Vision & Control's intelligent and compact image processing systems enable precise optical quality control of electronic assemblies at high cycle rates. This can be demonstrated using the example of sub-synchronous power converter cascades (USK), such as those manufactured by Schunk Modultechnik for vehicle radiators.
Industrial assembly of electronic modules includes a final quality check, including a visual inspection. This includes checking whether all components are present and precisely positioned. Automatic image processing systems from Vision & Control perform this task more cost-effectively, faster and, above all, more accurately than manual inspection.
This is also the case in the production of sub-synchronous power converter cascades (USK), such as those manufactured by Schunk Modultechnik for vehicle radiators. Even in very confined spaces, the inspection can be carried out directly on the production line using an intelligent camera from the pictor-N series. Although the housing of this camera series is smaller than a pack of cigarettes, it houses an innovative CMOS sensor and a fast ARM Cortex-A9 processor with integrated FPGA. A powerful image processing system is already installed here and its range of functions is compatible with the vicosys multi-camera systems. Configuration and operation with live image is carried out via a web interface. This means that the inspection can be configured and operated from any PC or tablet in the same network.
The test object is captured by a telecentric lens (T360/0.19a). Thanks to the parallel beam path, a telecentric lens images without perspective distortion. Within the depth of field range, the size of the imaged body remains constant even with changing distances. This enables precise and, above all, reproducible serial measurements of the size, position or location of the test specimens, even if the objects to be examined are not always in exactly the same place.
A large ring light from the vicolux series ensures high-contrast illumination. In our example, it allows both the bright grindstone housings and the dark coils to be seen equally well.
Thanks to the vcwin graphical programming interface, the test sequence is created in just a few steps: After capturing the image, the 'Probe circle' function first determines the center of the circuit board. It orients itself to the circular opening in the center of the board. The 'Find pattern' command, which is executed several times, then identifies all components and determines their position. Based on their distances from the center, a decision is made as to whether the assembly complies with the specified tolerance values or must be rejected.
