This is a form to assist in developing ideas and requirements for machine vision applications. It contains many typical questions to help determine feasibility, benefits and cost. Permission is granted to use this form.

1. What do you make? _____________________________________________________________

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2. How do you make it? ____________________________________________________________

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3. What is the expected life of the product?______________________________________________

4. Is the product and the problem going to be around long enough to justify the purchase of a system? __________________________________________________________________________

5. Why do you need to inspect or control the process? Are there problems? Is process improvement the goal? ______________________________________________________________

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6. What is the current reject rate of bad parts? ___________________________________________

7. What is the accuracy of the current inspection system? _________________________________

8. If you inspect or improve control what are the specific benefits you expect to achieve? __________________________________________________________________________________

9. Will the system be for a new line or an old line (retrofit)? _________________________________

10. Does your application involve: one object at a time? ________________

Multiple objects? ___________ How many different objects? ________________

What are the different part numbers? _______________________

11. Is it a batch operation? ___________or a Continuous dedicated process/line? ___________

12. What are the changeover times and the frequency of changeovers ________________________

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13. What are the skill Levels involved in changeover ______________________________________

14. How is inspection and/or function to be replaced currently being performed?

______________________________________________________________________________

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Is it effective? __________________________________________________________________

15. Is inspection to be: On line? _______________ or Off line? ______________

16. Must every produced item be inspected, or can you randomly sample? ___________________

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17. Will new part models or variations be added to the system at a later date? ________________

Define any potential future inspections that may be required of the same machine vision systems: ________________________________________________________________________

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18. Are product design or production process changes anticipated?

__________________________________________________________________________

19. Where do parts come from? ___________________________________________

20. Can rejected parts be repaired?______________________________________

21. Can vision assist in the diagnosis? __________________________________

22. Where do pass and fail parts go? _____________________________________

23. When is the machine vision system needed by? _________________________

24. How many shifts will the system be used? ________________________________

25. How many lines/machine will the vision system be needed for? ____________

26. What is the attitude of the plant floor people towards machine vision/automation? ____________________________________________________________________________

27. What is the attitude of the plant's management toward machine

vision/automation? _______________________________________________

28. What is your attitude towards machine vision/automation? _________________________________________________________________________________

29. Can a representative sample of parts be provided to system vendors or integrators for evaluation? ______________

30. Can drawings be provided? ____________________

31. Can video of line be provided?_____________________________

32. Can the vision suppliers observe production at your facility? _____________

1. When an incorrect or flawed part escapes detection, what are the downstream effects? (quality, repair, machine downtime, etc.): ______________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

2. If a bad part is assembled, does it cause problems with the overall assembly? ____________________________________________________________

3. If inspection is implemented, can any downstream testing requirements be relaxed? ________________________________________________

4. If inspection is implemented, do you expect the yield through test to be improved? ________________________________________

5. At the inspection point, what is the cost (qualitative or quantitative) of a bad (faulty) part that escapes?___________________________________________

6. At the inspection point, what is the cost (qualitative or quantitative) of a good part that is falsely rejected? ____________________________________

1. Describe the application:____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. What distinguishes a bad part from a good part? _________________________

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3. Generically, does the application involve:

Gauging________:(Show a sketch or drawing, if possible. Highlight

critical items.)

What are tightest tolerances? __________________________________

On what specific dimension? ____________________________________

What is the design goal for accuracy? _______________________

What is the design goal for repeatability? ________________

Are there features that serve as references? ___________________

Describe calibration requirements: ______________________________

________________________________________________________________

Assembly Verification____________:

Dimensions of assembly:_________________________________________

Presence/Absence:____________

Orientation: _______________

What is the smallest piece to be verified?_____________________

What are the dimensions of that piece? ________________________

What is the largest piece to be verified? _______________________

What are the dimensions of that piece? ________________________

Do you also need to verify the correctness of the part?_________

Flaw inspection ________:

Describe flaw types: ________________________________________

What is the smallest size flaw? ____________________________

Does the flaw affect surface geometry? ____________________

Does the flaw affect surface reflectivity? ____________________

Is it more of a stain? __________________________________________

Is classification of flaws required? ____________________________

Location analysis____________:

What is the design goal for accuracy?___________________________

What is the design goal for repeatability? _____________________

What is the area over which "find" is required? _____________

Describe calibration requirements: _____________________________

Pattern Recognition__________:

What is the size of the pattern? ______________________________

Describe the differences between patterns: ___________________

Is there a background pattern? __________________________________

Color ___________________________________________________________

Geometric _______________________________________________________

Number of different patterns? ___________________________________

Purpose: to identify? ___to sort? ___other? ___

Are pattern differences geometric? ______________________________

Are pattern differences photometric? ____________________________

Are pattern differences color? __________________________________

Is application specifically OCR? ______________OCV?_______________

Handwritten characters?____________ Fixed font _________________

Variable font__________________

What is the height of the characters?__________________________

What is the stroke width?_____________________________________

What is the spacing between characters?_______________________

What is the spacing around the characters?____________________

How many characters in a string?_____________________________

How many lines?_________________________________

Describe background ________________________________________

What is the color of the characters? ________________________

What is the color of the background?____________________

1. Describe the part(s) to be inspected (consider those conditions that can change appearance of part or background). Are drawings available? ________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

