InspecVision

Last updated
InspecVision
Company typePrivate limited Company
IndustryManufacture of optical precision instruments
Headquarters
Newtownabbey
,
Northern Ireland, UK
Website https://inspecvision.com/
Footnotes /references
[1] [2]

InspecVision Ltd., established in 2003, is a UK engineering company based in Mallusk, Northern Ireland. It is a manufacturing company that produces computer vision inspection systems. The company is one of several local companies created as spinoffs or inspired by research conducted at the Queen's University of Belfast. [3]

Contents

Technology

InspecVision specializes in the design and manufacture of 2D and 3D computer vision based measurement systems for inspection and reverse engineering. The product range includes the Planar 2D, the SurfScan, the Opti-Scan 3D, and the Acuity.[ citation needed ]

While there are many manufacturers of 3D computer vision systems, these systems utilize either 3D scanning technologies or a moving camera to measure an object or scene. [4] InspecVision Ltd. produces primarily 2D or 2&1/2D as well as 3D computer vision systems. Customers include manufacturers of 2D and 3D components such as sheet metal components, O-rings, gaskets or plastic moldings. InspecVision has developed a technology which requires no moving parts, rather a single fixed ultra-high resolution digital camera is used to measure the entire object with a single image. [5] These systems perform measurement times that are usually much less than a second. A completely static system also precludes the rigorous recalibration requirements of other moving camera or computer vision systems. [6]

The InspecVision 2D inspection system, Planar, is the world's fastest. Using only a table, lights, and a PC, it can take hundreds of thousands of measurements in just 0.2 seconds. [7] There are no moving components and the measurements are taken using a very high resolution camera, which scans parts placed on a backlit glass surface. It can be used for inspection and reverse engineering of flat opaque and semi-transparent parts. The Planar system has been designed specifically for speed, accuracy and ease of use. [6] [8] The 2D process can measure every feature completely. Planar can produce multiple report types automatically with minimal input from the operator. To inspect, the operator places the part on the measurement surface and with a single click or scan of a barcode. [6] This patented technology has been the recipient of several international awards, including "Best Quality Control System" at the MACH 2006 MWP Awards [9] and 2 SMART Awards. [10]

The SurfScan integrates with the Planar 2D automatic inspection software to allow inspection of both the parts 2D shape and its 2 ½D features with a single click. The high-resolution digital camera of the measurement system captures more than 20 million data points in one second with a single scan. [11]

The Opti-Scan 3D is a non-contact white light scanning system. The system consists of a projector and a high resolution camera mounted side by side. Scans are achieved by projecting a series of stripes onto the part; the projected stripes are then captured with the camera and the images analyzed to produce a 3D point cloud of the scanned surface. Because the system measures every visible surface every time it scans the part; it is likely to detect minuscule and extra features. In addition, because the optical CMM produces a measurement at every pixel in the camera; it can process the highly ordered data much more easily than the disordered point clouds from laser scanners mounted on traditional CMM devices. [6] The InspecVision Opti-Scan systems use patented technology to create both surface and edge measurements achieving unprecedented levels of accuracy. Opti-Scan 3D can offer you single click inspection, mobile large volume scanning and is also the world's only system that can measure edges in 3D. [12]

In 2017 InspecVision launched the Accuity system which is an automated, large field of view, telecentric gauging system that can scan in both 2D and 3D. [13]

In April 2021, the company was awarded the Queens's Award for Enterprise: International Trade for outstanding export performance. [14]

Related Research Articles

Computer vision tasks include methods for acquiring, processing, analyzing and understanding digital images, and extraction of high-dimensional data from the real world in order to produce numerical or symbolic information, e.g. in the forms of decisions. Understanding in this context means the transformation of visual images into descriptions of the world that make sense to thought processes and can elicit appropriate action. This image understanding can be seen as the disentangling of symbolic information from image data using models constructed with the aid of geometry, physics, statistics, and learning theory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machine vision</span> Technology and methods used to provide imaging-based automatic inspection and analysis

Machine vision is the technology and methods used to provide imaging-based automatic inspection and analysis for such applications as automatic inspection, process control, and robot guidance, usually in industry. Machine vision refers to many technologies, software and hardware products, integrated systems, actions, methods and expertise. Machine vision as a systems engineering discipline can be considered distinct from computer vision, a form of computer science. It attempts to integrate existing technologies in new ways and apply them to solve real world problems. The term is the prevalent one for these functions in industrial automation environments but is also used for these functions in other environment vehicle guidance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Zeiss AG</span> German optics company

Carl Zeiss AG, branded as ZEISS, is a German manufacturer of optical systems and optoelectronics, founded in Jena, Germany in 1846 by optician Carl Zeiss. Together with Ernst Abbe and Otto Schott he laid the foundation for today's multinational company. The current company emerged from a reunification of Carl Zeiss companies in East and West Germany with a consolidation phase in the 1990s. ZEISS is active in four business segments with approximately equal revenue in almost 50 countries, has 30 production sites and around 25 development sites worldwide.

Surface metrology is the measurement of small-scale features on surfaces, and is a branch of metrology. Surface primary form, surface fractality, and surface finish are the parameters most commonly associated with the field. It is important to many disciplines and is mostly known for the machining of precision parts and assemblies which contain mating surfaces or which must operate with high internal pressures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coordinate-measuring machine</span> Device for measuring the geometry of objects

A coordinate-measuring machine (CMM) is a device that measures the geometry of physical objects by sensing discrete points on the surface of the object with a probe. Various types of probes are used in CMMs, the most common being mechanical and laser sensors, though optical and white light sensors do exist. Depending on the machine, the probe position may be manually controlled by an operator, or it may be computer controlled. CMMs typically specify a probe's position in terms of its displacement from a reference position in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. In addition to moving the probe along the X, Y, and Z axes, many machines also allow the probe angle to be controlled to allow measurement of surfaces that would otherwise be unreachable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3D scanning</span> Scanning of an object or environment to collect data on its shape

3D scanning is the process of analyzing a real-world object or environment to collect three dimensional data of its shape and possibly its appearance. The collected data can then be used to construct digital 3D models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Profilometer</span> Measuring instrument for surface profile and roughness

A profilometer is a measuring instrument used to measure a surface's profile, in order to quantify its roughness. Critical dimensions as step, curvature, flatness are computed from the surface topography.

