Machine vision is a technology that utilizes sensors, industrial cameras, I/O control hardware and vision software algorithms to extract information from captured images, providing imaging-based inspection analysis and visual guidance for production line operations. As a crucial part of factory automation, the technology is widely implemented in automated product inspection to enhance quality control, as well as in assembly process to guide robots and adjust machinery behavior. Machine vision gives manufacturing equipment the ability to see and identify objects just like the human eye—yet with far greater speed and precision. Systems incorporating machine vision are able to examine massive numbers of parts within seconds and deliver consistently reliable and accurate inspection results despite long hours of repetitive operations. Aided by high resolution cameras and sophisticated optics, machine vision systems can also distinguish subtle differences too tiny to be discerned by human inspectors.
Axiomtek, an enthusiastic Industry 4.0 advocate as well as a global leader in innovative technologies for factory automation, is launching a series of industrial-grade system controllers and I/O hardware solutions to streamline the development of a variety of machine vision applications, aiming to help manufacturers make the best of their vision platforms and to transform their conventional plants into fully automated smart factories quickly, economically, and with the least deployment and maintenance efforts.
Machine Vision Controller – IPS960-511-PoE
The IPS960-511-PoE is a highly integrated vision controller built expressly for machine vision applications. Featuring an industrial-grade IP40 rugged design, excellent computing performance, flexible expansion capacity, as well as real-time vision I/O control and camera communication interfaces, the machine vision controller provides a total solution that addresses the needs across various machine vision platforms and automatic inspection cases.
Integrated real-time vision I/O
Real-time I/O guarantees instant machine control and response. With its CPLD (complex programmable logic device) architecture, the IPS960-511-PoE is able to perform encoder input, camera trigger, LED lighting control and other vision I/O tasks. The controller also allows users to set timing with microsecond-scale control, making the system a highly efficient digital I/O platform to harness all machine vision peripherals in real time.
Dimming control
The IPS960-511-PoE supports lighting dimming control through the use of pulse width modulation (PWM) and constant current, to help identify object characteristics for different inspection types.
Camera interfaces
The IPS960-511-PoE has a complete set of Gigabit Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports and USB 3.0 ports for connecting industrial cameras. The Gigabit PoE ports enable Ethernet transmission at 1 Gbps to achieve high-speed image acquisition performance, meanwhile sending power to cameras using the same Ethernet cable that transmits data. The remote smart on/off function of the PoE ports enabled by power management also provides monitoring and control for various devices.
SDK with rich Library & API
By incorporating Axiomtek’s software development kit (SDK), the IPS960-511-PoE provides rich library and API resources for system designers to develop applications specific to their vision I/O configuration needs, achieving desired hardware-software integration and collaboration.
4-port PCI Express GigE Frame Grabber Card - AX92320
Axiomtek's AX92320 supports PCI Express x4 lane, four independent Gigabit 802.3at (PoE, Power-over-Ethernet) compliant Ethernet ports and GigE Vision camera compliance. The 4-port PCI Express x4 frame grabber can provide up to 30 watts at 54 VDC power per port, which allows power to be supplied to connected PoE-based devices, such as GigE Vision cameras in machine vision systems. The intelligent GigE Vision card also supports IEEE 1588 (precise time protocol), enabling synchronization with multi-camera acquisition. Combining IEEE 1588 and PoE function, the card utilizes a single Ethernet cable for power, data, and synchronization.
Real-Time Vision I/O Card - AX92350
The Axiomtek's AX92350 is a PCI Express x1 vision card with vision-specific I/Os and real-time controls. A machine vision system requires accurate interaction between lighting, cameras, actuators and sensor devices. The AX92350 vision I/O card integrates LED lighting controller, camera trigger, encoder input, and digital I/O to connect and control all the vision devices. The encoder input function is particularly suited for conveyor applications. The vision I/O card supports 4-CH trigger input, 4-CH or 8-CH trigger output, 4-CH LED lighting control, 1-CH quadrature encoder, 8-CH isolated DI and DO, plus 1-CH auto measurement function for rugged machine vision and video surveillance applications.
