Tag: Digital Optical Comparators

Automation Module

VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators are available with an optional Automation Module – an “out of the box” solution with up to 48 user-configurable digital inputs and output channels used to send and receive a digital 0-5V (Low/High) signal. Industry-standard D-sub connectors allow easy hook-up to an external controller, robot, or other part-positioning equipment. It also includes an E-Stop that immediately stops all motion and terminates the execution of any program running when triggered.

VisionGauge® OnLine’s Input Monitoring & Output Conditions features allows users extensive control over automation parameters. Input Monitoring permits users to select a channel to monitor for a input signal to perform specific actions in the software. Output Conditions are used to configure output channels on which to transmit a signal when a certain condition is met during a session of the software or while running a program.

With these features, a controller can easily and reliably coordinate communication and operations with VisionGauge® OnLine during inspection and measurement programs: Load specific programs, control run-time operations (start, stop, pause, etc.), check for specific robot load positions, obtain the current status of operations, monitor for errors and program results, and more.

VisionGauge®’s Automation Module enables extensive communication capabilities with external devices, making it easy to interface with a robot, cell controller, or other part-positioning equipment.

High-accuracy measurements with VisionGauge® can also send feedback and offsets to controllers for fully-automated offset correction. VisionGauge® systems are perfect for carrying out very high-accuracy inspections and measurements in automated applications. Using its extensive data collection, manipulation & exchange, statistics, charting, databasing and reporting tools, VisionGauge® can present manufacturers with a complete picture of ongoing production results during long automated runs.

The VisionGauge® Automation Module keeps VisionGauge® at the forefront of the automation revolution. Manufacturers can increase productivity, overcome labor scarcity, reduce costs, and gain all the benefits of VisionGauge®, 24/7 –  giving manufacturers a significant advantage in today’s competitive markets.

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Super-Extended Travel Configurations

Fir Tree Auto-Pass/Fail Inspection

The Super-Extended Travel Configuration 500 Series VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator is a precision system designed specifically to inspect and measure big and heavy parts. They have up to 60” of travel and support loads of up to 300 lbs!

Parts are set on the system’s X-Axis stage, which is built using precision rails and is set on a floor-mounted granite base. The camera is mounted on the Z-axis and the entire assembly, along with the front and back illumination, move up and down on the Y-Axis. In this way, the Y and Z axes are completely disconnected from the rugged granite-base-mounted X-axis that supports all of the part’s weight. The axes have 0.25µm resolution encoders for high-accuracy positional feedback.

This innovative configuration is designed to provide optimal rigidity and eliminate any mechanical deflections. Everything is optimized to allow the system to produce very accurate measurements of long and heavy parts.

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Advantages

500 Series Super-Extended Travel Configuration Advantages

The system provides all of the advantages of the 500 Series VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator and includes additional benefits that make it stand out from the competition:

  • Fully-automated: no operator-dependent variation!
  • Fast and accurate performance delivering very high throughput
  • Extremely easy-to-use for operators and programmers: Little or no programming, i.e. “I’ve got a part, I’ve got a CAD file, and I’ve got a minute”
  • Features VisionGauge’s patented CAD Auto-Align™ & CAD Auto Pass/Fail™ tools
  • Automatically computes and displays a part’s deviation from nominal and compare it to bi-directional tolerances
  • Produces a beautiful and very high-resolution, high-contrast image with very sharp edge profiles. You can see very fine details very clearly
  • Works directly with CAD data so no templates or overlays are necessary – compare a part to its CAD file beyond the optical field of view (because the CAD data tracks the part and follows the stage motion)
  • Very robust and shop-floor-ready
  • Has all-LED illumination (for very stable & repeatable illumination conditions, very stable & repeatable results, low heat, low power consumption and no bulbs to change)
  • Can collect full inspection & measurement data and automatically create reports including digital images & records with the CAD overlay and the deviations from nominal, measurements, statistics, etc…

The system is powerful and widely-applicable – capable of solving a vast number of applications across many industries. In particular, the Industrial Gas Turbine (IGT) / Power Generation industry greatly benefits from the use of this system for inspection of fir trees / root forms on buckets. We can also design and build oversized systems to meet unusual or one-of-a-kind requirements.

