SICK announces next-generation 3D vision

SICK has announced the first in a new generation of Ruler3000 3D streaming cameras, designed to offer a fast track for integrators to harness high speed and measurement.

The Ruler3000 combines SICK’s Ranger3 streaming camera with a Class 2 eye-safe laser, pre-selected optics and fixed geometries to enable much simpler configuration and commissioning. With industry-standard compliance giving comprehensive access to machine vision software tools, SICK says the Ruler3000 dramatically cuts time and complexity when integrating more demanding inspection, measurement and robot guidance tasks across a wide range of industries.

“With today’s demands for higher throughputs, more accurate quality control and flexible, batch-orientated production, the pressure is mounting to deliver more speed and accuracy from 3D machine vision systems,” said Sofia Nilsson, SICK 3D Streaming Cameras Product Manager. “The SICK Ruler3000 is an exciting prospect for OEMs, system integrators and accomplished 3D vision end users.

“Because so much of the configuration and commissioning work is already done, you can rapidly shortcut to integrating a continuous stream of industry-standard data into higher-level systems or robot controls. And, with accurate 3D, reflectance and scattered light measurements in one device, you can evaluate several aspects of the inspection simultaneously to achieve optimum control and measurement confidence.”

Utilising SICK’s ROCC (Rapid On-Chip Calculation) technology, the Ruler3000’s integrated streaming camera is said to scan reliably at rapid production speeds. It processes up to 15.4 GP/s to enable up to 7000 full-frame 3D profiles per second. The Ruler3000 extracts the true 3D shape of an object, regardless of its contrast or colour, as well as simultaneously capturing greyscale and scattered light measurements, so image processing and measurement precision can be optimised.

The SICK Ruler3000’s performance on light, dark, reflective and contrasting surfaces, together with its guaranteed field of view, make it suitable for high-end inspection and precise localisation duties when mounted above a conveyor or on a robot arm. It is therefore likely to find diverse applications in industries including electronics, automotive components, consumer goods, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical production.

The SICK Ruler3020 is the first release in the Ruler3000 product family. It delivers 3D profiles at up to 7 kHz full format, or up to 46 kHz with a reduced region of interest. Measurements are output in millimetre values with a Z-resolution from 8–15 µm and an X-resolution from 63–88 µm, assuring very high definition to inspect even extremely dark or reflective surfaces, as well as to output precision data for accurate robot guidance. SICK says that accurate measurement values are assured down to 8 µm in height.

SICK plans to release more variants with differing fields of view during 2021.With a compact design, the IP65/67 SICK Ruler3020 can cope with harsh industrial environments without the need to design expensive protection in the machine.