The following are common definitions related to the machine vision field.

Dimensional metrology, also known as industrial metrology, is the application of metrology for quantifying the physical size, form (shape), characteristics, and relational distance from any given feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanometrology</span> Metrology of nanomaterials

Nanometrology is a subfield of metrology, concerned with the science of measurement at the nanoscale level. Nanometrology has a crucial role in order to produce nanomaterials and devices with a high degree of accuracy and reliability in nanomanufacturing.

ISO 25178: Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) – Surface texture: areal is an International Organization for Standardization collection of international standards relating to the analysis of 3D areal surface texture.

Range imaging is the name for a collection of techniques that are used to produce a 2D image showing the distance to points in a scene from a specific point, normally associated with some type of sensor device.

A structured-light 3D scanner is a 3D scanning device for measuring the three-dimensional shape of an object using projected light patterns and a camera system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time-of-flight camera</span> Range imaging camera system

A time-of-flight camera, also known as time-of-flight sensor, is a range imaging camera system for measuring distances between the camera and the subject for each point of the image based on time-of-flight, the round trip time of an artificial light signal, as provided by a laser or an LED. Laser-based time-of-flight cameras are part of a broader class of scannerless LIDAR, in which the entire scene is captured with each laser pulse, as opposed to point-by-point with a laser beam such as in scanning LIDAR systems. Time-of-flight camera products for civil applications began to emerge around 2000, as the semiconductor processes allowed the production of components fast enough for such devices. The systems cover ranges of a few centimeters up to several kilometers.

Computer-aided inspection (CAI) is the use of software tools to assess manufactured objects. It is closely related to computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Its primary purpose is to allow engineers to more quickly and precisely assess the physical properties of manufactured objects. These properties can include dimensions, material consistency, roughness and roundness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hirox</span> Japanese manufacturer of digital microscopes

Hirox (ハイロックス) is a lens company in Tokyo, Japan that created the first digital microscope in 1985. This company is now known as Hirox Co Ltd. Hirox's main industry is digital microscopes, but still makes the lenses for a variety of items including rangefinders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Industrial computed tomography</span> Computer-aided tomographic process

Industrial computed tomography (CT) scanning is any computer-aided tomographic process, usually X-ray computed tomography, that uses irradiation to produce three-dimensional internal and external representations of a scanned object. Industrial CT scanning has been used in many areas of industry for internal inspection of components. Some of the key uses for industrial CT scanning have been flaw detection, failure analysis, metrology, assembly analysis and reverse engineering applications. Just as in medical imaging, industrial imaging includes both nontomographic radiography and computed tomographic radiography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VIEW Engineering</span>

VIEW Engineering was one of the first manufacturers of commercial machine vision systems. These systems provided automated dimensional measurement, defect detection, alignment and quality control capabilities. They were used primarily in the Semiconductor device fabrication, Integrated circuit packaging, Printed circuit board, Computer data storage and Precision assembly / fabrication industries. VIEW's systems used video and laser technologies to perform their functions without touching the parts being examined.

Taylor Hobson is an English company founded in 1886 and located in Leicester, England. Originally a manufacturer of still camera and cine lenses, the company now manufactures precision metrology instruments—in particular, profilometers for the analysis of surface textures and forms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aphelion (software)</span> Image processing and analysis software suite

The Aphelion Imaging Software Suite is a software suite that includes three base products - Aphelion Lab, Aphelion Dev, and Aphelion SDK for addressing image processing and image analysis applications. The suite also includes a set of extension programs to implement specific vertical applications that benefit from imaging techniques.

References

  1. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/NI045832
  2. https://inspecvision.com/contact/
  3. Armstrong P.J. and Antonis J.(2000). ECCV 2000, Book Series Lecture Notes in Computer Science, ISBN   978-3-540-67686-7
  4. Pham D.T. and Alcock R.J. (2003). Smart Inspection Systems: Techniques and Applications of Intelligent Vision. Academic Press. ISBN   0-12-554157-0.
  5. Ferret, Australia
  6. 1 2 3 4 Dr. Jan, Antonis (May 2016). "Moving beyond the traditional coordinate measuring machine". thefabricator.com. FMA Communications, Inc. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  7. "Machinery Features Articledetailaspxarticleid=150292 | Machinery". www.machinery.co.uk. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  8. "InspecVision's Planar checks aircraft specs". Quality Manufacturing Today. Cranbrook Media Ltd. August 2007. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  9. "Metal Working Production Awards, Results". Archived from the original on 2006-11-20. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
  10. Queen's University of Belfast, Research & Development Technology Transfer Programmes, page 9
  11. "3D Scansystem Surfscan from Inspecvision". QZ-online.de. Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  12. "InspecVision Opti-Scan system – perfect for measuring stamped or pressed parts and sheet metal that is not completely flat". Metal Working News. BA Crawford Specialised Publications (Pty) Ltd.
  13. "Augmented Reality Field of View Part Scanner Launched – Metrology and Quality News - Online Magazine". Metrology and Quality News - Online Magazine. 2017-05-19. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  14. "Page S6 | Supplement 63334, 29 April 2021 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-06-22.