Automating testing and inspection requires careful consideration of tools, including robot type, end-of-arm tooling, and ancillary systems. While cobots are popular for quality tasks, their full collaborative capabilities may not be utilized in some applications, leading to higher costs without maximizing benefits.

Camera sensors and new machine vision applications tend to drive parallel advances in optics, and optics suppliers must continually evolve as machine vision technologies progress.

Along with a host of new products, THK had a record sales year in 2022. Perhaps you saw one of their two large booths at IMTS, with robots serving bottled water.

Manual or human manipulated NDT is still the primary means of performing Nondestructive Testing (NDT) in unique or one-off applications. Mechanical aids and/or computer assisted manipulation and scanning devices can reduce data gathering time on the site of the item being inspected.

Robots are being added in locations that add value so companies can use human employees in higher value areas and tasks still beyond the scope of machines.

Current trends for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures in metal manufacturing plants are becoming more stringent. The need for 100% measurements for alloy verification is frequently becoming part of these procedures.

When it comes to building cost-effective 3D vision systems, is it better to use a component-based (i.e., camera, laser, lens, brackets, calibration targets) or all-in-one (i.e., smart) approach? 

At some point, someone has to make it all work. Integration is where design meets reality, where theoretical meets practical implementation.