8 DECEMBER 2024OPINIONVision systems started making their way into manufacturing in the 1980s and passed through the Gartner® Hype CycleTM from the peak of inflated expectations through the trough of disillusionment and have long been on the plateau of productivity. However, many systems still try to meet inflated expectations and lead to disillusionment when the vision system is scrapped and written off. By understanding some basic failure modes and setting proper expectations, your next vision project can be successful and start a winning streak that will help you achieve the elusive plateau of productivity. A Problem Well Stated Is a Problem Half SolvedCharles Kettering coined this phrase, and it should be the mantra of every vision system. The specification is essential to know what the vision system will accomplish and be the gauge for whether the system is meeting expectations. The key to creating the specification is to "speak the language of the vision system." Many times, a collection of product samples is shared, and it's obvious to the human eye what the problems are. However, the vision system speaks in contrast, pixels, and quantities, so there needs to be a reconciliation between these two approaches. There are many times when an engineer will want to find a `splotch,' a `gel,' a `bug,' or a `streak,' but to a vision system, these are all `contrasting blobs' with certain geometrical features that need to be mathematically defined. Similarly, for gauging applications where a measurement needs to be taken, something as simple as defining what the edge of the product is can make or break the inspection. Taking the time to translate the inspection needs into the language of the vision system and defining these defects in terms of pixels and contrast will help to specify not only the vision hardware, but also the final qualification plan and everything in between. Systems Will Fail at the InterfacesSir George Buckley, the former CEO of 3M, shared the insight that systems are most likely to fail at the interfaces. A door is TURNING A MACHINE VISION LOSING STREAK INTO A MACHINE VISION WINNING STREAKBy Joel Gardner, Senior Manufacturing Technology Specialist, 3MJoel Gardner
< Page 7 | Page 9 >