Birkenhead-based precision sensor manufacturer
Micro-Epsilon UK and Ireland Ltd, has developed 3DInspect — a new software tool that enables the capture and evaluation of 3-D data. The software is compatible with all 3-D sensors in the Micro-Epsilon portfolio, including: SurfaceControl for geometry, shape and surface inspection of matt objects; ReflectControl for the measurement of shiny, reflective surfaces; and ScanControl laser scanners for precise, inline 3-D measurements.
3DInspect is designed for ease of use while offering a wide range of functions for analysing and measuring captured data. These include: parameter setting of the sensors; alignment of point clouds and the selection of relevant objects; filters for smoothing and optimising point clouds; and calculation programs for height, radius and determining flatness and distances between points and angles. Moreover, the software can find a target based on its contour and readjust it to allow further inspection to be made.
The 3DInspect software offers four steps to obtaining results: data acquisition (ensuring that the sensor and the target are correctly aligned aided by the ‘Display Image’ data); data pre-processing (realigning the captured data so that it is in line with the X/Y/Z coordinate system); evaluation; and the transfer of data.
The latter can be done in several ways depending on the user’s configuration and set up, with available output formats being UDP, TCP and Modbus, where 3DInspect acts as the server. With additional modules, control and measured value output are also possible via Profinet and Ethernet/IP.
Glenn Wedgbrow, Micro-Epsilon UK’s business development manager, said: “For those system integrators with their own 3-D processing software such as Halcon or similar, we offer our documented 3-D ‘Software Development Kit’ (SDK) with examples for various programming languages, so that they can create their own solutions to applications. For end users who do not have the capability to write their own software code, we offer the 3DInspect software solution.
“In addition to the standard version of 3DInspect, the ‘Automation’ function extension supports automated production processes, with video tutorials explaining the software application and its features. As the software is constantly being developed, it is always up to date and every new release offers further useful functions. A comprehensive SDK is available for third-party and custom image-processing solutions. This is based on the GigE Vision and GenICam industry standards, including numerous function blocks.”