Standard or Telecentric Machine Vision Lens – How to Choose?
Industries are automating their processes to increase operational efficiency, productivity, and overall cost-effectiveness. For this, a machine vision lens is used to provide the robots and machinery with accurate visual data. These machine vision lenses are made from highly advanced optical technology and capture extreme detail, significantly reducing the chances of errors. Depending on the requirements, you can use either a standard lens or a specialized machine vision telecentric lens. Machine vision systems use both of these lenses but operate in entirely different ways.
In this blog, we will cover the key differences between a standard and telecentric machine vision lens and explore their benefits and applications. Consequently, this will help you choose the right lens for your application and save you unnecessary expenses. Additionally, using the correct type of lens can significantly improve the image clarity and detailing.
What is a Standard Machine Vision Lens and What are Its Applications?
A standard machine vision lens can be further divided into two subcategories: zoom and fixed-focal-length lenses. Standard machine vision lenses are general-purpose lenses designed for measurements, parts alignment, and automation. These are reliable lenses and perform well for standard applications where high-power magnification or extreme precision is not required. That is why standard machine vision lenses are the most commonly used in commercial and industrial applications.
Applications of Standard Machine Vision Lenses
- A fixed-focal-length machine vision camera lens is primarily used for quality inspection on production lines. The cameras accurately scan each product to verify that it meets all quality requirements and has the required dimensions. They are highly beneficial when the objects to be captured are constantly placed at the same distance from the camera.
- On the other hand, a zoom machine vision camera lens is highly beneficial when the FOV (field of view) changes constantly. You can adjust the focal length of these lenses to ensure the object is within the optimal focal range to capture all the crucial details.
- Standard machine vision lenses are also used in assembly line monitoring across industries and help manufacturers provide high-quality final products. These lenses can also detect minor cracks and defects in the products that are not visible to the naked eye.
What is a Telecentric Machine Vision Lens and What are Its Applications?
A machine vision telecentric lens, unlike standard machine vision lenses, is highly advanced and offers significantly higher magnification. That is precisely why a machine vision telecentric lens is used in semiconductor manufacturing and for inspecting microscopic objects such as circuit boards. Additionally, due to their powerful magnification and precise imaging, Telecentric imaging lenses are also used in microscopy and cell counting. The applications of these lenses are discussed below:
Applications of Telecentric Machine Vision Lenses
- Telecentric lenses are known for their consistent zoom regardless of the object’s position and distance from the camera. Hence, these lenses are used to take precise measurements for automation, part alignment, and cutting applications.
- A telecentric machine vision camera lens is ideal for automated PCB inspection and accurate dimensional analysis. They capture highly detailed images and remove parallax error, further increasing image clarity and accuracy.
- Similar to standard machine vision lenses, a machine vision telecentric lens also provides machines and robots with accurate visual data for automation. However, these lenses are far more precise than standard lenses.
Difference Between Standard and Telecentric Machine Vision Lenses
The following table clearly states the difference between the two lens types for a clear understanding:
| Feature / Parameter | Standard Machine Vision Lens | Telecentric Machine Vision Lens |
|---|---|---|
| Magnification Stability | Changes with object distance | Remains constant even if the object distance varies |
| Perspective Distortion | Visible; edges appear tapered or skewed | Virtually zero; maintains true-to-size geometry |
| Depth of Field | Limited, varies by aperture | Much larger and more uniform |
| Measurement Accuracy | Moderate; not ideal for precision gauging | Very high; designed for dimensional accuracy |
| Field of View | Wider and more flexible | Narrower, fixed based on lens design |
| Object Height Sensitivity | Image size changes with height variations | No change in image size or shape |
| Cost | Lower | Higher due to specialized optics |
| Use Cases | General inspection, barcode reading, presence/absence checks | Metrology, AOI, dimensional inspection, semiconductor/medical components |
| Illumination Compatibility | Works with regular lighting | Often paired with specialized telecentric lighting for best results |
| Lens Design | Single optical path, standard construction, choosing a machine vision lens, ensure it is manufactured in ISO-certified production. | Double-telecentric or object-space telecentric design for parallel light rays |
Get High-quality Machine Vision Lenses with SuperiorCCTV
Before choosing a machine vision telecentric lens, ensure it is manufactured in ISO-certified facilities. This is precisely what you will get with SuperiorCCTV. Our certified lens manufacturing facilities ensure that all lenses are manufactured in accordance with strict global quality standards. We ensure that you get accurate lenses for high-quality imaging. Using our high-quality lenses, you can significantly enhance your operational efficiency and reduce manual errors with precise automation.
In addition to machine vision lenses, SuperiorCCTV is the leading supplier of security camera lenses. Our lens assembly includes a wide range of security camera lenses, from simple fixed-focal-length lenses to highly advanced varifocal lenses.
Need expert assistance for installing security cameras and lenses? Feel free to contact us!
Concluding Note!
A machine vision lens proves to be highly beneficial in modern automation-led industries. SuperiorCCTV is a reliable manufacturer and supplier of high-quality machine vision lenses across multiple industries. You can either search for lenses in our lens assembly or contact us directly to learn more about our products and services. Our responsive customer care services will help you get the lenses and other optical solutions that you need.
FAQs
A: A machine vision lens is used to provide accurate visual data for automation. It captures detailed images and then sends them to the processor, which processes them to perform highly complex tasks with high accuracy and speed.
A: The benefits of using a machine vision telecentric lens are listed below:
- Delivers high-precision imaging for accurate measurement and inspection.
- Ensures consistent, repeatable results with minimal manual intervention.
- Supports high-speed production lines without compromising clarity.
- Enhances defect detection, quality control, and process reliability.
- Improves system flexibility by adapting to various lighting and sensor setups.
A: Standard machine vision lenses are more affordable and can easily fit into your budget constraints. Moreover, standard lenses are highly effective for standard monitoring applications where the use of telecentric lenses is not mandatory.
A: Using a machine vision lens can improve quality control by:
- Eliminate human error: They provide objective, repeatable inspections without fatigue or bias.
- Check 100% of products: Every item on the line can be inspected in real time, not just random samples.
- Enable faster decision-making: Immediate pass/fail outputs help quickly correct issues.
- Reduce waste and rework: Early detection of defects cuts scrap and boosts overall yield.
A: Custom lenses are designed and manufactured for your particular needs. They are highly optimized and provide optimal imaging for residential and industrial imaging. With SuperiorCCTV, all you need to do is schedule a consultation with our experts and explain your requirements. Our experts will handle the rest and get back to you with optimal optical solutions.