Code reading on moulded components

Paul Boughton
Automatic reading of part numbers, serial numbers and batch information formed into the surface of moulded components can be difficult using conventional 2D vision systems due to the very low contrast between the code and the component surface.

But Stemmer Imaging's LMI Gocator 3D smart camera can image these codes, even where they are at varying heights.

Gocator line profiling sensors allow the measurement of surface topography and profile data of the component. The 3D point cloud (height map) from the Gocator can be used to inspect the dimensions (width, length and depth) and locations of the moulded characters. Codes and characters are colour coded according to their height allowing simultaneous display of characters at varying heights on the component surface. [Page Break]

Height map data can be analysed and read by interfacing the Gocator to either Sherlock or Common Vision Blox (CVB) software. Sherlock is a powerful machine vision software interface from Telydyne DALSA. It can be applied to a wide variety of automated inspection applications and features a full range of reader identification tools, including 1D and 2D code reading and verification and optical character recognition.

Common Vision Blox is Stemmer Imaging's software platform for quick and reliable vision application development. This programming library supports all common acquisition technologies. CVB search and read tools provide Optical Character Recognition, Optical Code Verification and 1D and 2D code reading.

For more information, visit www.stemmer-imaging.co.uk