Super-Extended Travel 500 Series VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator inspecting fir tree / root forms on buckets
Fir Tree / Root Form Inspection with the Super-Extended Travel 500 Series VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator

Features

Features

The VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator 500 Series Super-Extended-Travel Configuration is designed to inspect large and heavy parts with performance, reliability, and high-accuracy in mind.

  • 60″ of travel for large parts, supporting up to 300 lb loads
  • Precision components designed for optimal stability and performance for heavy parts across the entire range of travel
  • 0.25µm resolution encoders provide high-accuracy positional feedback
  • Includes VisionGauge®’s advanced measurement and inspection toolset to carry out fully-automated measurements, including proprietary software tools for direct CAD-to-Part comparison
  • With the system’s large depth of focus, “everything is in focus at once”, and the large field-of-view means you can see more of the part at once.
  • The long working distance gives more clearance between the part & the lens
  • Power-Focus and Auto-Focus keep part edges crisp for very accurate measurements
  • Super-high resolution monitor allows you to see all the details of the image at once
  • Extremely easy to use software interface
  • Automated image/data collection and a wide array of reporting and data exchange features
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Super-Extended Travel and Oversized Systems Gallery

  • Super-extended Travel 500 Series Digital Optical Comparator
    VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator Super-Extended-Travel Configuration

Contact us with your requirements for more information on how the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator 500 Series Super-Extended-Travel Configurations are suited to solve your application.

Custom Workholding and Fixtures

As part of a complete solution, we can design & manufacture custom workholding and fixtures, compatible with our systems and perfectly adapted to meet the requirements of your application.

Over the years, we’ve supplied a number of adapted precision pneumatic, vacuum and manually-operated fixtures to successfully solve applications with various types of parts.

A customized workholding developed to complete a VisionGauge Digital Optical Comparator application

Please contact us with your applications for additional information including detailed spec sheets, a “Frequently Asked Questions” document, pricing, etc…

VisionGauge® Disk Inspection and Measurement Systems

Contact Us About Our Turbine Disk Inspection Systems

Turbine and compressor disk fir-tree slots and root forms are generally manufactured through broaching, wire cutting, or milling along with follow-up deburring and rounding operations. These features have complex geometries and very tight tolerances that are difficult to achieve. In particular, the pressure surfaces that constitute the critical point of contact between the blade roots and disc during operation are subject to very narrow tolerances in the order of 10–20 µm.

To ensure that the disk slots match up perfectly with the corresponding turbine blade shapes and provide proper performance, it is essential to accurately control the shape, position, orientation and alignment of the disk slots.

Fir trees with variable tolerances during turbine blade inspection

The VisionGauge® Disk Inspection & Measurement System is designed specifically for this. The system’s patented CAD Auto-Align™ and CAD Auto-Pass/Fail™ tools are unique technologies that allow the system to produce results of very high accuracy, completely automatically and with absolutely no operator dependence or subjectivity. It is fast and can carry out 100% inspection of 100% of the slots on every disk.

Some capabilities of the VisionGauge® Disk Inspection & Measurement System include:

  • Fully automated profile inspection
  • Completely automated knife edge setup
  • Radial length/Z plane distance inspection
  • Centerline inspection
  • Slot spacing inspection
  • Supports cone & helix angles
  • Verification of pressure face flatness/slot perpendicularity inspection

VisionGauge® Disk Inspection & Measurement Systems can also be used to carry out complete reporting, data capture, and analysis, including:

  • VisionGauge®’s powerful CAD Auto Pass/Fail™ Analysis mode makes it very easy to review non-conforming profiles. It allows the operator to automatically snap directly onto failed edge points, thus increasing efficiency when verifying out-of-spec regions.
  • Data for every inspected slot is automatically registered in its respective Data Group. Additionally, results can be quickly & easily reviewed as the system automatically returns to a specific slot’s location by simply double-clicking on the corresponding Data Group entry.
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Advantages

