The Quick Vision Active Series (“QV Active Series”), a new member of our Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Vision Measuring System Quick Vision Series lineup, was launched in April 2016. The increasing popularity of CNC Vision Measuring Systems has created greater demand in the main market segment to cope with the ever-increasing inspection workload and achieve cost reductions. The QV Active Series was developed to be an easy-to-use and versatile series of products that meets these demands through zoom lenses for easily changing image magnification and megapixel color cameras for creating high-resolution color images. This new series of lightweight and compact Quick Vision systems can measure in three dimensions using built-in touch-trigger probes. The lineup consists of the compact QV Active 202 and the mid-sized QV Active 404 (Photograph 1).

Photograph 1

Vision Measuring Systems are precision measuring devices which use optical units containing image sensors such as CMOS or CCD sensors mounted in CNC three-axis coordinate measuring machines, performing computer processing of images of measured objects for automatic measurement without physical contact. They use lighting control, autofocusing, and edge detection to eliminate the problems involved in conventional microscope measurement, such as measurement error due to the variable characteristics of individual operators. They are used in a wide range of industries, such as the electrical, electronics, automotive, medical device and pharmaceutical, and machine parts industries. They are used in precision parts measurement and automatic inspection activities, contributing to improved product quality and productivity. The QV Active Series is a series of CNC Vision Measuring Systems. Measurement procedure programs are created and executed to perform measurement automatically so these devices are called CNC vision measuring systems, similarly to CNC coordinate measuring machines. We began offering our CNC Vision Measuring System Quick Vision Series in 1993. These systems were more expensive than modern systems, and were aimed at the high-end market for use on electrical and electronic components. As CNC vision measuring systems became more widespread, the effectiveness of their vision measuring functions became recognized and and demand arose for more reasonably priced CNC vision measuring systems suitable for measuring machine parts and molded plastic components. Various companies began releasing mid-market CNC vision measuring systems for the main market segment. Our Quick Scope Series QS250Z (Photograph 2), launched before the QV Active Series, met this market demand. Let’s look at these CNC vision measuring systems and the issues they face.

Photograph 2

1. (1) The most common type is a compact unit with a moving XY table and a measuring range of 300 mm or less, but there is also demand for larger measuring ranges. Customers prefer devices with smaller footprints.
2. (2) Most manufacturers use zoom lenses in the optical units. The magnification range is limited, and in order to handle measurement of a wide range of objects, devices must support viewing with an even wider range of magnifications.
3. (3) Some objects to be measured have concavities, so devices need to have lenses with a long working distance, which is the distance between the bottom edge of a lens and the focal plane).
4. (4) These systems are also used for observation and inspection, so customers favour those manufacturers whose lineups offer color cameras and high-quality, high-resolution images.
5. (5) The image autofocus used for contact-free height and step measurement is slower and less precise than that of high-end devices. Manufacturers handle this by outfitting their devices with laser triangulation capabilities.
6. (6) The increased need for three-dimensional measurement has created a need for devices with the touch probes used in high-end models.
7. (7) Vision Measuring Systems are often used by beginners, such as personnel from other departments or those holding multiple positions, so ease of operation is important. At the same time, devices must be capable of versatile measurement by dedicated operators and must offer greater efficiency through automatic measurement.

Based on what we’ve seen of the state of past medium- and small-sized CNC Vision Measuring Systems for the main market segment, and the issues they face, let’s look at the features of the newly developed QV Active Series: The lineup consists of four models: two compact and two mid-sized models with either image measurement-only standard configuration or with a touch probe. Table 1 shows an outline of their specifications.

Table 1

The device features a fixed-bridge, moving-table design, which has a proven track record of use in the Quick Vision Series. The moving XY table design used in mid-market CNC vision measuring systems produces a great deal of dynamic error because one axis system has to be entirely supported by the other. Compared to this, the fixed-bridge, moving-table design has an extremely low level of dynamic error, mainly due to the location of the Y-axis being in the bridge structure instead of in the table and so it has a much more rigid support. Movement along each axis therefore produces very little structural deformation, thus minimizing spatial error and allowing users to perform extremely high-precision dynamic measurement by eliminating any error due to pitching, yawing, and rolling to the greatest degree possible. The size of the drive unit has been reduced, producing a compact design overall. These systems have much smaller footprints and much lower weights than our existing devices, or those of competitors, with the same measuring ranges. This provides a greater choice of installation locations and makes subsequent relocation much easier. The QV Active 202 is 12% smaller and 43% lighter, while the QV Active 404 is 30% smaller and 44% lighter than previously. The QV Active Series uses megapixel color digital cameras and achieves high-level image detection through improved pixel resolution and definition, which are important elements of image processing. Details of the area observed in the high-definition color images are authentically reproduced on the monitor, so even personnel who carry out visual inspections using microscopes can perform measurement and observation of natural, high-quality, high-definition images. The image window displayed on the computer monitor can be expanded for large screen measurement work, helping reduce eye fatigue. Photograph 3 shows a sample measurement image.

Photograph 3