Scorpion Vision software widely used in automotive manufacturing

Glue Inspection

Conducting heat-wires are attached to fabric with glue as a part of the manufacturing process, so it comes as no surprise that inspecting the glue distribution is of great importance.

Scorpion Vision systems, capable of assessing the process, are put to work in the factory as a means of controlling the quality. UV reflecting material is blended into the applied glue, rendering clear colour images when acquired with a SONY DFW-SX910 camera. The background colour is controlled and allows for segmentation of the area applied with glue. The interior of the segmented area is then analysed for non-coverage. The system operates in-line and in real-time allowing 100% inspection. The images provide the operator with an immediate visual feedback, but even more importantly, the advanced Scor­pion Vision solution segments the glue from the background and applies industry-strength image-processing algorithms to reject samples of non-conforming quality.

LineUp Vision

Line up tables are fundamental when operators position the cloth to ensure that wires are guided with sufficient margin in cut-off areas.

The line up table is a 1500x1200mm backlit surface onto which a transpar­ent template with guidelines is at­tached. The operator places the product on the surface and uses the template guidelines to align the product.

In line up tables equipped with line up vision correct placement of wires and adhesives and silicon paper is checked when the operator presses a pedal. When everything is ok the product is locked in place with pneumatics. The operator now applies the user-adhe­sives using the template guidelines. When completed, the pedal is pressed again and the product is released if all checks are passed.

Multiple products are inspected on all line up vision tables. Product variants support the configuration of totally dif­ferent products.

Diameter Gauging

Brass rings used in couplings are manufactured in various dimensions. Kongsberg Automotive relies on high quality and large volumes with 100% inspection.

For more than 3 years two Scorpion Vi­sion powered vision systems have been operating 24/7 rejecting non-conform­ing items.

High quality telecentric optics is vital in the solution. Further armed with Scorpion Vision lens calibration and high-precision calibration grids accu­racy and repeatability is at a premium.

Sub-pixel resolution is also achieved with Scorpion Vision’s LineFinder™ tool.

Images are acquired differently in the two systems. In system 1 a PLC hardware trig­gers the camera when a product arrives on a rotating disc of glass. In system 2 a PLC signals a digital IO line when the product is positioned in an inspection fixture. In both systems digital IO is used to signal pass/fail.

A Custom ActiveX implements all prod­uct configuration, CPK/CMK computa­tions and master routines for master calibration.