Own hardware offer for TwinCAT Vision
Beckhoff enters the machine vision hardware market
Beckhoff Automation already integrated machine vision into its PC-based control technology on the software side in 2017, i.e. as TwinCAT Vision in its TwinCAT 3 automation suite. Cameras, optics and lighting now follow as hardware components for complete vision systems.
Beckhoff's concept of PC-based control technology is based on the consistent integration of all machine functions in one control platform. For five years, this has also included image processing on the software side - under the name TwinCAT Vision. Now the company is rounding off the vision sector with a comprehensive hardware portfolio.
Beckhoff Vision offers machine builders and end users a complete image processing system that covers all the necessary components from software to lighting. Seamlessly integrated into EtherCAT-based control technology, it opens up significant competitive advantages for users, including highly accurate synchronization with all machine processes, reduced engineering and hardware costs, and simplified commissioning and support.
In addition to the TwinCAT Vision software, the Vision portfolio also includes:
– Cameras: The area-scan cameras generate high-quality image data using color and monochrome CMOS image sensors with up to 24-megapixel resolution and 3.45 µm and 2.74 µm pixel pitch, in addition to offering Ethernet transfer rates of 2.5 Gbit/s.
– Lenses: The robust, industrial C-mount lenses ensure easy handling and high availability while also offering a VIS and NIR AR coating, up to 2 µm resolution, and image circles of 11 mm (2/3") and 19.3 mm (1.2") respectively.
– Lighting: The multicolor LED lighting in three designs – area, ring, and bar lighting – produces constant lighting conditions for consistently high-quality images. It also creates the best possible contrast between the inspection feature and its surroundings – even in spectrally adjustable pulse mode.
Complete units consisting of camera, lighting devices, and focusable lenses are also available.
