Vision & Imaging Blog
Protecting Machine Vision Systems in Rugged Environments
Machine vision systems are complex and expensive, yet more often than not they’re exposed to harsh industrial environments. Protecting your vision system and the integrity of the results it produces, or protecting your investment in automation, is a fundamental aspect of successful automated vision applications.
Machine vision enclosures are built to protect your vision system, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Every application poses different environmental hazards, and it’s vitally important that you find the right solution for your machine vision system.
How the Industrial Environment Affects Your Machine Vision Enclosure
Given the ubiquity of automated vision solutions, there are many different types of environments a machine vision system may be subjected to. Thermal cameras are often used in the monitoring of crucial assets, for example in the steel industry to monitor cooling processes, and are exposed to heat and explosions. Extremely durable machine vision enclosures have to be integrated to help withstand high temperatures and explosions.
On the other hand, some industrial applications, such as glass inspection in Alaska, are below a vision system’s minimum operating temperature, and a machine vision enclosure must specialize in heating the vision system to a proper operating temperature.
Certified System Integrator Program
Set Yourself at the Forefront of the Global Vision Market
.jpg)
Vision system integrators certified by A3 are acknowledged globally throughout the industry as an elite group of accomplished, highly skilled and trusted professionals. You’ll be able to leverage your certification to enhance your competitiveness and expand your opportunities.
The food and beverage industry, while not highly dangerous, is often exposed to high-temperature washing with harsh chemicals. A machine vision enclosure in this instance must be built to withstand corrosion and high temperatures.
Machine Vision Enclosure Integration
Integrating a machine vision enclosure is a complicated, highly technical process. For example, in the food and beverage industry, enclosures are typically made of type 316 stainless steel. This is because machine vision enclosures in this industry need a proper Ingress Protection (IP) rating for IP65, IP66 and IP66K ratings.
Now, those in the food and beverage industry are also choosing IP69K ratings, which specifies a spray nozzle dispensing 176°F water at 1160-1450 psi at a flow rate of 4 gallons per minute, where the nozzle is placed 4-6 inches from the device and is rotated every 12 seconds.
As you can see, the integration of machine vision enclosures requires precise specifications and technical expertise. It’s much more involved than simply putting an enclosure around a camera system.
Machine vision enclosures are a fundamental part of automated vision systems. If your vision system is unprotected, so is the quality of the data you receive, and so is your investment in automation.
Recent Posts