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Microscan Visionscape FrontRunner User Manual

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®
Visionscape
FrontRunner™
User's Manual
v4.1.3, April 2012
83-100042-02 Rev A

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Summary of Contents for Microscan Visionscape FrontRunner

  • Page 1 ® Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012 83-100042-02 Rev A...
  • Page 2 All rights reserved. The information contained herein is proprietary and is provided solely for the purpose of allowing customers to operate and/or service Microscan manufactured equipment and is not to be released, reproduced, or used for any other purpose without written permission of Microscan.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    IntelliFind™ on the VS-1 Smart Camera 1-13 Messages 1-14 ® Visionscape Software Structure and Concepts 1-15 Steps and Trees 1-15 Job Step 1-16 Vision System Step 1-16 Inspection 1-17 Snapshot and Acquire 1-18 v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 4 Examining I/O Transitions (Digital Soft Scope) 2-23 Camera Calibration 2-25 The Part Queue 2-25 Windows You’ll See In FrontRunner™ 2-25 The Main FrontRunner™ Window 2-25 The Setup Window 2-27 Setup Window Toolbar Buttons 2-29 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 5 Advanced Options 3-12 Using Previously Saved Calibration Data 3-16 The Part Queue CHAPTER 4 Setting Up and Starting the Part Queue 4-2 Storing Qualified Images 4-4 Viewing Images in the Part Queue 4-7 v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 6 Front Lighting A-9 Side Lighting (dark field) A-9 Back Lighting A-10 Polarized Light A-10 Advanced Lighting A-11 DOAL A-12 CDI A-13 SCDI A-14 Aperture A-15 Depth of Field A-16 Lighting Tips A-16 Index Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 7: Preface

    The following typographical conventions are used throughout this manual. • Items emphasizing important information are bolded. • Menu selections, menu items and entries in screen images are indicated as: Run (triggered), Modify..., etc. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 8 Preface viii Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 9: Visionscape ® Overview

    A Vision System Step is present at the top of each Job. The Vision System Step represents the hardware on which the Job is to run - either a Smart Camera, a Vision System comprised of GigE Cameras, or a software system. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 10 Visionscape Software System — Visionscape can mimic a hardware system by running a software emulation. The software system may be used for application development using stored images. Typically, a software key is required for full operation. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 11 Using FrontRunner™, you can: • Train, tryout, and download a Job to a Vision System (see Figure 1-1). Train, Tryout, and Download FIGURE 1–1. • Assemble Jobs and adjust parameters (see Figure 1-2). v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 12 Chapter Visionscape® Overview Assemble Jobs and Adjust Parameters FIGURE 1–2. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 13 Visionscape® FrontRunner™ Overview • Monitor a Vision System (see Figure 1-3) Monitor Vision System FIGURE 1–3. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 14 Flaw detection, blob analysis, edge detection and fitting, vector edge detection, template find, etc • Calibrated dimensional measurements • Line intersection, point to point distance, point to line normal, etc. • Automatic identification • Data Matrix and barcode reading, OCR, etc Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 15: Setup And Runtime

    IntelliFind™ allows a feature or object to be found, and it can significantly reduce the v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...

  • Page 16: Steps And Trees

    Filter. The Sobel Filter then executes a Sobel algorithm on the buffer and generates a new buffer, which is passed to the Edge Tool. The Edge Tool finds an edge on that buffer and reports a result. A step that generates Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 17: Job Step

    Essentially, the Job Step is a collection of Vision System Steps. ® Each Vision System Step represents a single Visionscape Vision ® System, but the Job Step represents a set of Visionscape Vision Systems (see Figure 1-6). v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...

  • Page 18: Vision System Step

    The Inspection is the entry point for execution whether you are setting up your application or executing your application. You can create any number of Inspections in a Vision System, and each can be 1-10 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 19 Flaw tool runs. Snapshot 21 is in a separate inspection. Both it and Snapshot 11 should be separately triggered in a manner that will ensure that they do not both use the sensor at the same time. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 1-11...

