Knowledge of Visual Inspection: Web Camera and Industrial Camera
We will introduce the advantages and disadvantages of web cameras and industrial cameras.
As a representative of inexpensive cameras, there are webcams that can be connected to a computer via USB. Their prices start from around 1,000 yen, making them quite affordable, but it's good to understand the reasons why industrial cameras are generally used for image processing to avoid potential issues. Of course, the cheaper option increases cost-effectiveness, but in my experience, there are "3" customers using webcams compared to "7" customers using industrial cameras. Conversely, this means that 30% of customers can operate effectively with a webcam.
basic information
■Web Camera Advantages - Inexpensive (around 1,000 yen) Disadvantages - The sensor size is small (about 3mm square), resulting in noisy images. - Generally, the lens cannot be changed, so the field of view cannot be selected. - Many models cannot store settings like exposure time, and most have automatic exposure, which can lead to fluctuating exposure times and unstable results. - Not suitable for inspections that require precise timing, such as inspecting moving items or items with a short stationary time. - Since it continuously captures images as video using the DirectShow standard, the USB data transfer volume is high → Generally, only 2 to 3 cameras can be connected to a single PC.
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Applications/Examples of results
■Industrial Camera Disadvantages - Not inexpensive (approximately 30,000 to 100,000 yen) Advantages - The sensor size is about 5mm to 10mm, providing a large light-receiving area and low noise. - The angle of view can be selected by changing the lens, and the large lens results in low distortion and high resolution. - Settings such as exposure time can be finely adjusted, and many settings can be saved. - Synchronization in microseconds (µs) is also possible. - Since the primary method is to capture a single image when needed, it operates stably even when connecting more cameras (3 to 4) compared to DirectShow. *For more details, please refer to the related links or feel free to contact us.*
