Micro-Zoom Video Inspection Systems
What to Look For
Click here to purchase a Micro System.
Affordability and Flexibility are Important!
With the cost of electronics becoming more and more affordable, a high resolution color camera with high quality zoom optics, and application driven lighting should be available at an affordable price. Scienscope and Phase 1 carry a substantial inventory of compatible video inspection components to meet any application. Complete Macro Zoom Inspection Systems like the one above can be provided in price ranges starting at under $3000. Click on the picture above to learn more about each component feature or call for a free consultation.
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Work with experts to configure the video system properly
Many variables come in to play when configuring a video inspection system. The lens is attached to an adapter tube which provides magnification and field-of-view. A coupler is attached to the tube for camera mounting. At this stage the camera sensor size is selected and the monitor size affects electro magnification on the screen. Don’t forget to determine the type of lighting required. The VII and our partners have an experienced staff with over 18 years experience in application evaluation. You can send sample parts directly to us and we can e-mail you images of your parts along with a recommended turnkey solution.
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Select the Correct Mounting Stand
There are a wide variety of boom stands, stationery copy stands, articulated arm mounts, and table top mounting arms which can meet the needs of your particular application. Types include: heavy base stands, integrated work station stands, granite stands and table mount stands.
Gliding Stage can be useful for manually scanning parts for inspection
Adding a gliding stage to the boom stand configuration will give you the ability to position parts on the stage and move the components under the lens quickly and easily. This can be useful for large parts that have a large number of components to be inspected or very small parts which can be difficult to find on a table top.
Micro Zoom Lenses can Provide Magnification Ranges of approximately 24 to over 1000x
If your application requires magnification ranges of 24x to 276x or higher you will need a micro system. Micro Lens systems are configured with a lens, adapter tube, and camera to meet the specific needs of the application. The most common configuration is a 6x lens with a 1x adapter tube to yield magnification of approximately 42x (lower magnification) to 276x (higher magnification) on the high end.
Micro Zoom Lenses can Provide Magnification Ranges of approximately 24 to over 1000x
If your application requires magnification ranges of 24x to 276x or higher you will need a micro system. Micro Lens systems are configured with a lens, adapter tube, and camera to meet the specific needs of the application. The most common configuration is a 6x lens with a 1x adapter tube to yield magnification of approximately 42x (lower magnification) to 276x (higher magnification) on the high end.
Use a lens with Aperture Adjust (light), Zoom, and Variable Lens adjustment built in to the lens
If you have a wide variety of parts with a desire to inspect many different magnifications and field of views of features, flexibility will be desired. This means that you can manually control the amount of light directed through the lens and into the camera. Parts have many different levels of reflectivity and color. This capability will allow you to adjust the zoom magnification, lighting, and field of view parts quickly, easily, and with effort.
A Motorized Zoom System with Automatic Focus could provide Hands-Free operation by using a footswitch
Inspection and rework procedures tend to be more efficient and accurate when the operators hands are holding the part being inspected and not having to worry about adjusting the zoom lens to change magnification. A motorized remote control provides this type of flexibility.
Added Micro Flexibility at an affordable price!
Auxiliary Lenses attach to the bottom of the lens and allow you to increase or decrease magnification and Field of view quickly and easily for under $250.
Analyze the Correct Camera to meet your needs
Do You need Digital? Analog? USB? What kind of resolution do you really need? Depending on the speed and resolution, you could pay from $400 to $4000 dollars for a camera. Keep in mind that analog provides speed and s-video clarity, while digital provides image capture, documentation, and editing capabilities. Analog Video cameras are used quite often with image capture cards for video measurement applications. Phase 1 is one of the largest suppliers of high quality cameras and turnkey solutions. Contact us today to see what kind of camera and lens combination would best suit your needs.
Lighting is Very Important – Usually a Ring Light works Great!
With macro applications a fiber optic ring light can provide shadow-free even illumination over the entire image. In some cases a polarized ring light can reduce reflection on shiny parts. LED lighting can also help features stand out dramatically through the use of strategically positioned light and reflection techniques (See Illumination Section). The advantage of LED lighting is “Light Bulbs for the Light Source are not required”. You can get over 100,000 hours of light out of an LED ringlight.
Bi-furcated Light Pipes can Provide Lighting into long working distance holes
Some times it is hard to get light down into a bore or long working distance hole. Check for the ability to use the same light source as the ring light or bottom light to look down into blind holes. Since you will generally not be using a ring or bottom light at the same time, you would not need another light source.
Do You Need Bottom Lighting?
Having parts with through holes could benefit through a backlit stage. Be sure to evaluate what kind of backlighting options are available for your requirements. Options may include fluorescent light panels, fiber optic, or LED backlights.
When it comes to monitors, the CRT provides the Best Image but Flat Panel LCD’s save space and doubles as video and computer monitor
A Cathode Ray Tube Monitor (CRT) provides the optimum s-video image in terms of clarity and crispness however, given the advances in LCD technology and prices declining, the LCD has become the system of choice in terms of space and flexibility. If you are using an analog camera, one must be sure that the LCD has composite or S-video inputs. Most computer LCD’s only have VGA computer input.
Why try to figure all this out yourself? -Contact the experts at the VII and we can suggest the optimum configuration for your application
Many variables come in to play when configuring a video system. One must be concerned with magnification, field-of-view, resolution, lighting and image clarity. Why spend all this time trying to figure it out when you can have a free consultant help you evaluate the technology. Contact the VII today for more information.
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