  • Page 20: Snapshot And Acquire

    In this way, a triggered acquisition pipelines the image to the running inspection. This allows multiple images to be captured so the vision on the system production line does not miss parts. 1-12 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 21: Jobs

    (these are usually stored under \Vscape\Jobs Contours, Fonts subdirectories). Overall, the maximum size used (avp + support files) cannot exceed the 16MB (or 6MB) available in Flash. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 1-13...
  • Page 22 Inspections of the second avp and pasting them into the first avp. Then, the first avp can be saved to disk and loaded/flashed later onto the desired VS-1 Smart Camera device. 1-14 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 23: Frontrunner

    ® FrontRunner™ supports single or multiple Visionscape Vision Systems. You can create and save vision Jobs in FrontRunner™, train tools, examine Inspection reports, and monitor I/O activity. FrontRunner™ is v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...

  • Page 24: Visionscape V4.1 Firmware

    When Visionscape is installed, a Visionscape program folder is created on your Start Menu. A shortcut for starting FrontRunner™ is located there. Start FrontRunner™ using this icon. Alternatively, select Start > Visionscape > Visionscape FrontRunner. ® Visionscape V4.1 Firmware ®...
  • Page 25 Basic Concepts Device Toolbar with No Devices FIGURE 2–1. Device Toolbar with no devices Initial FrontRunner Startup - No GigE Cameras or FIGURE 2–2. Software Systems v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...

  • Page 26: Adding A Software System

    From the dialog box in Figure 2–2, click Add Software System. FrontRunner displays the following dialog box: Enter a name for the Software System, and click OK. FrontRunner displays the following dialog box: Click OK. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 27: Adding And Controlling A Smart Camera

    Click Add Btn. FrontRunner™ displays the Select Device dialog box. Highlight a camera name and click OK. FrontRunner™ adds the new Smart Camera icon to the Device Toolbar, as shown in Figure 2–4: v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 28 “Remove this button” or “Reboot this device”. The first option removes the icon from the Device Toolbar. The second option reboots the camera provided you have control of the device. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 29: Important Visionscape ® Steps

    Photometry and Lighting, which is the light source powered by the camera. • Triggers, which can be virtual or physical The Acquire step is inserted automatically as a component of the Snapshot step. There is always a one-to-one relationship between v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...

  • Page 30: The Snapshot Step

    A Vision System step is always created with an Inspection step, which represents an inspection task. You can add additional inspection steps. Multiple inspection steps are necessary when an application has to support multiple asynchronous inspections. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 31: Focus And Lighting

    You set the exposure time in the Exposure Time (us) property on the Acquire Step v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...

  • Page 32: Steps And Tools

    Open the Editor window. Add a tool. Adjust properties. Close or minimize the Editor window. Acquire an image Adjust the tool’s region of interest (ROI). Train the tool, if applicable. Tryout the Job. 2-10 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 33: Training And Untraining Tools

    Downloading a Job After you’ve tried out the Job and confirmed that it runs as you want it to, you can download it to the device using Download Program from PC to Device. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-11...

  • Page 34: Saving A Job

    Right click on the image. In the menu that is displayed (Figure 2–5), select Save Image... to save the current image to the disk on the PC. When the Save As dialog box is displayed, enter a name for the image you are saving. 2-12 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 35: Starting A Job

    Basic Concepts Menu Displayed — Save Image FIGURE 2–5. Starting a Job Start the Job on the device by clicking Start Program on Device. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-13...
  • Page 36 Snapshot, within the same inspection, all image views share the same rate and selector. The last settings done to any image views applies to all the image views in that Inspection, regardless of which Image view rate and selector was changed. 2-14 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 37: Advanced Concepts

