Metrology & Industry 4.0
Peter J. de Groot and Michael Schmidt have provided a pivotal article, looking at the extremely important subject of the role of metrology in Industry 4.0.
Contributions
PanDao – optical fabrication design tool
By analyzing lens data during optics design, the optimal optical fabrication chain can be determined.
Setting up complex laser systems efficiently
Distributed computing for the automated manufacturing of the future.
Why pack when you can laser?
Instead of printing the barcode on the packaging, it can also be lasered directly onto the skin of fruit or vegetables. This saves on packaging costs and protects the environment. But to ensure that the peel is not damaged in the process, the focus of the laser must be precise, despite the fact that the individual fruits are always different sizes. A 3D sensor from a company in northern Germany helps with this.
The Future of Manufacturing with Cobots
Collaborative robots (cobots) have a key role in current and future trends in industrial automation and production. Recent studies assume that the value of cobots in industrial automation will have reached US$ 7 billion by 2025. With the average retail price of a cobot being between US$ 15,000 and US$ 45,000, their use in this type of automation is also becoming increasingly feasible for industrial manufacturing applications in smaller production facilities and warehouses.
Smart monitoring of battery welding processes
One of the key laser application areas in the e-automotive industry is the welding of the battery. Sensor systems from Lessmüller Lasertechnik ensure reliable high-precision joining, which is vital in the assembly of any battery. Installed to various remote and fixed welding optics, the OCT, WELDCHECK, and WELDEYE sensor systems demonstrate real-time monitoring capability with great accuracy and over a wide dynamic range, enabling faster, cost-effective e-automotive laser processes and streamlined production.
Intelligent Quality Assurance for Batteries
Because of their high-power density, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are subject to strict quality monitoring. Industrial computed tomography is increasingly being used to detect any defects before delivery or during production.
“First time right” freeform optics
Researchers at Brussels Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, have developed a “first time right” design method that eliminates the “step-and-repeat” and “trial-and-error” approach in optical system design. They demonstrated the systematic, deterministic, scalable, and holistic character of their disruptive technique with various freeform lens- and mirror-based high-end examples and invite optical designers to experience their new method hands-on via an open-access trial web application.
inspect award 2022: The nominees have been selected
The jury of the inspect award 2022 has nominated ten products in the categories "Vision" and "Automation + Control" and the voting runs from now until September 24, 2021. Vote and choose the best product in machine vision and optical metrology.
Micro glass welding with millimeter-long filaments
The welding of glass with ultrashort-pulsed lasers (USP) is usually conducted with microscope objectives. Their short working distance limits the thickness of the work piece, the usable laser power and the feed rate of the process. To increase the possible dimensions of the welding partners and the process speed to industrial levels, a research team from Jena presents USP welding with a galvoscanner and a common F-theta lens. In a new article, they discuss differences between the well-known breakdown regime and the filamentation regime, and show tensile measurements.
Easy 3D, non-contact surface profile measurements in air
One of the factors that contributes to the recent considerable reduction in the size and high integration of electronics and other devices it is the miniaturization of the electronic components that they contain. In addition, new fine functional materials have been developed and widely used in industrial fields including the automobile, aviation, metal, and chemical industries. As a result, higher accuracy and resolving power are required for minute three-dimensional measurement of these components and materials. Although a variety of devices are available to satisfy these requirements, the confocal microscope is gathering attention as the device of choice for easy three-dimensional, non-contact surface profile measurements in air.
Can blue LEDs improve hygiene in clinics and public buildings?
Disinfection processes are of particular interest due to growing concerns over illnesses caused by microorganisms and the persistent problem of healthcare acquired infections. Additionally, because of the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria, the investigation of novel non-antibiotic approaches for the prevention of infectious diseases has become highly topical. Blue light disinfection is such an approach and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with an emission maximum in the range of 405-nm wavelength represent an attractive light source for this.
Partnering up to represent the photonics community
PhotonicsViews chosen as official publishing medium for Photonics Germany – Spectaris and OptecNet Deutschland – and DGaO
“Photonics Germany”
Alliance for optical technologies and quantum technologies in Germany
The Evolution of Time-of-Flight Sensors
Time-of-flight sensors have evolved significantly, and recent advances have both increased accuracy and reduced cost to the point where they are now suitable for widespread industrial use. Numerous recent innovations are also expanding the functionalities of these 3D sensors.
“Invest in photonics to fight future pandemics”
Jürgen Popp: Light offers solutions to tackle infectious diseases
Scientific Imaging Capability and High Data Rates
The MX377 camera, the latest product from Ximea, features one of the largest sCMOS sensors available today.
Imaging Inside Out: SWIR for Apples
The food industry is changing. While it is still too early to measure the true impacts of COVID-19 on global trade and consumption, many other factors are driving changes to food production, particularly climate change and population growth. After all, it is vision technology that supports miscellaneous improvements: for example, it helps to deliver better apples.
10GigE Vision - A New Era for Image Processing
The Ethernet-based interface 10GigE Vision has the potential to lead the image processing industry into a new era. This new technology offers a number of innovative features for use in a wide variety of areas.