  • 5 axes of motion (X, Y, Z, Rotary, Tilt) to properly view slots at all angles, increment from slot-to-slot, etc.
  • Fully-automated operation.
  • No operator-to-operator variation
  • Quickly, easily and accurately inspect 100% of a disk’s slots
  • Easy to program (can use your CAD data directly!)
  • Fast, accurate & easy-to-use
  • Extensive set of VisionGauge® advanced high-accuracy inspection and measurement tools
  • Straightforward operator interface: barcode-reader and joystick
  • Intuitive software
  • Patented & patent pending technology with powerful & innovative software tools
  • Sharp, clear & ultra-high resolution image!
  • Extended optical depth of field and extended working distance for maximum flexibility!
  • Automatically create reports and collect measurements, statistics, images and other data for complete documentation
  • Automatic image & data collection with built-in SPC and data-exchange capabilities
  • Fast and intuitive “operator review” mode to quickly revisit out-of-tolerance areas
  • High-precision movements on all axes
  • High load capacity (for large & heavy disks)
  • Robust shop-floor design
VisionGauge® Disk Inspection and Measurement System Pass/Fail results

The system’s patented CAD Auto-Align™ & CAD Auto-Pass/Fail™ tools
allow you to automatically check the slot profile, get deviations from nominal, etc…

These very accurate tools produce results that are completely operator-independent

Features

  • High-resolution precision optics to resolve very fine details with great clarity.
  • Standard systems include 12″ X-axis travel, 12″/24″ Y axis travel, 12″ Z-axis travel with extended travels available to accommodate large disks.
  • A (tilt) axis range from – 40 deg to +40 deg, B (rotary) axis range from 0 deg to +360 deg.
  • All axes have closed-loop encoder feedback.
  • All axes include high-accuracy preloaded crossed-roller movement.
  • Includes both bi-telecentric transmitted (i.e. back) illumination and reflected (i.e. front) illumination with Ultra-bright, computer-controlled and programmable LED’s.
VisionGauge Disk Inspection and Measurement System

Sample Images

VisionGauge®'s Roll Pin distance measurement tool
Measure roll-pin distance, slot spacing, etc…
turbine disk and blade dovetail joint
turbine disk dovetail inspection
turbine disk fir tree inspection
turbine broach radius measurement with VisionGauge®
turbine disk root form prepared for inspection
turbine disk dovetail joint

Technical Specifications may be found in the downloadable data sheet.

VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection & Measurement System

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The VisionGauge Standalone Inspection and Measurement
The VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection and Measurement System’s main unit can be installed in any orientation: horizontally, vertically, upside-down… however best suits the space in your automation cell.

The VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection & Measurement System is a high-accuracy measurement system designed specifically for automation applications. The system is widely-applicable and extremely general purpose, and it can be easily dropped into an existing automated cell.

Our VisionGauge® OnLine software includes Remote Program Communications, an extensive set of communication protocols over a variety of interfaces (via TCP/IP over ethernet, digital I/O’s, COM port, etc.) for full 2-way handshaking (with a robot or cell controller, for example), error/result reporting, and remote control over automated program operations.

The VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection & Measurement System includes all of VisionGauge®’s advanced inspection and measurement tools, including our patented CAD Auto-Align, CAD Auto Pass/Fail, and the patent-pending Tooth Checker tool, making it perfect for automatically carrying out very high-accuracy inspections and measurements.

The mobile cabinet containing controls, user interface and I/O connections for the system
Remote cabinet with controls, user interface & I/O connections
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Advantages

Advantages of VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection & Measurement Systems

In addition to its versatility, the VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection and Measurement System has many benefits compared to existing technology. Our adaptable software intelligence in automation means there is less reliance on operators and more focus on software and tools. This model combines advanced software and precision optics to offer greater speed, accuracy, and efficiency compared to older measurement devices.

Additional advantages of using our video inspection measurement systems and equipment include:

  • Access to VisionGauge®’s full imaging, inspection, and measurement toolset
  • Ready to integrate into any existing process
  • Fully-automated programs with multiple options for error/result/status reporting (Digital I/O signals, TCP/IP commands, etc.)
  • Eliminates variations between operators
  • Automatic electronic documentation of all inspection results
  • Save floor space
  • Compatible with existing part-positioning equipment, robotic components, and automated cells over a variety of interfaces
  • Intuitive, user-friendly interface
  • Exclusive, proprietary software and tools and world-class Application and Technical Support

Features

Additional Features

The benefits of using a VisionGauge® system are evident in its state-of-the-art inspection and measurement features – particularly its intuitive image analysis technology and sub-pixel accuracy. Our video measuring equipment has features that make it one of the best quality control solutions for a wide variety of industries. Medical device manufacturing, military & defense, aerospace, automobile manufacturers, and many more can use this system to improve daily operations.

The VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection and Measurement System’s features include:

  • High-resolution optics and imaging
  • Configurable in any orientation for easy integration
  • 3 different types of LED illumination
    • Transmitted back illumination
    • Reflected off-axis illumination
    • Reflected coaxial illumination
  • Exclusive patented VisionGauge® software and tools like CAD Auto-Align™ and CAD AutoPass/Fail™
  • Greater depth of field for better focus
  • Long working distance
  • 10x or 20x magnification
  • High-contrast, high-quality images
  • Easy communication with automated cells with full two-way handshaking over a variety of interfaces
  • Data collection and exchange capabilities including Pass/Fail, data manipulation, charting, and statistics
  • and much more…

Technical Specifications may be found in the downloadable data sheet.

Additional Information

What Is a Video Inspection Measurement System?

A computerized video measuring system inspects live images of manufactured parts, often using a computer-aided design (CAD) file as a reference. Older systems may have required extra physical components like templates and overlays. Using digitized CAD data directly eliminates the need for those resources. When comparing a part to its design specifications, performing measurements, performing defect detection, etc., the system collects data and may generate a Pass/Fail result. Manufacturers use that information to conduct quality control processes.

Controlling the quality of the parts you produce is crucial. Modern measurement devices are faster, more powerful, and more accurate than traditional models. The efficiency and reduction of operator errors associated with using modern video inspection equipment outweigh the cost of a video measuring system.

The VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection and Measurement System is a versatile solution for your automation and inspection needs. Precise and convenient, the standalone model serves as a drop-in device for robot-controlled, automated cells. Combined with ease of installation, this system can solve a vast array of of applications and works well for general purpose inspections.

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Video measuring system costs depend on your supplier and the customizations required to solve your application, such as the size, magnification, and type of illumination. Choose a video measuring system supplier who understands your business’s needs and offers quality control solutions to properly solve your application. VISIONx, Inc. strives to provide our customers with cost-effective inspection equipment with the best technology available. We’ll work with you to choose equipment, customize it to match industry-specific requirements, and provide maintenance and support to ensure your video measuring system continues to function as expected. Our Application Support is able to assist with recommendations for improvement, future reconfigurations, and solving new applications with the same system.

Contact us with your application details to learn more about the VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection and Measurement System.

VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator / Profile Projector Applications

VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators are being used by many different companies across a very wide range of industries. As your digital optical comparator and profile projector manufacturer, we want to ensure your application needs are being met. Here are some examples of applications we have solved within various industries:

Aerospace and Aeronautics

View All Aerospace and Aeronautics Applications

We have a number of unique, patented technologies that make our systems an especially good fit for the Aerospace industry. Our systems are used by aerospace manufacturers worldwide to solve a wide range of challenging applications, including the inspection & measurement of: turbine blade fir trees, turbine disks & slots, cooling holes (both round & shaped) & slots on 5-axis parts (both coated & uncoated), seal slots, and many more. In most cases, our powerful & easy-to-use systems are used directly on the shop floor and allow customers to increase throughput, eliminate operator-dependence of results, achieve increased accuracy & repeatability and collect complete electronic documentation.

Turbine Disk Inspection / Broached Slot Inspection
Auto Pass/Fail inspection of a turbine disk fir tree with CAD Auto-Pass/Fail™
Automatically compare turbine disk fir trees against their CAD data with variable and uniform tolerances...
Cooling Hole Inspection and Measurement
measurement and inspection of EDM- and LASER-drilled drilled holes and slots
Automatically verify hole presence and accurately measure EDM- and Laser-drilled hole locations on aircraft engines and IGT components...
Turbine Blade Fir Tree Root Forms
Apply tighter tolerances on pressure faces and looser tolerances elsewhere for turbine blade fir tree inspection and measurement
Automatic inspection and measurement of turbine fir tree root forms...
Micro Hole Inspection
VisionGauge automated hole inspection programs have no limits to hole geometry or placement
VisionGauge® offers powerful, unique tools that allow for highly optimized inspection of parts with a large number of holes, much faster than with traditional approaches.

