Looking for vision system

When accuracy is a MUST, computer contol is the best. Not sure if that would hold true with a vision system, but it does in every other way that I can think of, CMM, Mills, lathes, etc. I doubt that DCC would run too much more than manual. I would say that if the extra cost of DCC was 20% or less than the cost of just the manual, then you should REALLY push for DCC. It will pay for itself easily. If you are running any kind of 'production' (ie NOT one-of-a-kind), then the DCC will pay for itself VERY quickly.

I would recommend that you look into Micro-Vu. Been using a Micro-Vu "Matrix Video Measuring System" here for about 9 years. Quicker to program than our CMM, bur not quite as accurate. Able to import a DXF file and translate to inspection program. Work envelope on this machine is 24x18x12". Cost about 45K (1998). They do have smaller, manual ones available. Also service and support have been outstanding.

You could also take a look at a Tesa Visio 300 Dcc, granted that comes with PCDmis vision but i really dont think that it has that bad of a training issue. But that might just be me, i can from a place that had one and we had ppl with all kinds of different skill levels and they did fine. Just my 2 cents

We have a Flash 400 for sale. Would you be willing to trade the PFX for it? I like those machines. What is on the PFX (software, probing)?

Mitutoyo vision systems are the cat's meow, don't know if you can get them right now though. OGP makes a very nice machine and has been working with light interpretation for longer than anyone probably. I'd count on them to have a handle on that. Unfortunately they do not have a good handle at all on writing a user friendly front end. It is some of the worst software I have ever worked with. However, it is OK software for the average Joe operator to walk up to and measure stuff with. From a programmer perspective it gets the gold for least intuitive. I would love to spend a day with their development team just laughing at them, it is my sincere hope that PCDMIS being on vision will get them off their asses and make an attempt at writing some software that is worth more than a roll of toilet paper. I think they actually came up with Measure Fit as an attempt to make up for the lameness of the main app. PCDMIS is nice stuff but I am not sure what their experience is with light interpretation alogrythms. I demoe'd Starrett's vision system and it is pretty much like the OGP system if there was a K-Mart version of OGP's stuff......

Let me know the scoop on the PFX. The flash 400 is in our other plant and never gets used. That is how hated that software is. I have a flash 400 I use here (reluctantly) and as much as I hate the software it has been indispensable.

What Craig said about the OGP.....DITTO !!!

Don't get me wrong the OGP machines are nice and I trust their experience. But the software has a long ways to go.

Hey Bob, did you get your new Flash yet? Did you get Measure Fit? It is a cool add on if you are used to dealing with the standard interface but it hardly makes up for the shortcomings.

I would have to agree we have a ogp here and i hate the software.

Sorry if im redundant but I didnt feel like reading the previous posts....However OGP Smartscopes are really nice & the model we had could have a touch trigger probe mounted on it also(never used it)...but the software (Measure-X,Measure fit) does have a long way to go(all front end stuff). A buddy of mine told me they are compatible with pcdmis vision which i know nothing about. But i think it would be worth looking into.........

Don't get me wrong the OGP machines are nice and I trust their experience. But the software has a long ways to go.

Hey Bob, did you get your new Flash yet? Did you get Measure Fit? It is a cool add on if you are used to dealing with the standard interface but it hardly makes up for the shortcomings.

They bought it & put it on the other end of the building. I've walked down there once when they screwed something up....Not gonna give it to me then screw em......

Well so far we had a starlight demo and later this week (Thursday) we're having Micro-Vu come in and do a demo of there 12x12x6 Vertex vision system.I thought I saw somewhere on this forum that in popularity its Mitutoyo,OGP and then Micro-Vu. Haven't been able to find much about the Mitutoyo and the OGP software seems to be in question,so the Micro-Vu seems to be the way to go.The 12x12x6 goes for around $35,000.
I have used one of there manual machines for about 10 years and it worked great.This seems to be quite a step up.Almost like a small CMM without the learning curve.
One of my fellow inspectors was a bit worried when he heard the word programmed,but I tried to tell him it wasn't anything like a PC-DMIS equipped CMM.
So what do you guys think of how easy they are to use and the machine itself?