Machine Vision demo kit for inspecting and counting parts in 5 categories, in general manufacturing (internal development work)

How the brief came about

This demo kit is a video library showing our Machine Vision programs as they inspect and count parts, divided into 5 job categories. Each Machine Vision job depends on the part, the lighting and how the part is placed, so explanations on slides alone struggle to show how the system takes in an image and what result it gives.

We organised the videos into separate folders by job type, and the videos in some categories come from work that has a separate case on this website.

Limitations of this demo kit

This demo kit shows examples of how the programs work, not measured test results. The limitations you should know before using it as a reference are as follows.

• The description of each category on this page is based on folder and file names, so we do not state specifications or inspection results for each category.
• For the category counting foreign spots on white powder, no video files have yet been found in the folder. Details of this work are in a separate case.
• This page does not show the videos yet, because the footage must first be checked to confirm it contains no parts, signs or brand names that cannot be disclosed.
• The videos come from development and testing work. The parts, lighting and line speed in your factory may differ from those in the videos.

How is this demo kit divided into job categories?

The demo kit is divided into 5 categories by job type: 3 inspection categories and 2 counting categories. Inspection is split into colour and position inspection, print pattern inspection and character inspection. Counting is split into spot counting on material surfaces and part counting.

1. 1

   Develop and test the program on each type of job

   The file names found cover the airbag component inspection station test set, label work, remote control button work and part counting work.

2. 2

   Record video while the program runs

   We keep videos of the program inspecting or counting parts as files, separated by job type.

3. 3

   Organise into a Video Demo Program folder

   We organised the videos into folders split into 5 job categories and stored them in the company data archive together with presentation slides and company introduction documents.

What the demo kit contains

The demo kit has folders for 5 job categories, and video files were found in 4 categories. This table summarises which categories have video files and which have source work with a separate case on this website.

What the data archive can confirm

What the data archive can confirm is that our Video Demo Program folder was created in May 2017 and is divided into 5 job categories.

Of the 5 job categories, we found video files in 4, and 3 categories come from work that has a separate case on this website. For the status of that work, such as whether it is a prototype or has been delivered, please see the case for each piece of work.

What we learned

Organising this demo kit offers 3 principles for using video as an example of Machine Vision work.

• Examples should be separated by job type, because colour and position inspection, character reading and counting use different images and criteria.
• A demo video is not a test result. The video shows that the program works with one set of parts. Confirming that it can be used for your work requires testing with good and defective parts from your factory, and counting how many defective parts were caught out of those actually present.
• Videos from real work must be checked before use outside the company. In this kit, some folder and file names contain names that cannot be disclosed, so we are not showing the videos until the parts, signs and brand names in the footage have all been checked.

How this approach can apply to your work

You can use the categories in this kit as a starting point: check the table below to see which category your inspection or counting work is closest to, then send us sample parts for assessment. What needs adjusting is the lighting, camera position and pass or fail criteria when your parts or line differ from the source work.

• Prepare sample parts, both good and defective.
• Define clearly what you want the system to inspect or count, and what the pass or fail criteria are.
• Specify where the inspection results must be sent, for example a screen, a signal light or the line's control system.
• Assembly sequence inspection may be able to use an off-the-shelf camera, while specialised inspection such as part position or characters usually requires a system designed around the part.