Inspecting a painted, reflective surface requires identifying irregularities that may be difficult to detect under conventional lighting conditions, such as dents, waviness, orange peel or craters.
In industry, 0.2 mm is commonly used as a reference size above which a defect may become visible to the human eye. To automate the inspection of defects of this size and even smaller, NUTAI integrates high-resolution cameras and deflectometry techniques.
What is deflectometry?
Deflectometry is an optical inspection technique used to analyse reflective surfaces. It works by projecting a structured fringe pattern onto the surface to be inspected.
The cameras capture the reflection of this pattern and record any distortions in the fringes. Variations in the surface geometry alter the reflection, making it possible to locate irregularities in the sheet metal or paint finish.
This means that the inspection does not rely solely on directly observing the defect, but on analysing how it affects the reflection of the projected pattern.
Configuration for each application
Each system is configured according to the specific characteristics of the process. The following aspects are considered when defining the solution:
- Part geometry and dimensions
- Surface type and finish
- Areas to be inspected
- Defects to be identified
- Production line conditions
- Acceptance criteria established for the project
Based on these requirements, the camera layout, projection system and integration of the inspection station into the production line are defined.
NUTAI deflectometry inspection systems
NUTAI develops and integrates machine vision systems for the automated inspection of painted and reflective surfaces. Each solution is adapted to the conditions of the production line and the inspection criteria defined by the customer.
To assess an application, we need to understand the characteristics of the part, the surfaces to be covered and the defects to be evaluated.
Do you need to assess the inspection of a painted surface?
Contact NUTAI to discuss the requirements of your application.
