Integrating a machine vision system yourself
Apply machine vision yourself in your machine, production line or process, with the right components, software, training and technical support where needed.
Machine vision is no longer reserved only for specialized vision integrators. With the current generation of smart cameras, industrial cameras and machine vision software, machine builders, production companies and technical teams can increasingly integrate vision themselves. Applications such as presence and absence inspection, code reading, OCR, position control, measurement and end-of-line inspection can often be built, tested and maintained internally.
This does not mean that machine vision is simply a matter of mounting a camera. A reliable system still requires the right combination of camera, lens, illumination, software, mounting, triggering and communication with the machine control system. That is exactly where the difference lies between a demo that works and a system that remains stable in production.
Machine Vision Shop helps companies that want to integrate machine vision themselves with component selection, machine vision software, practical training and technical guidance. You can build the system yourself and develop knowledge internally, but you do not have to do it alone.
When self-integration makes sense
Self-integration is especially interesting when machine vision is used repeatedly in your machines, production lines or processes. For machine builders, this means that vision can become a repeatable part of the machine concept. For production companies, it gives maintenance, QA and engineering teams more control over settings, product changes and small adjustments.
Modern software makes this more practical than before. Tools for measurement, search, code reading, OCR and presence inspection have become more accessible. However, the technical foundation remains important. A software tool only works reliably when the image is good enough. A poorly selected lens, insufficient illumination or incorrect trigger position causes problems that cannot be solved properly later with software.
That is why self-integration does not start with choosing a single component, but with understanding the application.
Where self-integration usually runs into problems
In practice, self-built vision systems usually do not fail because the camera is not good enough. The problems often occur earlier in the imaging chain or in the integration with the machine. A code is too small in the image. A product moves too fast for the selected exposure time. A glossy surface causes reflections. A measurement is unstable because of lens distortion or variation in product height. A good/bad signal reaches the PLC too late or no longer belongs to the correct product.
That is why a machine vision system must be designed as a complete system. The camera determines the number of pixels and the speed. The lens determines whether the relevant detail is sharply imaged. The illumination determines whether the feature becomes visible with sufficient contrast. The software evaluates the image. The machine control system must process the result at the right moment.
What you need besides a camera
In a self-integration project, the camera often turns out to be only one part of the final system choice. Depending on the application, you may also need a suitable lens, machine vision illumination, filters, cables, mounting, a trigger, software, a vision controller or an industrial PC.
For simple applications, a smart camera may be sufficient. With multiple cameras, external illumination, higher speed or more extensive inspection logic, a complete vision system is often the better choice. For accurate measurement, lens selection becomes more important. With reflective, dark or variable surfaces, the illumination often determines whether the inspection can be made reliable at all.
That is why it is wise to select camera, lens and illumination together based on the application. For the technical camera and resolution choice, you can read more on the page about machine vision camera selection. For component selection, machine vision cameras, machine vision lenses and machine vision illumination directly support this system choice.
Software your team can use itself
Software has become more important for self-integration. Not because software solves everything, but because modern machine vision software makes it possible to build, adjust and test inspections internally.
Machine Vision Shop works, among others, with Datalogic IMPACT and EVT EyeVision. This software is suitable for industrial applications where users want to configure tools themselves for measurement, search, code reading, OCR, presence and absence inspection and other inspection tasks.
The right software choice depends on the application, the hardware used, the required communication with the machine and the knowledge level of the team. It remains important that software always depends on image quality. When the image acquisition is not stable, the software setup also becomes vulnerable.
Training for machine builders and technical teams
Self-integration becomes stronger when your team understands how a vision application is built. That is why this route connects directly with the training courses of Machine Vision Academy.
In these training courses, technicians, engineers and machine builders learn how to work practically with machine vision software, image quality, tolerances, test images and communication with the machine. The training is given with Datalogic IMPACT and EVT EyeVision, so participants work directly with software used in industrial vision applications.
Training is especially valuable when you do not only want to solve one application, but want to apply machine vision yourself more often. The knowledge remains within your organization and makes future projects faster, better and less dependent on external capacity.
Consultancy when technical choices become critical
Integrating a system yourself does not mean that every choice has to be made internally. For applications with high speed, small tolerances, reflective products, limited installation space or complex PLC communication, targeted guidance can save a great deal of time.
With Vision Consultancy, a machine vision engineer reviews the application, image acquisition, component selection and integration into the machine or line. This can be done in advance during system selection, during testing or when evaluating an existing application. The role of consultancy is to reduce risks without taking over the complete project. You remain in control of the integration, but receive support at the points where wrong choices can become costly later.
You build it yourself, but not alone
This approach is intended for companies that want to apply machine vision practically without outsourcing everything. Machine builders can include vision as part of their machine concept. Production companies can gain more control over settings, maintenance and expansion. QA and engineering teams can better assess and adjust inspections when products or processes change.
Machine Vision Shop does not only supply individual components, but helps with the route towards a working system: camera, lens, illumination, software, training and advice where needed.
Discuss your vision application
Do you want to integrate a machine vision system yourself into a machine, production line or logistics process? Contact us to discuss your application. Together we determine which components, software, training or guidance are needed to get started reliably.
