21 APPLICATION ARTICLES ACROVISION Reading etched identifiers on
automotive exhausts Tenneco are global leaders in developing clean air and ride performance solutions to the global automotive industry. They supply car exhausts to customers, with each part containing a DAM (Reference) and Model number marked with an “Impact marker”. These two identifiers are used to fulfil the requirements of the Critical Character Identification (CCID) initiative, implemented globally by the automotive industry, which provides traceability for all these components from “the cradle to the grave”. A vision system was required to check the required information on all the parts and help enhance readability and accuracy. Two different components on the exhaust were marked. One part was flat and the other was cylindrical. In addition, the exhaust is manufactured from reflective material which presents significant challenges with regards to getting the correct illumination needed to obtain consistent images.
Aſter comprehensive discussions with Tenneco and a full evaluation, Acrovision used
a combination of Cognex camera models and specified the relevant lighting techniques to check that all components on exhausts were marked correctly. The camera system communicates with the machine’s PLC to pass or fail parts, with live images of the camera inspections being displayed on a Cognex Vision View 900 HMI. Working with Tenneco and their machine builders, the system was integrated successfully into the work stations using modular lighting for the resonator which was changeable with a part tool change. The solution was designed to ensure the time to change jobs for new part variations was kept to a minimum. Polarised filters were also used to take away the shiny glare from the images, which would normally make the task of reading the codes more difficult.
The implementation of the Cognex Vision View 900 resulted in a successful, robust
solution with extremely high first-read-rate success. This has led to over 20 vision systems being installed over the two Tenneco sites in South Wales.
www.acrovision.co.uk
Reading etched codes on automobile exhausts
www.ukiva.org
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