Cognex has announced an entry-level vision system for tasks where vision sensors are too limited and standard vision systems may not be cost-effective. The In-Sight 7010 is a self-contained vision system incorporating autofocus optics and lighting in a compact IP67-protected housing.

The system (above) has been designed to make deploying a vision system easier than ever before. Applications can be configured quickly using an intuitive user interface, while the vision library has been simplified to focus on the tools most frequently used in vision applications.

“We are very excited about the In-Sight 7010,” says Bhaskar Banerjee, manager of Cognex’s vision systems business. “We believe it will open up a new range of applications where vision systems can be applied. It can be taken right out of the box and put straight on the production line with minimum time, cost and effort.”

The built-in autofocus capability makes the system suitable for production situations requiring regular parts changes, or for applications where a vision system has to be placed in an awkward location where manual focus adjustment would be difficult.

With autofocus, users set and save the focus values for inspecting each part. They can also fine-tune focus levels manually using the interactive software. There are five lens options to suit each application’s working distance and field of view.

The integrated white lighting is suitable for most vision applications. Four coloured lighting options are available to highlight particular parts or features.