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2. What is specific material (steel, plastic, etc.)? _______________________

3. What is specific finish (texture) like? _______________________________

Is the surface finish the same on all faces of the part? ___________

Is the surface finish the same for all part numbers and/or production runs? ______________

Describe any differences: _____________________________________________

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Describe the platings: ________________________________________________

Coating?_________________________________________________________

Thin films (oils, mist, etc.)?___________________________________

Paint? _______________ Dull? _____________ Glossy? ______________

Specular? ____ Highly reflective (mirror like)? ____ Poorly

reflective? ________________________ Dull? _________ Matte? ___

Will the reflectivity of the part change from part to part? _________

Over time? ___________

4. Are there any machining marks on the part? ____________________________

Does the part generally have scratches, nicks, burrs, dents, etc.?

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Is there any porosity on the parts? __________________________________

5. What are the object's shapes? -Flat _________ Curved ________________

Gently curved________________ Other__________________

Irregular ____________ Grooved surface _______

Sharp radii (prismatic) __________________________ Mixed geometric

properties _______________________

6. Is part always oriented in the same direction? _______________

7. What is the temperature of the part? _________________________

8. What is the size of part(s)? - ______________________________

Smallest: _____________________________________________________

Largest: ______________________________________________________

9. Are there different colors for different models? ______________________

Does the color of the part change from part to part? ________________

Color:

- single hue ____________________________________________

- variations in saturation ______________________________

- subtle color variations _______________________________

- discrete color variations _____________________________

- mixed with broad and discrete colors ___________________

10. Discuss conditions such as warpage, shrinkage, bending that could be experienced? ___________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

11. Is there any change in appearance over time due to environment? (rust inhibitors, corrosion, lubricants, dirt, perishability, etc.) ____________________________________________

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12. Are there any markings on the part? _________________________________

13. Is it possible to make a refernce mark on the part, if necessary? _______

14. What are part appearance variables? _________________________________

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15. Is surface translucent? ______________________________________________

Describe variations in translucent optical density/degree of

opaqueness: _____________________________________________________

16. Is surface transparent? _________ Totally? ________ Partially? _____

17. Is part sensitive to heat? ________________________________________

18. Is object sensitive to light? ______________________________________

If yes, what type of light? _______________________________________

Ultraviolet? ___________________________________________________

Visible? _______________________________________________________

Infrared? ______________________________________________________

1. Describe the material handling system (current or planned): _______________________

________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Is object subject to damage in handling? __________________________

Describe precautions to take in handling: ________________________

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3. Will inspection be done at a station that also performs other functions?

Describe those functions: ________________________________________________

4. What is the production rate? (How many parts per minute on average?)

________________________________

During production catch up mode or peak rates? _________________

5. Are there any expected changes that might affect the above rates?

_______________________________________________________________________

6. Are parts static/indexed? ___________ or moving continuously? _______ If

indexed:

How long stationary? ____________________________________________

Total in-dwell-out time:_________________________________________

What is the settling time?______________________________________

Is there any acceleration and, if so, where in the cycle?________

If parts are moving continuously, what is the speed? __________

Regulation of that speed? _______________________________________

7. What are the maximum positional variations that can be expected?

+/-X

+/-Y

+/-Z

+/- degrees around X direction

+/- degrees around Y direction

+/- degrees around Z direction

8. How much spacing is there between parts? ___________________________ Is the

spacing random? ______ or constant? _______

Part spacing repeatability:____________________________________

Do parts ever touch? ______________________________________

Do parts ever overlap? ________________________________________

9. Is there more than one stable state involved? ________ How many?______

10. If there will be multiple inspections, will the part maintain the same orientation throughout the process? _____________________________

11. What is the volume envelope available for an inspection station?

_____________________________________________________________________

12. Are there any restrictions or obstructions to viewing the product?

_________________________________

13. Is there a weight constraint? _____________________________________

14. How close can an associated electronic enclosure be located? ________

15. How far will the vision system controller be from other equipment that the system will be interfaced with? ______________________________

16. Describe any other physical constraints surrounding the proposed installation site: ____________________________________________

17. If conveyor - what type? __________________________________________

What color? _____________________________________________________

What are the appearance variables of the conveyor (specular,

uniformity, over time, etc.?

____________________________________________

______________________________________________________

18. Is a by-pass mode required? ________________________________________

19. Describe action to take when reject is detected: _______________

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Describe additional action desired if several consecutive objects are rejected? ____________________________________________________

What should be the number of consecutive rejects that trigger that action? _______________________________________________________

1. Describe the operator interface that you would like. Try to keep it as simple as possible. Describe "must have" items and then "like to have"

must have items: _____________________________________________________________

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like to have items _____________________________________________________________

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2. Describe the operators who will operate the equipment: educational level, familiarity with machinery, electronics, computers, experience, etc.:

_______________________________________________________________

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3. Describe personnel access requirements (password protection, etc.):

_______________________________________________________________________

4.Are there specific enclosure requirements? ____________________

5. Is it desirable to have display of objects under test? _______________

6. Is it desirable to be able to display the last reject condition?______

7. Is fail-safe operation required - (i.e. part considered a reject unless it passes)? _______________________________________________________

8. What are the desired program-storage requirements? ________________

9. What are the desired data-storage requirements? _____________________

10. Power-failure program storage preservation? Yes _______ No __________

Power-failure data storage preservation? Yes ________ No ___________

11. Describe reporting requirements: ___________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

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Must reports be generated without interrupting inspections? Yes ____ No___

12. What type of data will the system be required to display to a CRT or communicated to an external device? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If statistics are required, how often will the reports be generated?

