New-TechEurope Magazine | November 2017 | Digital Edition

Standardization as a recipe for success

Cécile Jacquin, Cognex Germany Inc

The standardized Cognex In-Sight Explorer software platform is available across the entire range of Vision systems from low-end to high end. In the selection of image processing systems, investment decisions are often based on the hardware technology. The current customer requirements show that the software platform of the systems are of great strategic importance. Thus in addition to the selection of image processing software, the user interfaces and their image processing tools must be included in the investment decision. Cognex offers a complete solultion in the area of Machine Vision. Cognex has set the bar very high with regard to ease of use. In this, the world-wide leading provider of industrial image processing solutions

not only concentrates on the hardware, but also covers the entire application range from low-end to mid-range to high-end with a comprehensive, user- friendly user interface. For example, the EasyBuilder configuration environent enables easy introduction to the standard applications of image processing within the Cognex In-Sight Explorer software. More challenging tasks can be undertaken using the spreadsheet view also from within the In-Sight Explorer software. The user only has to familiarise with the In-Sight Explorer software platform and can then use all of the tools they need from simple step by step setup process to powerful and flexible vision spreadsheet for more difficult applications. As Cognex's experiences show, many users would like to expand and deepen the use of their Vision technology over time, and increase performance. This usually means that the entire Vision

structure needs to be rethought, with the result that completely new, sometimes very complex systems are installed. John Keating, Director of In- Sight Product Marketing at Cognex, explains the dilemma: “For expansions of Vision applications, users want to work with their same tried and trusted software, because they have built up expertise and already work with it efficiently. New software, on the other hand, requires an increased expense in its introduction.” Therefore, Cognex has focussed on the modularity of its solutions in addition to ease of use. Cognex In- Sight Explorer software can be used with many products and is scalable in regard to the functions available. This means flexibility, above all when the Vision application needs to be expanded, from the use of the easy beginner's camera, which can be quickly and easily configured with Easybuilder, to the use of a more

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