Aircraft and aerospace component inspection and measurement

Medical Device and Orthopedic Implant Manufacturing

View all applications for Medical Manufacturing

Plastic/Polymer Medical Implants Inspection
Medical polymer implant measurement
VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators feature advanced & flexible illumination for a wide variety of plastic implants produced by today's medical manufacturers.
Bone Screw Inspection
Automatic inspection and measurement of threads and other dimensions of a bone screw
The VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator is widely used by medical device manufacturers for bone screw inspection and measurement...
Stent Inspection and Measurement
Verify Stent Integrity
Achieve accurate and reliable stent inspection and measurement directly on the production floor with the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator.
Medical/Surgical Instrument Inspection
Inspection of Medical Instruments
High-accuracy inspection and measurement of medical and surgical instruments/tools with VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators
Orthopedic Implant Inspection
Knee implant inspected with auto pass/fail on a VisionGauge Digital Optical Comparator
Automatic inspection and measurement of orthopedic implants and devices (hip stems, knees, plates, and more...)
VisionGauge Tooth Checker
Bone screw teeth verification with the VisionGauge® “Tooth Checker™” tool
VisionGauge®’s Patent Pending “Tooth Checker™” tool is specially adapted to check parts with teeth.
Medical Rasps Inspection and Measurement
Examples of measurements performed on medical rasps
Orthopedic implant manufacturers use our digital profile projectors to automate the inspection and measurement of medical rasps.

Extrusions

Extrusions Inspection and Measurement
Comparing an extrusion cross-section to its CAD data to obtain a Pass/Fail result on a VisionGauge Digital Optical Comparator.
VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators have a high-accuracy toolset for the inspection and measurement of extrusions...

Extrusion inspection and measurement

Cutting Tool Manufacturing

VisionGauge Tooth Checker
Bone screw teeth verification with the VisionGauge® “Tooth Checker™” tool
VisionGauge®’s Patent Pending “Tooth Checker™” tool is specially adapted to check parts with teeth.

Cutting tool inspection and measurement

Automotive

Inspection of Flexible Automotive Seals and Trim
Comparing a flexible automotive seal against its CAD data
Automatically compare difficult-to-inspect flexible automotive seals against their CAD data

Automotive components and parts inspection and measurement

Military and Defence

Micro Hole Inspection
VisionGauge automated hole inspection programs have no limits to hole geometry or placement
VisionGauge® offers powerful, unique tools that allow for highly optimized inspection of parts with a large number of holes, much faster than with traditional approaches.

Power and Energy / Industrial Gas Turbines (IGT)

View All Power and Energy / IGT Applications

Micro Hole Inspection
VisionGauge automated hole inspection programs have no limits to hole geometry or placement
VisionGauge® offers powerful, unique tools that allow for highly optimized inspection of parts with a large number of holes, much faster than with traditional approaches.
Cooling Hole Inspection and Measurement
measurement and inspection of EDM- and LASER-drilled drilled holes and slots
Automatically verify hole presence and accurately measure EDM- and Laser-drilled hole locations on aircraft engines and IGT components...
IGT Bucket Inspection
IGT Bucket Profile Inspection
Our VisionGauge® systems are the perfect solution for the inspection and high-accuracy measurement of IGT buckets...

Industrial gas turbine part inspection (IGT)

Ultrasonic and General Machining

VisionGauge Tooth Checker
Bone screw teeth verification with the VisionGauge® “Tooth Checker™” tool
VisionGauge®’s Patent Pending “Tooth Checker™” tool is specially adapted to check parts with teeth.

Tool and Die

Thread Rolling Dies Inspection and Measurement
No fixturing is required. The system can correct for part-to-part placement variation.
Our digital profile projectors are the perfect system for comparing difficult-to-inspect thread rolling dies to their CAD overlays...

Precision Mechanical Components and Assemblies

Inspection of Precision Bearings
Bearing gap measurements
Our digital profile projector is used by manufacturers to check all types of precision bearings...
Broach Cutter Inspection
Overall view of broach inspection and measurement
VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators can automatically monitor broach cutter profiles and control key dimensions.

Broaching

Broach Cutter Inspection
Overall view of broach inspection and measurement
VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators can automatically monitor broach cutter profiles and control key dimensions.
Turbine Disk Inspection / Broached Slot Inspection
Auto Pass/Fail inspection of a turbine disk fir tree with CAD Auto-Pass/Fail™
Automatically compare turbine disk fir trees against their CAD data with variable and uniform tolerances...

