Machine Vision

Seth Price
Department of Chemical Engineering
New Mexico Tech
Rev. 11/3/14
 What is Machine Vision?
• Using a computer for automated, visual
inspection
• Used for finding physical defects
• Advantages:
– Faster inspections

• Disadvantages:
– Requires capital up front
 How Does It Work?
• Requires
– Computer, sensor, camera,
light source, software,
hardware interface

• Steps
– Sensor alerts that test item
is ready
– Computer triggers light
source and camera

http://www.high-techdigital.com/integration/index.htm
 Photography
• Balance between light and exposure:
– More light, shorter exposure (less time)
– Less light, longer exposure (more time)

• Balance between exposure and process speed:

– Faster inspections, more light
– Slower inspections, less light
 Example: Label Printing

http://www.allproducts.com/plastic/yi-chen/02_shrink_label_printing_packing_print.html
 Example: Bottle Seals

http://www.automation.com/resources-tools/articles-white-papers/vision-sensors-
systems/packagers-choose-machine-vision-quality-inspection-to-reduce-waste-and-boost-roi
 Example: Shooting

http://theuniblog.evilspacerobot.com/
 Examples
• Under exposed: too little light/shutter speed too fast
 Examples
• Over exposed: too much light/shutter speed too
long
 Examples
• Long exposure: dark, no movement, shutter open 8s
Example: Visible Light
Example: IR/Water Vapor
 Example: Turbine Blade
• Photographing spinning
turbine blade
– Spinning at 3600 RPM

• Photograph each blade

in one rotation
– Hard to do, expensive

• Photograph slower but

over longer time
– Phase shift equal to one
blade

http://metallurgyfordummies.com/superalloys/steam-turbine-blade/