    I/O or generate virtual triggers for any Inspections running on the device, either one shot or periodic (you enter the period). Figure 2–7 shows four Snap views, with zoom buttons and drop-down menus expanded. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-15...
  • Page 38 Save Current Image — Saves the current image as either a .tif file or a .bmp file. You will be prompted to specify a file name. You can specify where the file will be saved. 2-16 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 39 “live” image is required, then the avp should be designed to allow for some idle time while still maintaining the inspection rate required by the external triggering source. A special case of this are Software v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-17...
  • Page 40 Figure 2–8 shows four inspections, with output information displayed for the first inspection. Output Information for Inspection 1 FIGURE 2–8. Figure 2–9 shows four inspections, with timing information displayed for the first inspection. 2-18 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 41 Advanced Concepts Timing Information for Inspection 1 FIGURE 2–9. Figure 2–10 shows four inspections, with extended information displayed for the first inspection. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-19...

  • Page 42: Software Systems

    When loading a Job created for a supported device, either GigE Camera or Smart Camera, the Job is not changed and can be used as is. When loading a Job onto a device, you are prompted to adjust the camera 2-20 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...

  • Page 43: Displaying I/O Transitions

    I/O point. For GPIO points programmed as inputs as well as for Sensors, clicking the button has no effect. You can display 128 points of the Virtual I/O at one time. Use the Range: list box to select the points you want to display. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-21...

  • Page 44: Simulating Triggers

    From the leftmost pull-down menu, select Virtual Point. To the right of Virtual Point, select a number. For example, 0001. Close the Editor window. Click the I/O button. FrontRunner™ displays the I/O Display window, as shown in Figure 2–11. 2-22 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 45 Select the Virtual I/O trigger (lower right hand side of screen) you selected previously in the Acquire properties page. By default, the Trigger Interval is 500 ms. Change this now if you want to. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-23...

  • Page 46: Examining I/O Transitions (Digital Soft Scope)

    When greater accuracy than the Device allows is required, physical triggers should be used instead. Examining I/O Transitions (Digital Soft Scope) Digital Soft Scope examines I/O transitions recorded in a DSS file: 2-24 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 47 When the lines are positioned, the time difference represented by the distance v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-25...

  • Page 48: Windows You'll See In Frontrunner

    Device Buttons — This area contains device buttons for Software ® Systems, Visionscape GigE Cameras, and VS-1 Smart Cameras on the network: – You can add and delete buttons for Software Systems: 2-26 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 49 Device Bar — This area contains icons and messages that display information about devices to which you are connected: – <no device selected> – <device> Live Video – <device> Editing – <device> Tryout Mode v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-27...

  • Page 50: The Setup Window

    Program or Open Existing Program. This is where you set up the focus and lighting, etc., for the camera before you acquire a new image. Take a couple of moments to familiarize yourself with the window. 2-28 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 51 The yellow background indicates that you have control of the Smart Camera • The pencil indicates that the Job on the PC is being edited • The red diskette indicates that the current Job on the device has been changed through editing v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-29...