Bearings

Inspection of Precision Bearings
Bearing gap measurements
Our digital profile projector is used by manufacturers to check all types of precision bearings...

Micro-hole Array

Micro Hole Inspection
VisionGauge automated hole inspection programs have no limits to hole geometry or placement
VisionGauge® offers powerful, unique tools that allow for highly optimized inspection of parts with a large number of holes, much faster than with traditional approaches.

Gas Distribution Plates

Micro Hole Inspection
VisionGauge automated hole inspection programs have no limits to hole geometry or placement
VisionGauge® offers powerful, unique tools that allow for highly optimized inspection of parts with a large number of holes, much faster than with traditional approaches.

A great many manufacturers across a wide range of industries are using VisionGauge® systems to generally improve and speedup their inspection & measurement process, reduce their costs, improve product quality and achieve much better Gage R&R performance.

VISIONx provides a wide variety of system types and configurations, each one suitable for any number of applications. Learn more about the differences between our horizontal and vertical digital optical comparators and when to use each type of system.

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VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators / Profile Projectors are perfect for both the shop floor and the Quality Control lab. Contact us with your application’s requirements to learn about how our systems can benefit your inspection process. Our Application Engineers have a great deal of experience understanding the particularities of complex parts and using our tools to develop effective solutions for all types of inspections.

Sign-up for the VisionGauge® monthly newsletter for information on new features and new applications solved with VisionGauge® systems.

Applications Gallery

  • VisionGauge Digital Optical Comparator inspecting a turned part
    turned part

VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator – Videos

Below you will find various videos demonstrating the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator systems and some of the VisionGauge® OnLine software features.

Let us know if you have any requests for videos or would like to see our system in action on your part.

VisionGauge®’s proprietary CAD Auto-Align™ & Auto-Pass/Fail:

VisionGauge®’s automation module provides extensive communication capabilities, making it easy to interface with a robot, cell controller, or other part-positioning equipment.

VisionGauge®’s patent-pending “Tooth-Checker™” tool is specially adapted to check parts with teeth:

VisionGauge® for fully-automated, high-accuracy bone screw inspection & measurement:

VisionGauge® for automated measurements, to collect data and compute graphs, charts, & statistics:

Some of the benefits of using the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator in the Cutting Tool industry:

The VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator 700-series: Perfect for EDM- and LASER-Drilled cooling holes and parts with complex geometries:

The VisionGauge® Standalone Inspection & Measurement System is the perfect drop-in solution for automated cells and automation applications requiring high-accuracy inspection:

The VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator in an automated cell:

New VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator Tool for Automatic Part Alignment:

This video shows how you can very simply put parts down anywhere on the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator and the system will automatically find and measure them for you, quickly, easily and accurately:

This video shows how the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator, with the optional supplemental rotary stage, can be used to measure run out:

Here is a “product overview” presentation, from September 2011:

Here’s a video of the fully-automated inspection of an aircraft engine turbine blade:

Here’s a short video of an application involving the fully-automated inspection of an aircraft engine impeller:

Below is a video showing how the system can be used to create a part’s CAD file (for example: for reverse engineering):

Here’s a video showing how the system can be used to carry out fast, easy & accurate fully-automated measurements:

Using the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator to easily and accurately measure features that are larger than the system’s field-of-view:

Using the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator Z-axis LASER Measurement Module to easily and accurately measure the depth & height of features on your part:

YouTube-logoView our entire Youtube channel for more VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator Videos.

Large Travel Systems

VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators are also available in large travel configurations to accommodate parts with larger dimensions.

The Super-Extended Travel Configuration 500 Series VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator is a precision system designed specifically to inspect and measure big and heavy parts.

500 Series VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator - Super-Extended Travel Configuration
The super-extended travel configuration 500 Series VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator for inspection of large and heavy parts.

We can also design and build Oversized systems to meet unusual or one-of-a-kind requirements.

