Revisiting the ‘blues’

Your editorial “A bad case of the blues,” published in Vision Systems Design’s December’s 2008 edition, stated that “The lack of industry standards penalizes system integrators and makes installing a machine-vision system more risky for the end user.”

You raise the issue of the ideal or “ultimate world” of system inter-compatibility, saying that perhaps the only solution to this problem lies in the development of a number of plug-compatible smart cameras from numerous vendors, with integrated optics.

This certainly would solve many problems of end users experiencing their subcomponents breaking down and is indeed a nightmare scenario that needs Vicodin or nerves made of steel, as you lively described.

Your analysis was similar to mine having visited several customer sites. However, I do not think that common standards in the multifaceted world of machine vision would be a practical one. Examine the inkjet printer industry. There, it could be easy to set standards and make a common ink cartridge for every printer brand. Setting a common standard for inkjet printer cartridges would be easy to implement and environmentally friendly, but the printer manufacturers decide otherwise for very good reasons that are no secret.

The “healthier” solution for the customers in machine vision would consist of involving themselves more by proposing critical concerns to system integrators, assessing the components such as the vision system controller, the camera brand, the lighting sources, and the optics. The long-term availability of parts could be discussed and guaranteed by the supplier.

Part of that responsibility lies with integrators that must ensure the availability of each machine-vision part is viable in the long term. Not doing so means that the end user sits on a “ticking bomb.” The user should be aware about the “hidden” or potential risks of the solution installed in his machine.

At Panasonic, this kind of dilemma is nearly nonexistent as we approach customers with turnkey solutions. Even our machine-vision integrators know they can rely on this.

Recently I received an emergency call from one of our customers. A machine-vision system installed ten years ago with an Imagechecker B410P controller needed service and part exchange. We swiftly repaired the broken part at the customer site. Later the same customer decided to replace the vision system controller with a current vision system from our company. The vision system overhaul took one workday.

This is what we call at Panasonic “a classic call” where we show our strength of being a supplier that delivers hardware and software that match the application using engineering services that do not require hair pulling and the need for Vicodin. Unlike what happened to you with your new 8-MP Canon Camera!

Kind regards,
Christophe Medernach
European Business Development Machine Vision
Panasonic Electric Works Europe AG
Holzkirchen, Germany
www.panasonic-electric-works.com