  • Page 52: Setup Window Toolbar Buttons

    Open Existing Program — Opens a Job that was previously saved to disk. • Save Program — Saves the current Job to disk on the PC. If the Job already resides on disk, FrontRunner™ will simply save the Job 2-30 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 53 For example, if you train a Data Matrix tool to read a Data Matrix with 8 rows and 32 columns, it will not read a Data v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-31...
  • Page 54 Zoom 1:1 — Displays the image in its actual size. • Settings — Contains the following tabs: – Edit — FrontRunner™ allows you to specify what action(s) will take place after you change a step or during tryout. 2-32 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 55 Timing — FrontRunner™ allows you to enable or disable (default) the uploading of timing data. To enable step timing: Create a new Job or load an existing Job onto your PC. Click on the Settings button: Settings v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-33...
  • Page 56 Click the Show Timing Report button to display the Timing Report: Show Timing Report • Windows Toolbar — This toolbar is displayed only when you are connected to a device that is stopped and a Job is loaded into 2-34 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 57 I/O (see “The I/O Display Window” on page 2-44) – Network (see “The Network Overview Window” on page 2-45) The Context Menu To display the context menu, right click on the image display area. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-35...
  • Page 58 • Maximize ROI — Makes the current Step ROI be the size of the image it is in. 2-36 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 59 Regenerate — If the image being displayed on the screen is the output of an Image Processing tool (i.e., Morphology, Sobel, etc.), then Regenerate takes a new Picture and runs the Image Processing tool to show the resulting output image. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-37...
  • Page 60 The Editor Window FrontRunner™ displays the Editor window after you click Editor. This is where you adjust properties for a step or tool. Take a couple of moments to familiarize yourself with the window. 2-38 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 61 Windows You’ll See In FrontRunner™ Editor Window FIGURE 2–17. Properties for Inspection Step Editor Window Toolbar Buttons The Editor window contains the following buttons: v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-39...
  • Page 62 – Paste Into – Paste Before – Paste After • Job View — Displays all the Vision System Steps you have loaded. • Part Tree View — Displays advanced parameters for calibration. 2-40 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 63 Copy result data to Clipboard Reset all statistics Reset inspection counters Reset all counters and statistics Show all statistics in World (calibrated) space Show results in World (calibrated) space Display extended results v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-41...
  • Page 64 Process — Actual time spent processing the image. This will not include image acquisition time in a standard triggered Job. – Draw — Time spent rendering graphics. – PPM — Number of parts per minute. 2-42 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 65 Tool’s SymResults datum, and the Blob Tool’s “Blob Tree” datum. If you wish to view the data for a complex result, simply click on the arrow, and it will expand the grid to show you the data. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-43...
  • Page 66 Operating System the avp runs on and also on the number of Virtual I/O points programmed to be triggers. The following information provides guidelines based on Device/OS configurations: 2-44 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 67 When greater accuracy than the Device allows is required, use physical triggers. The Network Overview Window You can display the Network Overview window in either of the following ways: • From FrontRunner™, select View > Network Overview. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-45...
  • Page 68 Chapter FrontRunner™ • From the deskstop, select Start > Programs > Microscan Visionscape > Tools > Visionscape Network Browser. Click to display more info Click to display less info The Network Overview window lists PC adapters and Smart Cameras on the network that the client PC can reach.
  • Page 69 SW Version — The version of the software running on the Smart Camera • Subnet Mask — The subnet mask of the Smart Camera • MAC Address — The MAC address of the Smart Camera v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-47...
  • Page 70 Use the following procedure to change the camera name: Select View > Network Overview. FrontRunner™ displays the Network Overview window. Click on the name of the camera whose name you want to change. FrontRunner™ displays the Change Network Settings button. 2-48 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 71 Use the following procedure to change the IP settings: Select View > Network Overview. FrontRunner™ displays the Network Overview window. Click Change Network Settings. FrontRunner™ displays the Change HawkEye Network Settings dialog box. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-49...
