17th Special Show »Non-Contact Measurement Technology«

The Special Show on »Non-Contact Measurement Technology« takes place at the Control 2023 for the 17th time presenting the latest developments and pioneering technologies in the field of contactless measuring and test technology.

The Special Show »Non-Contact Measurement Technology« at the Control fair has not only been an established industry meeting place for more than fifteen years but also a communication platform for exchange about developments and innovations in the field of contactless optical measuring and testing technology.

Thereby it contributes to increase the level of awareness as well as the acceptance of these technologies and to augment transparency in the offers. The visitors of the trade fair will be able to learn more about concrete applications of the performance of contactless measuring and testing technology. A wide range of innovative, non-contact technologies will be exhibited, such as light section, fringe projection, confocal measurement techniques, time of flight, etc. In addition to that, measurement and testing technologies for the interior of material such as thermography, computer tomography or ultrasound will be presented. Another focus will be on components like cameras and lenses, or x-ray tubes.

Fast inline 3D microscopy system for inspecting the smallest structures

The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology from Vienna, Austria, presents »ICI:microscopy«, a system for simultaneous microscopic 2D and 3D quality control. The inline 3D microscope delivers up to 60 million 3D points per second and thus also enables the rapid scanning of larger surfaces. It is suitable for inspecting the smallest structures even at high belt speeds and is based on the »Inline Computational Imaging (ICI)« technology developed at AIT. It  combines the methods of light field and photometry by using the natural transport motion of the object for simultaneous acquisition under different viewing and illumination directions. The system can be used for reliable 3D analysis of complex geometries and challenging surface features. Potential applications include electronics manufacturing, inspection of metallic surfaces, or packaging and security printing.

Exhibitor: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna (Austria)

Thermographic temperature measurements at very high temperatures and challenging materials

InfraTec GmbH Infrarotsensorik und Messtechnik from Dresden, Germany, presents two new SWIR thermal imaging cameras, the »ImageIR® 8100« and »ImageIR® 9100« systems, which have been specially developed for thermographic measurement tasks involving very high temperatures and challenging materials. Both cameras operate in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range and feature high measurement accuracy as well as very good short- and long-term stability. Applications include emissivity-optimized measurements of temperatures on metallic surfaces in high-temperature ranges between 300 °C and 1,700 °C, in additive manufacturing and laser applications, or in the metal industry in welding processes or press hardening.

Exhibitor: InfraTec GmbH Infrarotsensorik und Messtechnik, Dresden (Germany)

3D time-of-flight camera module and RDMA for 10 GigE camera applications

LUCID Vision Labs GmbH, based in Ilsfeld, Germany, will present the new Helios2 Wide 3D Time-of-Flight camera which integrates Sony’s DepthSense™ IMX556PLR back-illuminated ToF image sensor paired with a wide-angle lens providing a 108º angle of view, suited for applications with a close working distance and large area of operation such as full-size palettizing applications.

In addition, the new Atlas10 with Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) will be presented. The camera reliably streams 1.2 GB/s of data directly to main memory, bypassing the CPU and OS.  This increases throughput, lowers latency, and eliminates CPU usage, which is required for reliable multi-10GigE camera applications. The 65 MP GMAX3265 sensor is sized to fit comfortably behind a 35 mm lens, making it a cost-effective solution for applications ranging from high-end surveillance to high resolution inspection.

MORE about the image processing cameras

Exhibitor: LUCID Vision Labs GmbH, Ilsfeld (Germany)

Optical precision measuring system for automated measurement of rotationally symmetrical components

The Institut für Umformtechnik der mittelständischen Wirtschaft GmbH from Lüdenscheid, Germany, together with ECM Datensysteme GmbH from Bliedersdorf, Germany, presents a fast optical precision measuring system for automated measurement of dimensional, form and positional tolerances on rotationally symmetrical components. In addition, concave underhead structures on screws or bolts etc. can be measured. The system operates on the basis of the shadowgraph method, provides fully comprehensive measurements in the micrometer range within seconds and has been specially developed for use in the manufacturing sector. It is used both for spot checks during production (worker self-inspection) and for initial sampling.

