Cognex Corp. has added 3D vision capabilities to the new release of VisionPro, the vendor's software for managing machine vision performance. VisionPro 3D provides real-time, three-dimensional position information for the automation of assembly verification, logistics and robot applications. It works with a wide variety of fixed or robot-mounted cameras. The new tool is based on Cognex's PatMax and other geometric pattern-matching technologies. VisionPro 3D is designed for a number of stationary and robotic applications, such as racking, deracking, depalletizing and kitting and assembly verification. In another company announcement, Cognex has released version 4.5 of the inspection tool known as In-Sight Explorer. The technology now includes an all-in-one edge and surface inspection feature, along with the ability to read multiple codes at one time. Designed for both color and gray-scale applications, it and is used to inspect for boundary defects such as conformity of shape, and surface defects such as stains and scratches. It can also be used for print inspections, such as inspecting screened logos for defects. Version 4.5 includes two new EasyBuilder user interface tools, Bead Finder and Bead Tracker, which find positional defects and width-based defects and gaps.
