In case you didn’t already know, machine vision is the use of technology such as cameras, sensors, and software algorithms to provide an imaging-based automatic inspection. They also serve as a guide for production control, microscopy, and object flow management. A Machine vision camera system comprises light, lens, image sensor, vision processing and communication. In this article, I’ll be detailing the various types of machine vision cameras that are out there and things to consider before you go ahead to buy one.
Things to consider before purchasing a machine vision camera
There is a wide range of different machine vision cameras, and they all serve different purposes. You’ll need to choose the right camera that meets your business and personal needs. Some cameras are for very harsh environments while others are for assembly purposes. There are two methods for acquiring images, the difference between them is how the image is captured. In area scan cameras, a rectangular sensor captures an image in a single frame. The resulting image has a width and a height that correspond directly to the number of pixels in the sensor. For this reason, area cameras are suitable for machine vision applications where objects are small and nearly the same size in both dimensions, some examples are; HDMI cameras, Camera Link cameras and firewire cameras. Line scan cameras are based on building an image in one line at a time, using a line sensor that moves in a linear motion over an object, or the object moves in a linear motion under the sensor. After deciding what camera type suits your needs, it’ll be worth considering the following as they are vital to your machine vision system:
- Sensors: Sensors play a huge role in the quality of an image; they are essentially responsible for converting light to the image. The four main sensors available for machine vision cameras are CCD Sensors, CMOS sensors, Microbolometers and focal plane array sensors (FPA).
- Communication interfaces: This will allow data and information to be passed from one machine to another, the different types available are, USB2.0, USB3.0, CameraLink, GigE, PoE and VGA. It’ll be worth considering their various advantages and disadvantages before purchasing one, for example, some allow quick data transmission while others can transmit longer lengths of data.
- Inspection spectrum: You can choose either infrared or ultraviolet vision you’ll be needing.
As previously mentioned, all of the above work hand in hand with your machine vision camera system and they are as important as the camera itself. Another impacting factor to keep in mind is the quality of the image (measured in megapixels), a camera with high megapixels will produce better quality images that are sharper and more precise.
Ready to purchase your new Camera?
For the highest-quality machine vision cameras for every purpose, you shop at get-cameras.com. Here you’ll find a wide range of cameras that will fit your needs perfectly. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask one of the friendly staff members virtually and they will be more than happy to assist you.