Ranger E camera achieves faster 3D contour measurement

This astonishing image-capture capability allows high-quality images to be captured much faster, thereby increasing the user's inspection rate. Capturing a high-quality image can often be achieved with similar products, but normally at the expense of speed. With the Ranger E, this trade-off is no longer an issue, as high-resolution images can be captured at high speed.

Sick says the Ranger E offers the world's fastest measurements for high-speed applications, making it capable of extremely high accuracy for detecting fine details. Indeed, with its integrated 3D data evaluation capability and a Gigabit Ethernet interface for rapid data transfer, it is said to be unsurpassed in the market for 3D imaging technology. The use of Gigabit Ethernet allows the camera to transmit data to a PC's memory directly without the use of a frame grabber; not only does this save time, but it also saves cost, as there is no need to purchase a separate frame grabber.

Modularity delivers versatility

The Ranger E's flexibility means it can be adapted to a huge variety of tasks, irrespective of the layout of the inspection cell or station. Both the optics and the laser can be changed to create an optimised system for a particular application. Designed to help users measure, locate, inspect and identify, the Ranger E 3D measurement system is designed for integration into a multitude of different analysis and inspection environments as the central component of an image processing system. Two types of cameras are available: a high-resolution 3D version and a multi-scan version that allows several different object features, such as grey scale value, 3D and laser scatter, to be measured and evaluated simultaneously. A variety of lenses can also be used, allowing the user to adapt the camera to scan smaller areas in more detail.

An RS422 interface allows connection of an encoder for the precise detection of an object's speed when used in conjunction with a conveyor, while the Gigabit Ethernet interface allows the 3D co-ordinates, calculated by the camera, to be transferred to a PC for real-time data evaluation.

The Ranger E can be used in a variety of demanding applications, including, within the electronic industry, component checking in pick-and-place processes and inspection of soldering paste and circuit boards. For logistical operations it can be used for robot guidance, palletising and de-palletising. And the food industry will see uses for portioning meat, fish or vegetables and assuring the quality of fruit or baked goods.

The speed and accuracy demands of modern manufacturing environments, be they food, automotive, electronic or general industry, demand vision technology that can offer commensurate performance levels. With the Ranger E, Sick (UK) Ltd says it has met these demands and, in many cases, surpassed them. With its separate camera and laser unit, users are not restricted to what they can achieve, both in terms of performance and operational demands. Furthermore, with its Ethernet connection, it will 'talk' to just about anything, opening the unit's application base up to retrofit applications and cell modernisation, not just new builds.