Machine vision inspects car instrument clusters

An inspection system designed to ensure precise positioning of parts during the production of car instrument clusters has been implemented on the production lines of Visteon Palmela, based in Portugal. The company is a leading supplier to the top automotive manufacturers in the world. One vital element of the instrument cluster involves the appliqué, a plastic sheet incorporating the speedo and tacho markings. Each appliqué must be clipped into position with pinpoint precision, otherwise the vibration from the car's motion could make the appliqué move, resulting in the incorrect speed and revs being shown. To cope with customer demand, two identical production lines were required, running simultaneously. Two In-Sight Micro cameras from Cognex, supplied by Alphr Technology, based in Letchworth, UK, were fitted per production line and mounted onto a FlexLink frame with LED spot lights. Read More