Capturing Machine Vision Images With Zebra Machine Vision Cameras
OmniQ has partnered with Zebra Technologies for their groundbreaking new fixed industrial scanning (FIS) and machine vision (MV) solutions. Both are helping many companies worldwide automate their traceability, processes, and visual inspections. We’ll take a look at Zebra Machine Vision solutions in particular. We’ll go through:
- The easy steps to connect Zebra’s devices to other networks, systems, or hardware
- How you can capture images, and
- How to set up your MV cameras and jobs with Zebra’s efficient yet straightforward software
What Zebra Machine Vision Can Do
Zebra’s MV cameras are part of an entirely new platform for both fixed industrial scanning and machine vision. Do you want both capabilities from the same hardware? With a simple software license upgrade, you’ll be able to unlock machine vision imaging with your fixed scanning device. Furthermore, with Zebra’s MV devices, you can automatically capture and analyze images. The devices are sophisticated yet easy-to-configure tools for visual inspections. You can automate checks of label quality, packaging, and package seals or bottle caps. You can also automatically detect foreign materials, contamination, or cosmetic defects. Zebra MV cameras can also perform assembly and kiting checks to ensure the correct parts or components are included. You’ll also be able to verify process step completion as well. It all happens with Zebra’s out-of-the-box hardware and easy-to-use Aurora software. They both deliver a complete set of powerful image configuration and analysis tools. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s included.1. ImagePerfect
In addition to the above, Zebra’s ImagePerfect can capture up to 16 different images of a single target. Each of them have its own image settings and there are multiple exposure settings for targets that require different lighting. There are also multiple focus plane settings for objects at various distances.2. AutoTune
Zebra’s Autotune feature allows your machine vision cameras to automatically and accurately adjust focus, exposure, and illumination.3. Object Locate
With optimized settings, regardless of the orientation, position, or other variances, you’ll be able to locate objects right out of the box quickly.4. QuickDraw
Zebra’s QuickDraw feature allows you to draw a box around the area you want to inspect, right on the image. As a result, you’ll be able to choose and configure your image capture tool.5. Illumination
Zebra’s built-in internal illumination options include blue, white, red, infrared (IR), and multi-color. Moreover, external illumination options include front, back, and low-angle illumination.6. Lensing and Optics
Much like contact lenses, lensing options include flexible liquid lenses that sit in a liquid. This enables you to change focus quickly with a small current. C-mount lenses are also available for mechanical adjustments, with a wide array of options for virtually any use case.7. Filters
Bandpass/block filters allow you to control the wavelengths of light that reach your camera sensor. As a result, you can enable narrow bands of wavelengths to pass through or block out significant sections of the light spectrum.8. Polarizers
Polarizers allow you to capture important details about objects. This includes surface roughness, scratches, dents, stress, and other potential issues. They can also be used to achieve ideal lighting conditions for inspecting objects that are shiny, curved, or have reflective surfaces. Polarizers do this by controlling the light orientation, therefore it only allows light oscillating in a particular direction to pass through.9. Resolution
Zebra’s MV cameras offer a wide range of resolutions with sensors ranging from 1 to 5 megapixels.Connecting To a Zebra Machine Vision System
Deploying Zebra’s MV solutions is simple with plug-and-play hardware that connects and works right out of the box. Therefore, you can get up and running on day one with features to cover every aspect of getting your system connected, powered, and integrated.1. Dual Ethernet
Firstly, Zebra provides Dual Ethernet connectivity. For this reason, it allows you to keep your machine vision connections separate from your factory infrastructure.2. Connectivity Protocols
Secondly, you can connect to any network, system, or hardware with industry-standard protocols:- TCP/IP
- Serial
- Profinet/Modbus
- CC Link