Previously we’ve introduced AT Automation Technology 3D scanners, which use triangulation – together with precision optics and embedded algorithms – to build a point cloud representation of 3D objects.
AT Automation Technology 3D scanner – courtesy of Automation Technology
While there are interesting scanning applications in diverse industries, including automotive, food processing, battery production, display inspection, and more, in this piece we focus on the automotive industry. Below we offer a collection of short videos that help to tell the story. Each application utilizes AT Automation Technology 3D laser profilers.
CONTACT US to discuss your application! We have longstanding returning customers who know we like to help you choose the right cameras and components. It’s what we do.
Inspection of brake discs, for surface defects, duration 1 minute 24 seconds:
Inspection of stamped metal parts, duration 37 seconds:
You don’t have to be in the automotive industry to take advantage of AT Automation Technology 3D laser scanning! Food processing, display inspection, battery production – indeed all sorts of 3D applications are enabled or enhanced by laser triangulation approaches to building 3D point clouds for a scanned object, and comparing the scan to the idealized perfect object. The difference calculation determines if the test object is within the defined tolerances.
From real space to 3D point cloud model – Image courtesy of AT Automation Technology
We have videos for other industries and applications available, and sales engineers who can help guide you to a solution for your particular needs. Call us at 978-474-0044.
3D laser profiling is widely used in diverse industries and applications. There are a number of mature offerings and periodic next generation innovations. So what would it take to convince you to take a look at the value proposition for AT – Automation Technology’s C6 Series? In particular the C6-3070, the fastest laser triangulation laser profiler on the market.
AT says that “C6 Series is an Evolution. C6-3070 is a Revolution”. Let’s briefly review the principles of laser profile scanning, followed by what makes this particular product so compelling.
3D profile scanning components – courtesy Automation Technology
What are the distinguishing characteristics of each item labeled in the above diagram?
Target object: An item whose height variations we want to digitally map or profile
XYZ guide: The laser line paints the X dimension; each slice is in the Y dimension; height correlates to Z
Laser line projector: paints the X dimension across the target object
Objective lens: focuses reflected laser light
CMOS detector: array of pixel wells, or pixels, such that for each cycle, the electronic value of a pixel scales with the height value of the geometrically corresponding position on the target object
FPGA and I/O circuitry: provide the timing, the smarts, and the communications
The key to laser triangulation is that the triangulation angle varies in direct correlation with the height variances on the target object that reflects the projected laser light through the lens and onto the detector. It’s “just geometry” – though packaged of course efficiently into the embedded algorithms and precisely aligned optics.
The goal in 3D profile scanning is to build a 3D point cloud representing the height profile of the target object.
Laser line reflections captured to create 3D point cloud of target object – courtesy Automated Technology
Speed and Resolution: 200kHz @ 3k resolution. That’s the fastest on the market. This is due to AT’s proprietary sensor WARP – Widely Advanced Rapid Profiling. How does it work?
The C6-3070 imager has on-board pre-processing. In particular, it detects the laser line on the imager, so that only the part of the image around the laser line is transferred to the FPGA for further processing. This massively reduces the volume of data needing to be transferred, but focusing on just the relevant immediate neighborhood around the laser line. Which means more cycles per second. Which is how 200kHz at 3k resolution is attained.
C6-3070 imager’s pre-processing sends just the portion of the image needed, thereby achieving higher framerates – courtesy Automation Technology
Modularity: When Henry Ford introduced the Model T, he is famously attributed to have said “You can have it any color you like, as long as it’s black.” Ford achieved economies of scale with a standardized product, and almost all manufacturers follow principles of standardization for the same reason.
But AT – Automation Technology’s C6 Series is modular by design – each component of an overall system offers standard options. There are no minimum order quantities, no special engineering charges, and lead times are short because the modular components are pre-stocked.
For example:
Laser options (blue, red laser class: 2M, 3R, 3B)
X-FOV (Field Of View) from 7mm to 1290 mm
Single or dual head sensors
Sensor parameters offer customizable Working Distance, Triangulation Angle, and Speed
Software: The cameras may be controlled by many popular third party software products, as the are GigE-Vision / Genicam 3.0 compliant. Or you may download the comprehensive and free AT Solution Package, optimized for use with AT’s IR cameras. The SDK is C-based API with wrappers for C++, C# and Python.