  • Page 72 Click on the name of the camera whose password you want to change. Click Take Control. FrontRunner™ displays the Login to Device dialog box. Enter the user name (default is hawkeye) and password (default is vision) for the camera. 2-50 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 73 Job with a different name, select File > Save Job As. In the File name text box, type a different name for the Job you want to save, and then click Save. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-51...
  • Page 74 Save Job As — Allows you to save the current Job to disk on the PC and give the Job another name. FrontRunner™ displays the Save As dialog box. Specify a name and click Save. 2-52 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 75 After you select Configure Device, FrontRunner™ displays the Configure dialog box. Click the TCP Ports tab. Type in the appropriate information, then click Apply and then OK. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-53...
  • Page 76 The View menu contains the following menu items: • Network Overview — Displays the Network Overview window, which displays critical information about VS-1 Smart Cameras on the network. See “The Network Overview Window” on page 2-45. 2-54 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 77 Set the debug level — Allows you to set the importance of a message: • None (default) • Level x, where x is a value (1 - 6) – Log all messages to — Starts/Stops active logging of debug messages. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-55...
  • Page 78 Jobs. – Copy contents of Debug Window to Clipboard — Copies the contents to the Clipboard as tab-delimited text. • I/O Display — See “The I/O Display Window” on page 2-44. 2-56 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 79 ROI of a mask-oriented tool. You can enable the mask capability of an appropriate tool by selecting the tool in the Step Tree. The Lightbulb button in the v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-57...
  • Page 80 Tutorials and Samples — Click on this menu item to display sample Jobs and Tutorials. ® • About Visionscape FrontRunner™ — Displays the FrontRunner™ version number and the address for Microscan. Click OK to close the window. 2-58 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 81 (red = 0) values under the cursor if the image acquired is a color image. Zooming fully into the image will show the individual RGB values for each pixel of a color image. Color Buffer Display of Zoomed Image FIGURE 2–25. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-59...
  • Page 82 The default with be the RGB color image. Channel selection will be limited to those channels used by vision tools that are inserted in the current snapshot. Runtime Displaying Color Image FIGURE 2–26. 2-60 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 83 When the user selects the “RGB Color” text a dropdown menu will appear, allowing the user to select from the image channels used in the job. Runtime Image Channel Selection Dialog FIGURE 2–27. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-61...
  • Page 84 Chapter FrontRunner™ In the following example, the user has selected the “Intensity” image channel. At this point, the software will now display that channel. Runtime Display of Intensity Channel FIGURE 2–28. 2-62 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 85 Note: The user will be able to select what image channel to display but ALL the enabled graphics for the job will be displayed regardless of which plane they are running in. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-63...
  • Page 86 Version of software on the camera Configuring I/O Buttons After a Job has been downloaded to the device, and the device is in Run mode, you can configure I/O buttons, as shown in Figure 2–30. 2-64 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 87 Physical — Allows you to generate IO data using hardware. – Separator — Allows you to group IO data. • IO Point — Is a number from 1 to 2048. • Trigger Interval — Is a number from 1 to 9999. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-65...
  • Page 88 Chapter FrontRunner™ I/O Buttons Configured FIGURE 2–31. P2 is Low; P6 and V3 are High 2-66 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 89 Note: If there is a Job in PC memory that you are viewing or editing, be aware that the button configuration that you see is for the Job in PC memory, and not for the Job on the camera. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-67...
  • Page 90 You can then select any of the drawing tools, and draw the mask using the mouse or select the “pointer” to return to standard tool selection/insertion with the mouse. 2-68 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 91 Erase Mask instead of Draw Mask Fill connected areas • Fill ROI — Fills the entire ROI of the masked tool. • Clear ROI — Erases the entire ROI of the masked tool. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 2-69...
