What do the following have in common: intricate printed circuit boards, highly sensitive micromotors, soft valves used in precision instruments, microscopic moldings? The answer is they are all extremely diffi cult to measure. Enter a new video camera, the ViSCAN, capable of taking images of highly complex objects from a variety of angles before automatically transmitting measurements to a computer.
In close cooperation with Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH, the Ilmenau-based Steinbeis Transfer Center Quality Assurance and Image Processing developed a video optical probe going by the name ViSCAN – a tiny camera capable of capturing 25 images a second. By adapting and controlling lighting levels electronically, ViSCAN makes it possible to completely automate photographic settings. A key requirement of the Steinbeis brief was that it should come up with a well thought through, logical concept, use modern software and tap into image measurement expertise. Steinbeis engineering experts pieced together an extremely light-weight construction encompassing a camera, precision lens and lighting. A key advantage of ViSCAN is that it uses a sensor changer rack for automatically changing measuring instruments. This makes it possible to switch conveniently between optical and tactile probes on one and the same coordination measurement device, and pool computations on the same software (Calypso).
The video optical sensor has been combined with a Zeiss incremental articulating probe holder to make it possible to capture images from all angles. It also saves time and avoids switching between change-parts, a process highly prone to error. Now, it is possible to measure complex components more accurately, efficiently, and importantly: more quickly. With ever shortening timesto- market and lengthening lists of components, the mini-camera has become a key success factor.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerhard Linß, Dr.-Ing. Peter Brückner
Steinbeis Transfer Center Quality Assurance and Image Processing (Ilmenau)