Besides the SDK itself, users may want to take advantage of the Metrology Package. The Metrology Package provides a toolset for evaluating measurement results.
Pricing: You might think that a product asserted to be the fastest on the market would come at a premium price. In fact AT’s 3D profilers are priced so competitively that they are often price leaders as well. At the time of writing, they certainly lead on (price : performance) in their class. Call us at 978-474-0044.
So you want to do an in-line measurement, inspection, identification and/or guidance application in automotive, electronics, semiconductor or factory automation. Whether a new application or time for an upgrade, you know that Teledyne DALSA’s Z-Trak 3D Laser Profiler balances high performance while also offering a low total cost of ownership.
In this 2nd Edition release we update the Z-Trak family overview with the addition of the new LP2C 4k series, bringing even more options along the price : performance spectrum. From low cost and good enough, through more resolution as well as fast, and all the way to highest resolution, there are a range of Z-Trak profiles to choose from.
Z-Trak 3D Laser Profiler
The first generation Z-Trak product, the LP1, is the cornerstone of the expanded Z-Trak family, now augmented with the Z-Trak2 group (V-series and the S-series), plus the LP2C 4k series. Each product brings specific value propositions – here we aim to help you navigate among the options.
Respecting the reader’s time, key distinctions among the series are:
LP1 is the most economical 3D profiler on the market – contact us for pricing.
Z-Trak2 is one of the fastest 3D profilers on the market – with speeds to 45kHz.
LP2C 4k provides 4,096 profiles per second at resolution down to 3.5 microns.
To guide you effectively to the product best-suited for your application, we’ve prepared the following table, and encourage you to fill in the blanks, either on a printout of the page or via copy-past into a spreadsheet (for your own planning or to share with us as co-planners).
3D application key attributes
Compare your application’s key attributes from above with some of the feature capacities of the three Z-Trak product families below, as a first-pass at determining fit:
Unless the fit is obvious – and often it is not – we invite you to send us your application requirements. We we love mapping customer requirements, so please send us your application details in our form on this contact link; or you can send us an email to info@1stvision.com with the feedback from your 3D application’s “Key questions” above.
In addition to the parameter-based approach to choosing the ideal Z-Trak model, we also offer an empirical approach – send in your samples. We have a lab set up to inspect customer samples with two or more candidate configurations. System outputs can then be examined for efficacy relative to your performance requirements, to determine how much is enough – without over-engineering.
A 3D Profile sensor (aka camera) relies on 3D Laser Triangulation techniques that have been around for a long time, but until now were expensive. 3D Laser triangulation a decade ago consisted of using separate components in complicated setups using lasers, lighting, optics and algorithms to capture 3D information. Today, this has become simplified into a single package. Teledyne Dalsa Z-Trak profile sensor puts the optics, lasers and cameras into a single package with comprehensive free software.
How does the Z-Trak Profile sensor capture 3D information? As shown in the image below, a laser stripe is projected on the object and imaged on an image sensor. This gives the position of the laser stripe and provides lateral information and depth giving X and Z axis data. By moving the object in the Y-Scan direction the Y-axis data point is provided then giving full X, Y & Z dimensional information.
What applications do 3D laser triangulation solve? Z-Trak laser profile cameras are GigE Vision compliant permitting it to be used with any image processing software that supports 16 bit acquisition using the GigE Vision protocol. Using 3rd party and open platform software development packages such as Dalsa Sapera Processing 3D, Sherlock 8 3D, Stemmer CVB, GeniCAM tools and MvTec Halcon many applications can be solved. A partial list of applications is as follows:
Teledyne Dalsa provides free software packages consisting of Sapera Processing with run time licenses and Sherlock 3D. Easy to use demo programs are also included. A few examples using the Sapera source code are as follows:
Full specifications, Data sheets and manual for Teledyne Dalsa Z-Trak can be found HERE. or request a Quote HERE
Give us some brief idea of your application and we will contact you to discuss camera options.
1st Vision’s sales engineers have over 100 years of combined experience to assist in your camera selection. With a large portfolio of lenses, cables, NIC card and industrial computers, we can provide a full vision solution!
