204 Ingham Road New Hope, PA 18938 Ph. 215-862-5277 Fax 215-862-0512 www.questar-corp.com
Remote Measurement Systems -- Resolution of targets down to 1 µm, three axis stages, computer and video-controlled and recorded.
RAM Optical Instrumentation Inc. 1791 Deere Ave. Irvine, CA 92606 Ph. 877-764-6397 Fax 949-224-0550 www.ramoptical.com
RAM Optical offers a complete line of noncontact video- and laser-based, three-axis dimensional analysis and inspection systems. ROI features easy-to-use precision systems that take the place of other traditional measuring or inspection methods for small and large parts, with added versatility and price performance.
Raytech Measuring Systems Inc. 328 W. Walnut DeSoto, IA 50069 Ph. 515-834-2272 Fax 515-834-2315 raytech-measuring.com
Coordinate measuring machines created for use in production floor environments. Ideally suited for fabricated metal, wood, glass and plastics companies. Allows for X, Y and Z feature locations.
Retina Systems Inc. 150 Day St. Seymour, CT 06483 Ph. 203-881-1311 Fax 203-881-1494 www.retinasystems.com
Manufacturers of industrial-grade, high-speed, noncontact laser and vision turnkey inspection systems for 100-percent sorting, dimensional gaging, surface flaw detection or process control.
RVSI Acuity CiMatrix 5 Shawmut Road Canton, MA 02021 Ph. 781-821-0830 Fax 781-828-8942
Visionscope -- The first complete machine vision system on a single PCI board for the Pentium/Windows PC.
S-T Industries Inc. 301 Armstrong Blvd. St. James, MN 56081 Ph. 800-326-2039 Fax 507-375-4503 www.stindustries.thomasregister.com
8600/8800 vision system, 30X-180X zoom lens, color or black-and-white camera and monitor, 4" x 8" or 4" x 12" travel stages, CNC systems optional.
Sharp Digital Information Products 5901 Bolsa Ave. Huntington Beach, CA 92647-2053 Ph. 800-562-7427 Fax 714-901-2243 www.sharpsdi.com
GPB-2 -- Image processor for high-speed machine vision applications. Powerful multichannel image capture (example: frame-on-demand). More than 300 imaging functions.
SP1000 -- A scalable ultra-high-speed machine vision system. Can process images up to 1 megapixel at 25 to 225 megapixels/second.
Sony Precision Technology America 20381 Hermana Circle Lake Forest, CA 92630 Ph. 949-770-8400 Fax 949-770-8408 www.sonyprecision.com
YM-40 -- New zero-force measuring system uses video technology to accommodate otherwise hard-to-measure objects, including circuit boards, connectors and lead frames, as well as electronic and injection molded parts.
Systronics Inc. 6400 Atlantic Blvd., Suite 110 Norcross, GA 3007 Ph. 770-449-7776 Fax 770-449-0399 www.systronics-inc.com
Hawk Area Inspection System performs "real time" inspection of areas on webs or shaped products. Hawk provides flow detection, absence/presence, precision measurement, OCR and parts alignment.
Systronics Diaper Inspection System inspects for defects and online placement of components. Twenty-four inspections at a rate of 700 diapers per minute are performed.
The Eagle Web Inspection System performs 100-percent "real time" inspection on roll goods to detect holes, gels/voids, streaks, foreign material, tears and scratches.
Trigon Adcotech 41332 Christy St. Fremont, CA 94538 Ph. 510-657-9370 Fax 510-657-9377 www.trigonadcotech.com
SMD 9000 -- Automated inspection system for surface mount devices.
Vision Components 478 Putnam Ave. Cambridge, MA 02139-4772 Ph. 617-492-1252 Fax 617-492-1252
VC Series industrial smart cameras are complete machine vision systems that include up to 8 MB RAM, 2 MB flash EPROM and a powerful DSP. The cameras feature optically isolated I/O (four 12-24 V inputs and four 150 mA outputs).
Vision Intelligence Products Inc. 80 Broadway Cresskill, NJ 07626 Ph. 201-816-8185 Fax 201-567-7470
Online, offline vision systems -- power plant monitoring systems.
Vision Systems International 74 Sutphin Pines Yardley, PA 19067-3460 Ph. 215-736-0994 Fax 215-295-4718 www.vision1.com/VSI
Consultancy in machine vision, nondestructive evaluation and automated imaging.
Werth America Inc. 6520 Lockport Road Niagara Falls, NY 14305 Ph. 716-297-8644 Fax 716-297-9405
Inspector FQ -- 2-D/3-D CNC high-speed video/multisensor CMM. Range: X = 400-3,500 mm, Y = 400-1,750 mm, Z = 200-600 mm. Accuracies to E2 = 1.5 + L/500 µm. Cooled linear motor drives -- up to four moves and measurements/sec. Supports all Renishaw, dual cameras, rotary axis.
Scope-Check -- 2-D/3-D CNC video/multisensor CMM. Range: X = 200-400 mm, Y = 150 mm, Z = 150 mm. Accuracy: E1 = E2 = 3.75 + L/100 µm. Winwerth measurement software. Options: all Renishaw touch, scan, probe changing options, rotary axis.
Video-Check -- 2-D/3-D CNC video/multisensor CMM. Range: X = 250-3,500 mm, Y = 125-1,750 mm, Z = 200-600 mm. Accuracies to E2 = 0.9 + L/500 µm. Resolutions to 10 nm. Options: dual camera, all Renishaw systems, 4-5 axis, Werth Fibre Probe.
Xiris Automation Inc. 1016 Sutton Drive, Unit C8 Burlington, ON L7L 6B8, Canada Ph. 905-331-6660 Fax 905-331-6661 www.xiris.com
High-precision optical measuring systems for feature inspection and measurement.
Zygo-Vision Systems 2193-B Anchor Court Newbury Park, CA 91360 Ph. 805-498-5276 Fax 805-498-5237 zygo.com
High-precision vision metrology for production and manufacturing. |