  • Page 92 Chapter FrontRunner™ 2-70 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 93 “Robust Calibration: Enter Cal Target Dot Locations” screen to calculate forward and backward transform matrices that are used to convert pixel values to world, and world values to pixels. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 94 Use the following procedure to robustly calibrate a camera: Create your Job. Place the calibration target under the camera. Click Adjust the exposure and focus. Click again. Click FrontRunner™ displays the Calibration dialog box, as shown in Figure 3–2. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 95 Thus, you do not have to calibrate each Snapshot individually. – I Want to Calibrate Each Snapshot Individually — With this option, calibration is only applied to the Snapshot step that you select. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 96 If you select “I Want to Calibrate Each Snapshot Individually”, then each Inspection step is listed, with each of its Snapshots underneath. Click Next. FrontRunner™ displays the Calibration screen shown in Figure 3–3. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 97 Using Robust Calibration Robust Calibration FIGURE 3–3. Enter the Calibration Dot locations for all targets. Click Next. FrontRunner™ displays a screen similar to the one shown in Figure 3–4. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 98 Chapter Camera Calibration Run Calibration Blob Tool FIGURE 3–4. Note: You may need to enlarge the window. Adjust the Calibration Blob ROI. Click Acquire. Click Run Calibration. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 99 If you are not satisfied with the calibration results, click Back and return to the previous page where you can adjust your image or Blob parameters and try again. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 100 Save Calibration Data for Entire Job — This button saves the calibration data from every Snapshot in your Job to a single file. Then, this data can be reloaded into this Job or some other Job Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 101 Use the following procedure to quick calibrate a camera: Create your Job. Place the calibration target under the camera. Click Adjust the exposure and focus. Click again. Click FrontRunner™ displays the Calibration dialog box, as shown in Figure 3–7. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 102 Thus, you do not have to calibrate each Snapshot individually. – I Want to Calibrate Each Snapshot Individually — With this option, calibration is only applied to the Snapshot step that you select. 3-10 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 103 World Units” text box. After clicking Update Calibration, the “Pixel to World Scale Factor” is updated to show you the scale factor that is used to convert pixel values to world values. This scale factor is v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 3-11...
  • Page 104 Snapshot that you just calibrated. Then, this data can be reloaded into any other Snapshot step in this Job or any other Job by using the Load Calibration Data From File option on the main Calibration page. 3-12 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 105 Calibration Data into another Job, or unless you want to simply have a back-up. Advanced Options Press Advanced to display a page with a new set of controls, as shown in Figure 3–10. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 3-13...
  • Page 106 UNDERSTAND HOW THEY ARE USED. In general, you will expose the Advanced Options in order to make use of the “Create Matrices Using this Data” section. Enter the Scale Factors Dialog Box FIGURE 3–11. 3-14 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 107 Snapshot will no longer be calibrated. Use this button if you calibrated your Snapshot, but wish to return to a non-calibrated state. Click Next. FrontRunner™ displays the Finished screen, as shown in Figure 3–6. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 3-15...
  • Page 108 Snapshot in your Job to a single file. Then, this data can be reloaded into this Job or some other Job using the Load Calibration Data From File option on the main 3-16 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 109 Use the following procedure to load calibration data that was previously saved: Create a new Job or open an existing Job. Click FrontRunner™ displays the Calibration dialog box, as shown in Figure 3–14. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 3-17...
  • Page 110 Under “Apply to All Snaps or Just One Snap,” select either of the following: – I Want to Calibrate a Particular Camera, and apply it to all Snapshots that use that Camera – I Want to Calibrate Each Snapshot Individually 3-18 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 111 FIGURE 3–15. Highlight (to select) a calibration file (.cal) and click Open. FrontRunner™ displays the Calibration Finished screen. Click Finished. Save your Job. Your Job now contains the calibration data your saved previously. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 3-19...
