Microscan, a global technology leader in barcode, machine
vision, and lighting solutions, announces the availability of EtherNet/IP communication
on its ultra-compact machine vision smart camera, Vision MINI Xi. One of
several cameras in Microscan’s award-winning AutoVISION machine vision product
suite, the Vision MINI Xi offers a complete machine vision tool set for
high-speed identification, inspection, and other automated tasks with the
optimal size and shape for space-constrained machines.
With the release of the Vision MINI Xi Smart Camera in
March, Microscan introduced industrial Ethernet TCP/IP to its miniature smart
camera line, enabling integration with machines designed for Ethernet
connectivity. With the release of AutoVISION 3.0.2 software, the Vision MINI Xi
now supports communication via EtherNet/IP for use in industrial environments.
To install Vision MINI Xi within a networked automation system, users can rely
on AutoVISION’s built-in EtherNet/IP support and one-click connectivity tool,
Microscan Link, to connect machine vision tools, inspection values, and
settings from the camera to PLCs and other control systems.
Compared to RS-232 (also supported by Vision MINI Xi),
fully-integrated Ethernet in machine vision smart cameras offers several unique
advantages in the communication of data from the camera to other machines
networked on a line. The first advantage is speed: as devices are required to
capture and store high-resolution images, Ethernet offers data transmission
over high-speed connections without impacting production speeds. An Ethernet
system can also span longer physical distances without losing transmission speed,
using point-to-point connectivity over Ethernet hubs and allowing manufacturers
to remove control systems and PCs from the floor and co-locate them in a
controlled environment. This remote device management allows tasks on the smart
camera to be controlled from anywhere a network connection is available. A
process engineer can, for instance, troubleshoot an MES without leaving the
office. The engineer can also save integration time and cost with Ethernet
devices that enable native integration with MES and ERP systems, which are
network-based and communicate over Ethernet. Finally, the growing use of
Ethernet as the common data transmission protocol in computers and workplaces
allows data to be collected at more points throughout the manufacturing process.
One network interface card (NIC) in a single computer can connect to a nearly
unlimited number of Ethernet devices with independently addressable
connections. This allows more tasks to be performed in parallel, improving
productivity and cycle time.
The AutoVISION family includes several options for
networking systems over EtherNet/IP, from the Vision HAWK Smart Camera with
integrated liquid lens and the Vision HAWK C-Mount Smart Camera (both featuring
EtherNet/IP and PROFINET I/O support), to the updated Vision MINI Xi Smart
Camera. Manufacturers can look to the Vision MINI Xi for the smallest footprint
in networked machine vision for embedded and close-range applications.
Measuring 1 in. (25.4 mm) x 1.8 in. (45.7 mm) x 2.1 in. (53.3 mm) and weighing
3.2 oz. (91 g), Vision MINI Xi is the world’s smallest Ethernet-enabled smart
camera for inspection, color matching, symbol decoding, OCR, and other vision
capabilities. Vision MINI Xi also features corner-exit cabling for flexible
mounting, serial connectivity, a 24-volt interface, and optically isolated I/O
in one compact package.
Vision MINI Xi is the ideal solution for manufacturers
working in limited integration environments who require Ethernet speed and
connectivity as well as the flexibility to expand to advanced inspection tasks
if necessary, all with a single device. All AutoVISION hardware and software
offers unique scalability and job portability to change cameras without
switching software or inspection jobs. Users can also upgrade to Microscan’s advanced
Visionscape software without switching cameras. With AutoVISION and the Vision
MINI Xi Smart Camera, manufacturers can incorporate powerful machine vision
inspection into virtually any environment to meet a range of dynamic
requirements.
For more information on Microscan’s new Vision MINI Xi Smart
Camera visit www.microscan.com.
