Smart Component Feeding Through Vision-Guided Robotics

The combination of senswork’s machine vision expertise, flexible feeding technology, and robotic automation creates an intelligent solution for demanding pick-and-place applications. In this project, a calibrated camera system was integrated with a flexfeeder and robotic handling system to enable the reliable feeding and positioning of individual components for a multitool cutting tool assembly process.

Application Challenge

The production process required the automated handling of various components supplied through a flexfeeder. To ensure reliable robotic picking, the system had to identify suitable pick candidates while accurately determining both their position and rotational orientation. A particular challenge was the detection of components that could appear in a flipped orientation, requiring precise image processing and stable lighting conditions.

Solution

senswork implemented a calibrated camera system that continuously analyzes the components within the flexfeeder. Using dark-field illumination, the vision system reliably detects each part and determines its exact position and orientation. The calculated coordinates are transmitted directly to the robot, enabling precise and efficient pick-and-place operations.

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To maintain long-term accuracy, the solution includes a fully automated calibration process that regularly aligns the coordinate systems of the camera and robot. This ensures consistent performance without manual intervention and allows seamless integration into the production environment.

Results and Benefits

The implemented solution enables reliable detection of all components, including parts presented in a flipped position. Automated calibration eliminates the need for manual adjustment while ensuring continuous accuracy between the vision system and robot. By integrating the camera system directly into production, the customer benefits from a highly automated and robust process that increases efficiency, reduces setup effort, and supports stable production quality.

To learn more about position detection technologies, read more here.