Cognex Corporation Introduces next-generation PC-based vision system for factory floor applications

Citation

(2000), "Cognex Corporation Introduces next-generation PC-based vision system for factory floor applications", Sensor Review, Vol. 20 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2000.08720dad.006

Cognex Corporation Introduces next-generation PC-based vision system for factory floor applications

Cognex Corporation Introduces next-generation PC-based vision system for factory floor applications

Keywords Cognex, Vision

Cognex, which claims to be the world's leading supplier of machine vision systems, today introduced Checkpoint II, a next-generation version of the company's industry-leading factory floor PC-based vision system.

Designed for high-performance, multi-camera guidance, gauging and defect inspection applications, Checkpoint II combines Cognex's proven point-and-click vision software with faster vision processing and expanded camera support. Capable of inspecting up to 11,000 parts per minute, the new system performs up to seven times faster than previous Checkpoint products. Additionally, Checkpoint II offers support for higher resolution cameras required in many of today's industrial machine vision applications.

"Checkpoint II expands our line of end-user vision products even further for customers who need to add higher speed, higher accuracy vision performance to their PC-based automation systems", said Justin Testa, senior vice-president of marketing for Cognex. "Cognex is the only machine vision company able to offer effective solutions for a broad spectrum of factory floor vision applications – from the simplest to the most complex."

"We selected Checkpoint II for its wide variety of inspection tools, fast processing speed, and fully customizable graphical user interface", said Mike dela Montaigne, vice-president of the Machinery Division of Eisai USA, Inc., a leading human healthcare company and maker of high precision automatic inspection machines for pharmaceutical products.

"Checkpoint II helps provide our worldwide customers with maximum flexibility and reliable performance for their total inspection needs."

Like previous Checkpoint products, Checkpoint II features an extensive library of MMX-optimized vision software tools and a flexible Windows-based graphical programming environment. The software library includes Cognex's revolutionary PatMax and PatInspect^TM software tools for locating and inspecting parts with up to th pixel accuracy despite changes in part angle, size, or appearance. Checkpoint II can also be equipped with Cognex's VisionLinx^TM software, which greatly simplifies the process of integrating Checkpoint II with Allen-Bradley factory automation products.

Checkpoint II features a 400MHz on-board vision processor, making it ideal for high-through-put applications where dedicated vision processing is required. Additionally, the board supports a wide range of camera types used in today's industrial machine vision applications, including RS-170, CCIR, wide format/digital linescan, and Cognex CVC-1000^TM progressive-scan cameras.

The Checkpoint II system, which includes a high-speed embedded vision engine, complete software library, and online documentation, can be purchased for as little as £12,000 and is currently available from Cognex.

For further information contact Geoff Collins, Cognex UK, Units 7-9, First Quarter, Blenheim Road, Epsom KT19 9QN, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1372 726150; Fax: + 44 (0)1372 726276; E-mail: gcollins@cognex.com