48"x24"x12" super-large XYZ travel VisionGauge® system
48"x24"x12" Super-Large XYZ Travel VisionGauge® system

24″ x 24″ travel system in 500-series vertical configuration:

24" x 24" travel system in vertical configuration VisionGauge Digital Optical Comparator

Please contact us for more information. We can configure a system to meet your requirements!

VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator Customizable Options

Many other options are available with the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator, including:

  • Adapted NIST-traceable stage micrometer with certificate of calibration (this will allow you to carry out the yearly re-calibration yourselves)
  • Upgrade of the X and Y axis encoders from 0.5 um resolution to 0.1 um resolution.
  • Extended (i.e. 24″) X-axis travel stage upgrade (from the standard 12″ travel) for Horizontal configuration VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator
  • Extended (i.e. 12″) Y-axis travel column upgrade (from the standard 6″ travel) for Horizontal configuration VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator
  • Extended (i.e. 24″ x 24″) X-axis and Y-axis travel stage upgrade (from the standard 12″ x 12″ travel) for the Vertical configuration VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator
  • Extended (i.e. 12″) Z-axis travel. Applicable for either the horizontal or vertical configuration of the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator
  • “Additional monitor option” to automatically load and display inspection instructions & criteria or other related documents when the work order barcode is scanned to automatically load the appropriate CAD file
  • On-axis reflected LED illumination module (programmable and computer-controlled) fully integrated with VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator. This reflected (i.e. “front”) illumination module produces a very different type of front illumination that is very “flat” (i.e. “shadow free” and low glare) that is more appropriate for certain types of parts. This illumination module is mounted on a “swing arm” to allow the operator to easily put it in position & retract it when it is not needed.
  • Supplementary rotary encoded motorized axes (i.e. to rotate the part), including:
    • All required motion control hardware for the supplementary motorized axis (for part rotation). This motion control hardware is completely and seamlessly integrated with the system’s existing motion control hardware
    • Motorized encoded high-accuracy rotary stage
    • Fixture to mount the stage to the system’s dovetail grooves
    • All required cables & power supplies
  • LASER module for Z-axis measurements, including:
    • High-accuracy structured LASER module
    • LASER controller hardware (to completely control the LASER’s operation from within the software)
    • Adapted fixture to mount the LASER module onto the Z axis stage
    • Software upgrade
    • All required cables & power supplies
  • Optional standalone “desktop” software license (to allow you to remotely view your CAD files, setup tolerances, create automated inspection and measurement programs, etc…)
  • VisionGauge® Annual Support and Update Program Membership Renewal (which provides users with unlimited technical support and free software updates for a full 1-year period). Note that unlimited technical support and free software updates are included for the 1st year with every VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator (Patent Pending) system.
  • Replacement air filter (this is the only “consumable” part in the entire system!)

 

Other accessories, system configurations, fixturing (etc…) are also available…

An optional supplementary monitor to automatically display related files, reports and information on the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator
An optional supplementary monitor to automatically display related files, reports and information.
Optional adapted diffuse on-axis illumination module on VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator
Optional adapted diffuse on-axis illumination module. This specialized illumination module produces a very different type of front illumination that is very "flat" (i.e. "shadow free" and low glare) that is more appropriate for certain types of parts. It is module is mounted on a "swing arm" to allow the operator to easily put it in position & retract it when it is not needed.

Please contact us for more information including a detailed spec sheet, a “Frequently Asked Questions” document, pricing, etc…

VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator Customizable Options

Z-axis Laser Measurements

Z-Axis LASER Measurement Module

VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators are available with an optional Z-Axis LASER Measurement Modules.

In the application below, for example, the VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator is used to measure the depth of slots in aircraft engine turbine blades. Without the Z-Axis LASER Measurement Module (i.e. the image on the left below), it is only possible to measure XY dimensions on the part (for example: the slot width).

However, with the Z-Axis LASER Measurement Module (i.e. the image on the right below), the part’s z-axis depth & height variations can all be measured, easily & accurately.

Image obtained with standard front (reflected illumination) on VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator
Image obtained with standard front (reflected illumination).
Z-axis laser measurements for depth and height of parts on VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparator
The LASER shows all of the depth & height variations in the part.

Please contact us for more information including a detailed spec sheet, a “Frequently Asked Questions” document, pricing, etc…

VisionGauge® Digital Optical Comparators – Z-axis Laser Measurements