Exhibitor: Institut für Umformtechnik der mittelständischen Wirtschaft GmbH, Lüdenscheid (Germany)

100 percent inline control during grinding of strip steels

Grapho metronic Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH from Munich, Germany, will be presenting »ABIS« (Angular Blade Inspection System), a new measuring system for the 100 percent inline inspection of precision grinding processes, which has so far been used specifically in razor blade production. The system measures the blade contour at high speed during the running process in order that production machines can be readjusted in good time before tolerance limits are reached, thus minimizing scrap. Further areas of application can be found where  an angular size is to be measured inline in a machine on a small scale.

Exhibitor: grapho metronic Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH, Munich (Germany)

Vision solutions for the lithium battery industry

OPT Machine Vision GmbH from Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany, presents vision solutions for the lithium battery industry, from cameras and lenses to illumination, 3D laser profile scanners and smart code readers. In addition to these hardware solutions, vision software developed specifically for high-speed inspection of lithium batteries will also be on display. It has extensive and complete function modules that ensure the high processing speed of the algorithms.

Exhibitor: OPT Machine Vision GmbH, Leinfelden-Echterdingen (Germany)

Multisensory material characterization

The Institute for Information and Communication Technologies DIGITAL of Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH from Graz, Austria, presents a demonstrator that illustrates the functional principle of a new system for multispectral data acquisition in the circular economy. With the help of the system, which consists of a 3D and a UV camera, imaging spectrographs, NIR and multispectral cameras, as well as acoustic sensor technology, it is possible, in combination with algorithms from the field of artificial intelligence, to detect valuable and interfering materials in waste or circular economy.

Exhibitor: JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, DIGITAL - Institute for Digital Technologies, Graz (Austria)

Optical 3D surface metrology for quality assurance

Bruker Alicona from Graz, Austria, introduces a classification software that, based on artificial intelligence (AI), enables automatic recognition of IO and NIO surfaces. The automatic classification and segmentation methods use intelligent, self-learning algorithms that characterize, segment, analyze, and classify a component without the need to program specific workflows. Surface parameters for component evaluation are automatically derived and evaluated. The technology is used, for example, to analyze the grain distribution on grinding tools or to evaluate sandblasted or laser-machined components.

Exhibitor: Bruker Alicona, Raaba/Graz (Austria)

Application-specific LED lighting systems for industrial image processing

Büchner Lichtsysteme GmbH from Welden, Germany, shows with the system »CORONA-180« a large LED ring light in washroom design, which has been especially developed for tough production conditions and can be used in continuous, switched or flash mode, depending on the version. The LEDs can operate in several possible beam angles, wavelengths and illuminances and can be controlled separately in up to 16 segments. Thanks to the absolutey tight and resistant design, cleaning agents and disinfectants cannot penetrate even at higher temperatures and high pressure. That is why the system is used in particular in the food, beverage or pharmaceutical industries.

Exhibitor: Büchner Lichtsysteme GmbH, Welden (Germany)

Fast confocal 3D measurement system for inspecting surfaces of technical components

Twip optical solutions GmbH from Pleidelsheim, Germany, presents the 3D surface measuring system »Consigno«, which can be used as a laboratory measuring device as well as an OEM measuring head for the automation of metrology tasks due to its small and lightweight design. The system is based on the confocal measuring principle, which exploits the depth of field for topography measurement and is used, for example, in surface inspection (functional surfaces, e.g. on micro-optics or running surfaces of cylinders and plain bearings), in the determination of geometric properties (e.g. height of a gradation on injection-molded plastic components) or in roughness and contour measurement.

