The Company D, a manufacturer that delivers 3D measurement equipment to various types of businesses, performs inspections and precise calibration of all lenses used for the equipment before providing them to users. However, the optical axis of lens may be shifted by shock or vibration after operation startup, thereby hindering accurate inspections. Therefore, selecting a lens with shock-resistant and anti-vibration functions after operation startup is a challenge.
Issues
- Company D wants lenses with shock-resistant and anti-vibration functions to eliminate an error in inspections.
- They want concrete evidence that proves its high performance in resisting shock and vibration.
After the introduction of FUJINON ”anti-shock and vibration” lenses
- The inspection accuracy improved by adopting lenses with anti-vibration and shock-resistant functions, thereby preventing optical axis shift using a unique and highly accurate mechanical design.
- The adoption of lenses that passed the international standard vibration test and ensures suppression of optical axis shift leads to guaranteed safety for customers.
Issue 1: To eliminate an error in inspections owing to variation in the optical axis of a lens.
Problem 1: For general lenses, the optical axis shift occurs due to shock or vibration.
The optical axis shift causes an error in inspections. Especially recently, the improved sensor performance enables precise inspections, which, in turn, increases customer expectation every year of further quality improvement. However, even if a high-specification lens is adopted, moving the lens subtly may cause optical axis shift owing to unexpected shocks during operation of 3D measurement equipment or long-term effects of vibration. The Company D suffered from this problem.
Issue 2: Company D wants to select lenses with concrete evidence of high performance in resisting shock and vibration.
Problem 2: Some lenses claim to be shock resistant and have an anti-vibration function, but only few are proven to be true.
The Company D searched for a lens with credible evidence of high performance in resisting shock and vibration to guarantee the delivery of quality 3D measurement equipment to customers without worry. Although multiple manufacturers provide lenses with shock-resistant and anti-vibration functions in the market, only few present the definite test criteria and guaranteed values, making it difficult to search for the best lens.
The keys to solving these issues were...
“Reliable shock-resistant and anti-vibration functions” and “An inspection method that is in accordance with international standards.”
Solution: Fujifilm’s unique shock-resistant and anti-vibration functions
The Company D conducts business with various lens sales agents. One of them informed Company D that an equipment manufacturer adopted FUJINON machine vision lens with anti-vibration and shock-resistant functions. According to the sales agent, this lens has improved inspection accuracy because it reduces the incidence of optical axis displacement owing to shock or vibration. Sales agent introduced FUJINON machine vision lens.
Solution of Issue 1: Adoption of a lens designed to prevent the movement of lens owing to shock and vibration
The 3D measurement equipment is used in various types of businesses. Its installed conditions are varied. It often includes a robot control system and is highly probable to undergo optical axis shift caused by lens movement in units of micron due to unexpected shock or vibration over the years. FUJINON “anti-shock and vibration” lens mitigates the lens movement over the years using a unique mechanical design. Although the lens may be often fixed with glue, such method may affect the performance of the lens depending on temperature or humidity changes and cannot be optimal in terms of environment. FUJINON “anti-shock and vibration” lens provides a lens structure that is not affected by a change in high temperature range or humidity, by fixing the lens in Fujifilm’s unique high-accuracy mechanical design to use as low amount of glue as possible. FUJINON “anti-shock and vibration” lens allows precise and stable inspections continuously in the 3D measurement equipment used for various environments. As a result, the Company D adopted FUJINON lens with anti-vibration and shock-resistant functions. The company describes Fujifilm in the following words: “You are the best partner who draws out the best performance of our products.”
Solution of Issue 2: Relieving customers by adopting an inspection method based on international standards and with a definite standard measure for optical axis shift
An indefinite inspection method is used for some lenses with anti-vibration and shock-resistant functions that are available in the market. Other lenses are also presented as having anti-vibration and shock-resistant functions in that they have no loosened screw for lens and numerical specification.
The FUJINON ”anti-shock and vibration” lens passed the vibration test that conforms to the international standards IEC 60068-2-6. It also achieved mitigating the optical axis shift to 10㎛ or less under shock of a maximum of 10G*1. A video showing the experiment on its mitigating ability has also been released.
The Company D conducted a vibration and shock test for the 3D measurement equipment. The results of the experiment confirmed that no big optical axis shift occurred in the FUJINON “anti-shock and vibration” lens as guaranteed value. Moreover, because the reference value for optical axis shift of lens is specified, the customers have adopted the lens with relief.
*1 The shock G application value depends on the model.
Machine vision camera lenses that solved the issue
FUJINON “anti-shock and vibration” lens
HF-12M series
For Company D that needs to prevent a decline in inspection accuracy because of optical axis shift of lens, Fujifilm’s unique shock-resistant and anti-vibration functions is a reliable solution, which appeals to customers. Company D introduced the “HF-12M” lens series with shock-resistant and anti-vibration functions. The contact personnel of the Company D said, “Since “HF-12M” was adopted by our customers, there has been no problems caused by lens, and our customers really experience the stable performance of the lens.”