___________________________________________________________________

Will the reports need to be printed and/or displayed?_______________

13. What false reject rate is acceptable? ______________________________

14. What escape rate or false acceptance rate is acceptable? _______

1. Alarms desired? ______________________________________________________

2. What other machines must this system be integrated with mechanically or electrically?______________________________________________________

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3. What event will trigger an inspection? _______________________________

How will the event be detected? _____________________________________

How will this be communicated to the inspection system?_________________

4. How will the results of the inspection be communicated and implemented? ___

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5. Describe machine interfaces required/handshaking signals, etc.:

part in position_____________ sensor type_____________

opto-isolation______________ AC____________ DC___________

voltage level_______________ signal conditioning required___________

RS 232__________ RS 422________ RS 449__________ IEEE 488____________

Parallel_________ PLC______________________ MAP____________

Ethernet____________________ Other interface details: _____________

_____________________________________________________________________

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6. Describe hierarchical interfaces anticipated (to host computer, PLC, etc.)(data, programs, etc.): _____________________________________________________________________________

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1. Describe the environment in which the system must operate: _______________

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Factory

Clean room

Laboratory

Outdoor/indoor

2. Describe the air quality:

Dust/Smoke

Steam

Oil

3. Ambient light (type-incandescent, fluorescent, etc.):

4. Dirt on parts:

Lubricant on parts:

5. Wash-down requirements:

6. Corrosive atmosphere:

7. Temperature range: Operating___________ Storage____________

8. Humidity range: Operating________________ Storage _____________

9. Radiation

EMI

RFI

10. Shock:

11. Vibration:

12. Hazardous environment:

13. Utilities available:

Compressed air ______________ How clean _____________

Water ________________________________________________

Input power - Regulated _____________ Unregulated _____________

120V 240V Three Phase

Vacuum

1. Number of hours use per week? _______________________________________

2. Number of hours available for maintenance per week? _________________

3. Describe calibration procedures required:____________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

4. Describe challenge procedure to routinely verify performance

____________________________________________________________________

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5. Maintenance time between failures allowed: _________________________

6. Maintenance time to repair allowed: _______________________________

7. Response time to service: _______________________________________

1. Special paint colors: _____________________________________________

2. Shipping: ____________________________________________________________

3. Installation: ________________________________________________________

4. Warranty: ____________________________________________________________

5. Spare parts: _________________________________________________________

6. Cost: _____________________________________________________________

7. Documentation (instruction manuals for operator, maintenance, engineering, programming, prints, schematics, spare parts lists, software, etc.):

________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

8. Training - Where and when? ________________________________________

Details (subjects to be covered): _______________________________

operator: ___________________________________________________

maintenance: ________________________________________________

programming: ________________________________________________

For how many? ___________________________________________________

9. Software Issues - ownership of ______________________________________

Revisions -

Will vendor be required to support? ____________________________

For how long? _________________

Who will make software changes? _________________________________

Who will be responsible for cost? _______________________________

Who keeps backup? ______________________________________________

Is there a license fee? _________________________________________

10. Hardware Issues -

Who is responsible for changes? ___________________________________

Who is responsible for spares? ____________________________________

11. Describe any safety issues that must be considered: __________________

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1. How will we be sure the machine is functioning properly? (Describe performance test hurdles.) ________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

2. Tests at vendor site: ____________________________________________________

a. Can good, bad, and/or marginal parts be provided? ___________

b. What is the sample-size for each challenge? _________________

c. Define acceptability criteria for each challenge:___________

____________________________________________________________

d. Define part variations or parts to be used during acceptance testing:______________________________________________________

e. Define part position variations to be used during acceptance testing: _____________________________________________________________________

f. Define lighting variations to be used during acceptance testing:_____________________________________________________

g. Define environmental conditions:______________________________

3. Tests at installation site: ____________________________________________

a. Can good, bad, and/or marginal parts be provided? ___________

b. What is the sample-size for each challenge? _________________

c. Define acceptability criteria for each challenge:___________

____________________________________________________________

d. Define part variations or parts to be used during acceptance

testing:______________________________________________________

e. Define part position variations to be used during acceptance

testing:-----------------------------------------------------

f. Define lighting variations to be used during acceptance

testing:_____________________________________________________

g. Define environmental conditions:______________________________

Describe responsibilities for:

a. Design and build of fixtures:_______________________________

b. Installation:_______________________________________________

c. Start up:___________________________________________________

d. Other:______________________________________________________