InspecVision

History

InspecVision Ltd. is a UK company based in Mallusk, Northern Ireland. The company was established in 2003. A manufacturer of computer vision inspection systems, it is one of several local hi-tech companies created as spinoffs or inspired by research conducted at the Queen's University of Belfast.[1][2] Other notable examples include Andor PLC., APT Ltd., Osprey Environmental Ltd., Merlin Microwave Ltd. and Integrated Silicon Systems Ltd..
The latter two companies are the recipients of prestigious Smart Awards.[3]

Technology

InspecVision specialises in the design manufacture of computer vision based measurement systems for industrial applications. Their product range include the Planar 2D systems, the Opti-Scan 3D, the Opti-Probe and the SurfScan.

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 and its customers are often manufacturers of 2D and 3D components such as sheet metal components or gaskets or plastic mouldings. Furthermore, unlike other 3D or 2D computer vision systems InspecVision Ltd. have 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 worlds fastest, using only a table, lights and a PC hundreds of thousands of measurements are taken in 0.2 seconds. 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][7] 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[8] and 2 SMART Awards.[9]

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.[10]

The Opti-Scan 3D is 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 analysed 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 miniscule 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.[11]

The Opti-Probe is an Optical CMM system that allows the user to inspect larger objects. The Opti-Probe can be used on the factory floor and is compatible with other InspecVision systems.

References

  1. ↑ Armstrong P.J. and Antonis J.(2000). ECCV 2000, Book Series Lecture Notes in Computer Science, ISBN 978-3-540-67686-7
  2. ↑ Queen's University of Belfast, Computer Aided Manufacturing Research Group, Three Dimensional Modelling Using Active Computer Vision
  3. ↑ Queen's University of Belfast, Dept. of Electrical Engineering
  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 29/11/2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  7. ↑ "InspecVision's Planar checks aircraft specs". Quality Manufacturing Today. Cranbrook Media Ltd. August 2007. Retrieved 29/11/2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  8. ↑ Metal Working Production Awards, Results
  9. ↑ Queen's University of Belfast, Research & Development Technology Transfer Programmes, page 9
  10. ↑ "3D Scansystem Surfscan from Inspecvision". QZ-online.de. Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. Retrieved 29/11/2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  11. ↑ "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.

External links

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