3d scanner and method for measuring heights and angles of manufactured parts

Abstract

In the context of a machine-vision system for inspecting a part, a method and apparatus to provide high-speed 3D (three-dimensional) inspection of manufactured parts. Parts are inspected to obtain dimensional and geometric information regarding such characteristics as sag or bow of subportions of the item, the angle of pitch, yaw, and or roll of one portion relative to another, heights of various formations on the part. In some embodiments, an array of height pixels is calculated, and regions of interest (ROIs) are located within the array, and the ROIs are used to determine characteristic geometries of the parts being measured. One measurement system includes a light source, an imager, and a computer. Light source provides projected patterned light on the object useful to obtain 3D geometric information about the object. The imager has a reception optical axis that intersects the object when the machine-vision system is in operation. In some embodiments, imager includes at least three rows of imaging pixels positioned to receive light shone onto the object by the light source. The computer system calculates three-dimensional object-geometry data of the object using signals from the imager, and computes at least a first characteristic plane and a second characteristic plane of the object from the calculated object-geometry data. The method provides a process for obtaining and manipulating image data (e.g., make calculations on ROI data within one or more arrays of height pixels) to determine characteristics of the parts.