10. I am interested in the business opportunities in machine
vision. How do I become a Soliton Machine Vision Partner (SMVP)?
1. How is Machine Vision different from a CCTV System?
Machine vision refers to the application of imaging and image processing to automate manufacturing (robotic guidance) or quality control (inspection) tasks in a factory. CCTV or Security Cameras are typically used by security guards to monitor the movement of people from a remote location. In the recent years video analytics have been used to automate the monitoring of surveillance videos, but this is not classified under machine vision. Camera based systems for automated traffic monitoring and automated vehicle classification with number plate reading for toll collection are also not classified under machine vision.
2. Are there other applications of cameras in factories that are not Machine Vision?
Yes, cameras are also used to assist in the viewing of a part or an assembly process. For example, a camera placed at the eye-piece of a microscope can display the magnified view on a monitor which is more convenient than peering through the tiny eye-piece of the microscope. This is a visual aid and not machine vision. Cameras are also mounted in assembly stations to provide a parallax free view to the assembler – once again a visual aid. For a system to be classified under machine vision, the image from the camera should be processed and analyzed by a computer and an automatic decision has to be taken. If the image is simply sent to a monitor for a person to view and make a decision, then it is not machine vision.
3. Ok, so what is Machine Vision?
A machine vision system consists of imaging and image processing components working together to infer specific information from whatever is being imaged so as to direct another machine or person to take appropriate action. For example, it can verify that all the assembly operations in a high-throughput line have been performed without fault. It can ensure that every single one of the food containers are printed with the right expiry dates. It can check whether the dimensions of machined components are within their set tolerances. It can even guide a robotic arm in a pick and place operation. The possibilities are practically infinite only limited by one’s imagination!
The application categories include:
- Presence/Absence Verification
- Parts Inspection
- Label Inspection
- OCR
- Dimensioning
- Surface Inspection
- Component Identification
- Robotic guidance
- Assembly Inspection
- Color differentiation
- Poka-Yoke
- Preventing Product Mix-up
4. In which industries is Machine Vision used?
Machine vision has already found use in a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, electronics, food processing, glass, paper, packaging, etc. New applications for machine vision are being found every day and it is used successfully in practically every type of industry.
5. Why machine vision? Why not just a sensor?
There are many situations where a proximity sensor or a photoelectric sensor might be sufficient. But the reason why more and more quality control managers are choosing to use machine vision is due to the versatility and flexibility of a smart camera. A smart camera could be thought of as the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of photoelectric sensors integrated together with easy to use software to program the inspection very easily. Also, since a vision system can store the configurations for different products that can be manufactured on a production line, it can be reconfigured “on the fly” when the product changes, while sensors often need to be repositioned and recalibrated costing valuable time and resulting in more errors.
6. I’ve heard that vision systems are very expensive. How much is it going to cost me?
That’s not at all true these days. While end-of-line (EOL) inspection systems, that try to inspect all the parameters at once, cost a lot, there is a new class of low-cost vision systems called vision based poka-yoke systems that is changing the paradigm of how inspection is done. Modern production practices are moving away from the end-of-line (EOL) inspection philosophy to the poka-yoke method of inspection where the component/assembly is checked after every critical operation. Soliton’s complete vision based poka-yoke systems cost under Rs 2 lakhs ($5000) as compared to EOL systems that cost 5 or more times this amount.
7. I don’t have a clue about machine vision. How will I be able to use it?
Soliton’s software utilities don’t require you to know any programming language or more than the basics of image processing. The two-day basic machine vision training is usually more than sufficient for newcomers to design and install their own vision system. Of course, if you require any support for your initial applications, the Soliton Application Engineering team is only a call away.
However, if you would like to have a systems integrator to come and install the system, we have an extensive network of Soliton Machine Vision Partners (SMVPs) who have the expertise to integrate the vision system for you. You are still welcome to attend the basic training that will enable you to identify good application areas in your factory for machine vision.
8. I have an inspection requirement and have decided to implement a machine vision solution. What do I do now?
The quickest way to make progress is for you to send both good and defective samples of what you are inspecting to your nearest Soliton representative along with a filled up questionnaire (available here). Our Application Engineering team will conduct a feasibility study and get back to you with a report and a plan of action.
If samples are not available, contact us on the phone with your application requirements so that we can schedule a visit by a Soliton Application Sales Engineer.
9. I have an inspection requirement but I have not yet decided on machine vision. What do I do now?
The simplest way to find out whether machine vision is right for you is to contact us either by phone or by e-mail with details of your requirement. We also invite you to attend one of our machine vision training sessions or to look through our archive of application notes (available here) to find an application similar to yours. If you prefer to talk face-to-face, contact us to schedule a visit by a Soliton Application Sales Engineer.
10. I am interested in the business opportunities in machine vision. How do I become a Soliton Machine Vision Partner (SMVP)?
The expanding machine vision market has amazing potential for organizations and entrepreneurs who have the capability of providing turnkey solutions for increasingly quality conscious manufacturers in various industries. The first step in becoming an SMVP is to contact us and send us your company profile. If after discussions we mutually decide to go ahead, you would send your engineer or engineers for training and certification. After the training and certification, you would be extended the full benefits of our SMVP program.
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