  • Page 112 Chapter Camera Calibration 3-20 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 113 The remainder of this chapter contains information about: • “Setting Up and Starting the Part Queue” on page 4-2 • “Viewing Images in the Part Queue” on page 4-7 • “Saving Images and Records” on page 4-8 v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 114 FIGURE 4–2. Click to the right of Part Queue Enabled to enable the Part Queue. Click to the right of Part Queue Storage Mode and select one of the following options for storing images: Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 115 Note: Setting the size to 0 disables the Part Queue. Minimize or close the Editor window Click From the View Menu, select Part Queue. FrontRunner™ displays the main Part Queue window, as shown in Figure 4–3. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 116 CPU memory for that part, which can then be stored to be reviewed at a later time. Use the following procedure to specify the criteria for storing qualified images: Add and select a camera. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 117 Click to the right of Part Queue Storage Mode and select Store Qualified Images. Click to the right of Part Queue Qualifier. FrontRunner™ displays a text window and the Edit button to the right of Part Queue Qualifier, as shown in Figure 4–6. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 118 Notice the various expressions in the Edit Expression dialog box. To add an expression so that it becomes part of the criteria by which an image is evaluated, highlight the expression in the lower right panel and click Add. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 119 A vertical column of images in the queue – A green (pass)/red (fail) status for the currently selected image – Cycle information for the currently selected image – A larger image of the currently selected image v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 120 The current image (with or without graphics) • All images (with or without graphics) • The current record • All records Note: A record is the image, the statistics, and the results of one inspection cycle. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 121 Saving All Images from the Part Queue Use the following procedure to save all images from the Part Queue: From the Save drop down menu, click Save All Images (TIF), as shown in Figure 4–10. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 122 From the Save drop down menu, click Save Current Image with Graphics (BMP), as shown in Figure 4–11. Save Current Image with Graphics FIGURE 4–11. FrontRunner™ displays the Save Current Image With Graphics dialog box. 4-10 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 123 Saving the Current Record from the Part Queue Use the following procedure to save the current record from the Part Queue: From the Save drop down menu, click Save Current Record (VRF), as shown in Figure 4–13. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 4-11...
  • Page 124 Select a folder and click Save. FrontRunner™ saves the record in the folder you specified. The file name format is similar to the following: Insp1_000015643.vrf Figure 4–14 shows record information for an inspection. 4-12 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 125 Use the following procedure to save all records from the Part Queue: From the Save drop down menu, click Save All Records (VRF), as shown in Figure 4–15. Save All Records FIGURE 4–15. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual 4-13...
  • Page 126 From the Save drop down menu, click Select Folder, as shown in Figure 4–16. Select Folder FIGURE 4–16. FrontRunner™ displays the Select Default Folder Location dialog box. Select a folder and click OK. FrontRunner™ selects the default folder. 4-14 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 127 The object of interest should appear as large as possible in the field of view. The field of view should clearly show the level of detail you want to see while ensuring that the part to be inspected is always seen by the camera. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 128 As a general guideline, lenses that have a longer focal length make the object appear closer (larger) and show less of the background. For example, a 50mm lens has a longer focal length than a 25mm lens. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 129 16mm (98-92800573) 25mm (98-92800574) For very precise measurements, you may need to use a precision, low- distortion lens. Contact Microscan Application Engineering for a recommendation that is specific to your measurement task (for more information, see “Technical Support” on page xi).
  • Page 130 To use a 35mm SLR camera lens with your VS-1 Smart Camera, you need to use a C-mount to F-mount adapter. Illuminating the Part Proper illumination of the part is a critical factor influencing the effectiveness of the inspection operation. There is no absolute procedure Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 131 Diffused, Point-source lighting and polarizers also influence lighting. Also, the placement of the light source will affect your decision on lighting types. For difficult lighting applications, we recommend you contact Microscan NERLITE (www.nerlite.com). • Basic Illumination v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 132 Fluorescent Lighting TABLE A–1. Positive Features Negative Features Diffuse Flickering light Usually easy to mount Lack of intensity Long life Light output decays with age Inexpensive Creates little heat Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 133 Use a strobe light when you need to freeze the image of a moving part. Strobes provide a very short-duration, high-intensity light. In most cases you should use fiber-optics to project the light to the required area. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 134 Point-source lighting, as shown in Figure A–5, casts very strong shadows. This is desired when the presence or absence of a shadow can reveal information about the presence of depth. Points sources are effective for revealing surface defects. Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 135 Front Lighting Front lighting is good for the inspection of flat, two-dimensional surface features, such as a label, as shown in Figure A–6. Front Lighting FIGURE A–6. Exp. Lot. Store below 77 F(25 02-7250-8/R12 v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual...