Exhibitor: twip optical solutions GmbH, Pleidelsheim (Germany)

Measuring system for hyperspectral surface and thin film inspection

The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, Dresden, Germany, and DIVE imaging systems GmbH, also from Dresden, Germany, present »imanto® obsidian«, a measuring system for hyperspectral surfaces and thin film examinations.

Hyperspectral imaging records the reflected light not only laterally but also spectrally resolved when examining a sample. Since different surface conditions, whether material- or topology-related, manifest themselves in a spectral change in the optical behavior of the sample section through a deviating absorption, refraction or scattering, hyperspectral vision represents a universal tool. This is because the technology can determine and visualize the distribution of a wide range of surface and layer parameters or sample properties derived from them, thus clarifying industrial processes, making them more effective and automating them.

Exhibitor: Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, Dresden (Germany)

Autonomous inspection system for optical 2D and 3D inspection of small batches

Compar AG from Pfäffikon, Switzerland, shows an autonomous inspection system for the optical 2D and 3D inspection of small batches. The compact and flexible technology consists of a feeder unit, a robot and an image processing system. The vision system not only generates the information for the robot unit for further handling, but also handles the quality inspection. From 2D to 3D inspection and integrated OCV inspection, various options are available to the user. Deep-learning algorithms can also be used to perform a qualitative classification of the parts. The technology can be used, for example, to inspect small parts in pallets or blisters and shows how the modern manufacturing industry can benefit from autonomous inspection systems.

Exhibitor: Compar AG, Pfäffikon (Switzerland)

Optical character recognition using artificial intelligence

The in-situ GmbH, based in Sauerlach near Munich, Germany, will be demonstrating a system for optical character recognition using artificial intelligence. Thanks to the Deep Learning OCR technology, the system can also recognize characters that are heavily deformed, skewed, poorly etched, or have a weak contrast between the character and the background. Even annoying light reflections and irregular character spacing are tolerated. The solution is available both for PC-based systems and as an In-Sight D900 intelligent camera, and can be integrated into existing production systems.

Exhibitor: in-situ GmbH, Sauerlach (Germany)

Optical 3D deformation and strain analysis on components

ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions, Oberkochen, Germany, will be exhibiting its »ARAMIS« product family, a technology for optical 3D deformation and strain analysis on components ranging in size from a few millimeters to several meters. The systems provide precise 3D coordinates for measuring 3D displacements, velocities, accelerations and strains. Based on this measurement data, material properties can be determined, finite element calculations can be verified, component collisions can be detected, motion trajectories can be checked and component deformations can be analyzed. The systems measure non-contact, material-independent and are based on the principle of digital image correlation. The measurements are carried out independently of sample geometry and temperature and with minimal effort for sample preparation.

Exhibitor: ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions, Oberkochen (Germany)

Flexible image processing solution for a wide range of handling, assembly and testing tasks

With the configurable »CS-60« vision sensor and the retrofittable »nVision-i« software, di-soric GmbH & Co. KG from Urbach is presenting an efficient, reliable and flexible image processing solution for a wide variety of handling, assembly and inspection tasks . Without programming knowledge and without special machine vision know-how, users select their desired inspection tools via a self-explanatory graphical user interface and use them via drag & drop. In addition to common inspection tasks, precise object measurements in millimeters are possible with the help of a calibration tool. The image processing solution can be used, for example, for quality checks in assembly and handling technology and robotics or for presence, position and location checks, e.g. in packaging technology.

Exhibitor: di-soric GmbH & Co. KG, Urbach

Education and training offers in the field of industrial image processing

Machine vision as well as optical measurement and inspection technologies are an important element in the implementation of zero defect concepts whose goal is the 100 percent inspection in production. Their non-contact, fast and reliable operation means that they can now be used increasingly frequently in step with the production cycle. However, it is still not easy for potential users to decide which machine vision technology is most suitable for their own applications. The Technology Days, seminars and publications of the Fraunhofer Vision Business Unit, Fürth, Germany, offer decision support for this.

Exhibitor: Fraunhofer Vision Business Unit, Fürth (Germany)