If you are in the manufacturing business, then perhaps one of your greatest fears would be the prospect of a product defect and a subsequent forced recall of your goods from retailers. As such, you probably have invested in quality control systems and manpower for inspection purposes. If so, then the smart camera may be a worth considering when automating these processes. While several types of smart cameras are on the market, they generally fall into two categories, namely the line scan camera and the area scan camera.

In this article, we summarise the key benefits that a smart camera brings.

Everything you need is there.

Smart cameras combine image capturing and computational processing capabilities, simplifying your vision system setup. This is in direct contrast to more traditional vision systems which featured a central processing computer unit connected to several normal cameras. Without the complex structure, the installation of smart cameras is relatively easy, with minimal coding required when integrating it into your system.

It is easy to use.

Most smart cameras always come with easy-to-use software designed to meet the needs of non-programmers. Intuitive interfaces and clear messaging are especially appealing as they lower the learning curve and training cost associated with operating the system.

It allows you to save more time.

In addition to the relatively simple installation, a smart camera can operate in a variety of environments with minimal re-integration. Featuring an airtight design, a smart camera can be shifted around environments with less than ideal conditions without requiring you to retool your entire machine vision system.

More quality products are produced.

Smart cameras help increase the effectiveness of your quality control process, improving the accuracy of such inspections. As such, more consistent product quality can be expected while defects are corrected in the earlier stages of your operations, offering you valuable cost savings.

The production becomes automated.

Another advantage of installing a smart camera in your business establishment is that your manufacturing process is further automated. Smart cameras are sufficiently flexible that they can be programmed to scan for particular defects in your products, before automatically communicating the required action.

Now that you already know about the different benefits that you can get from smart cameras, the next step to take is to seek the assistance of a vision sensor or machine vision expert. The choice and installation of the right smart camera should be handled by experts who will also be able to evaluate the needs of your business with respect to vision systems.