  • Page 136 Think of contrast as the grayscale difference between two areas. Back lighting is helpful in the inspection of holes, cutouts, and outline dimensions, as shown in Figure A–8. Back Lighting FIGURE A–8. A-10 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 137 Advanced Lighting Microscan NERLITE is a recognized leading provider of lighting systems designed specifically for machine vision applications. These products allow machine vision systems to perform reliably in difficult imaging applications involving highly reflective or uneven surfaces.
  • Page 138 PAPER INSTRUMENTS SHRINK WRAPPED DIMPLED FOIL PLASTIC FACETED To address your lighting issues, contact Microscan NERLITE at: Microscan NERLITE (www.nerlite.com) 486 Amherst St. Nashua, NH 03063 Tel. 603-529-2385 Fax 603-529-2405 DOAL Ideal for flat specular surfaces. Diffused On-Axis Lighting provides more than 300% greater angular coverage of the lighting envelope than a similarly sized fluorescent ring light.
  • Page 139 The use of a curved beam splitter completes the horizon-to-horizon illumination. On-axis and off-axis lighting is controlled separately to ensure that uniformity remains in balance. Refer to Figure A–12. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual A-13...
  • Page 140 Increasing the diffuser width and elongating the chamber ensures any light directed to the object is uniform. Refer to Figure A–13. • Excellent uniformity +/-20% across the lighting envelope at close range A-14 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 141 The best image is obtained at the higher f-stops settings however, the aperture is smaller and less light enters the lens. You will have to experiment with the aperture setting to obtain the best image for your application and lighting. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual A-15...
  • Page 142 It is often best to light the environment, not the part. • An enclosure around the inspection station will minimize the impact of ambient light as well as protect lights and cameras. A-16 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 143 STRUCTURED On-Axis DOAL See flat dark reflective surfaces. Front-light Beam - Splitter deep holes. Light Line Laser with Cylinder Lens Relative height measurements of surfaces. Non-contact gaging. v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual A-17...
  • Page 144 Interference and Gelatin Discriminate copper and steel. Make Filters variable colored parts appear more similar to camera. Strobe Strobe Source and Synch Use wherever part moves more than one pixel in 17 milliseconds. A-18 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012...
  • Page 145 2-46, 2-47 Back Lighting A-10 name Benchmark changing 2-45 Browse For Folder Dialog Box 2-16 Changing Buffer 1-15 camera Bufferpool 1-16 ip address 2-46, 2-47 name 2-45 ip settings 2-46 v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual Index-1...
  • Page 146 Download Program from PC to Device Delay Between Steps in Tryout 2-32 Delete 2-30 step dialog box 2-38 Dumping the currently selected step 2-38 job to text file 2-49 Deleting software system 2-26 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012 ndex-2...
  • Page 147 Step 2-16 2-38 Frame Datum List Insert Step Dialog Box 2-38 Freeze Inspection last failed counters 2-16 next failed resetting 2-40 2-16 step this 1-17 2-16 IntelliFind 1-13 Front Lighting v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual Index-3...
  • Page 148 4-13 of camera setting up displaying 2-54 starting Mask Tools 2-52 view images in Maximum Rate w/drops 2-16 Part Tree View 2-38 Measuring Signal Lengths 2-24 Passed Images Menus Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012 ndex-4...
  • Page 149 2-40 images 4-8 inspection counters 2-40 records 4-8 Results Select display extended 2-40 cal file dialog box 3-18 show in world (calibrated) space 2-40 folder 2-16 Robust results to upload 2-39 v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual Index-5...
  • Page 150 2-26 Training Tools 2-10 Snapshot Step Transitions works with acquire step 1-18 2-20 Software System 2-19 Tree adding 2-4, 2-26 what it is 1-15 deleting 2-26 Triggering Rules Start Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012 ndex-6...
  • Page 151 2-50 Viewing Images part queue Vision System Step 1-16, 2-8 When important messages are added to the display, show this window 2-51 Windows network overview 2-44 With Graphics 2-16 Without Graphics 2-16 v4.1.3, April 2012 Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual Index-7...
  • Page 152 Index Visionscape FrontRunner™ User’s Manual v4.1.3, April 2012 ndex-8...

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