Illumination Mounts for Machine Vision Applications

Authors: Nathan Pieters

Importance of Illumination in Machine Vision

Adequate illumination is critical for machine vision applications as it affects how well an imaging system can detect and interpret information from an object. Proper lighting creates a clear contrast between objects and their background, improving the clarity of visual features and enabling more accurate detection or measurement. Repeatability and noise can also be a concern with poor illumination as glare, shadows, dim, uneven, or shaky lighting can introduce image noise making edge detection and consistency in measurements more difficult. Without the right illumination, even the best imaging system can fail.

Why Edmund Optics^® Illumination Systems?

Edmund Optics^® offers an entire category dedicated to Machine Vision Lighting, which is comprised of several different light geometries from Advanced Illumination, CCS, Effilux, and Smart Vision Lights. In an effort to support machine vision system builders, Edmund Optics^® has designed a line of 3D printed mounts for a variety of illumination geometries that can be downloaded below. Below is an overview of the design process and examples of how to use these mounts in any imaging system.

Illumination Mounting Initial Considerations

When designing specific mounts for the wide variety of lighting geometries, the biggest requirement in the design process was versatility. Edmund Optics^® wanted to design a mount that can be used with most lights that Edmund Optics® offers. With this in mind, the design team also ensured not to compromise mechanical stability or adjustability within the setup. As a result, a rigid, yet versatile illumination mounting system was developed that covers multiple geometries and sizes of lights utilizing both 3D printed STL files created in CAD and Articulating Arm Systems offered by Edmund Optics^®.

Mounting Configurations

Several different mounting configurations can be created with the simple four-rail bracket system, including mounts for ring lights, bar lights, and more. A simple mount for 8mm diameter spot lights was also designed to use for on or off-axis illumination. The system is easily interchangeable for different mounting screw sizes on the lights, as the throughput hole size can be adjusted based on the size of the mounting screws with the light. The rails are easy to adjust in CAD and can be printed with most standard 3D printers. When used with the Articulating Arm Systems, the mounting system becomes compatible with an 80/20 frame system or a ¼-20” size thread optical air table, allowing for it to be mounted in multiple locations within a standard optical lab. Below is a summary of example configurations and links to download the STL files:

Ring Light

Compatible lights offered by Edmund Optics^® include: CCS Low-Angle LED Ring Lights, Effilux Adjustable LED Ring Lights, CCS High Intensity Ring Lights, Smart Vision Lights Compact Ring Lights, Advanced Illumination High Intensity Ring Lights

Bar or Line Light

Compatible lights offered by Edmund Optics^® include: Effilux Adjustable LED Bar Lights, Advanced Illumination MicroBrite Ultra High Intensity Bar Lights, Effilux SWIR LED Bar Lights, & Advanced Illumination Microbrite™ Line Lights

Spot Light

Compatible lights offered by Edmund Optics^® include: CCS LED Spot Light Illuminators, Advanced Illumination High Intensity In-Line Lights, CCS SWIR In-Line Spot Lights, Advanced Illumination MicroBrite Spot Lights

Recommended 3D Printer Settings

Please see below for the settings that are recommended for the best mounts when 3D printing with polylactic acid (PLA) filament:

Assembly

Conclusion

The illumination mounts designed by Edmund Optics^® combine versatility, stability, and ease of use to support a wide range of machine vision lighting setups. With adjustable 3D printed brackets, Articulating Arm Systems offered by Edmund Optics^®, and compatibility with 80/20 frames or optical tables, these mounts simplify integration for high-performance imaging applications. This flexibility also makes it easy to integrate into existing setups without the need for custom adapters. Whether it’s used for just benchtop prototyping or full-scale production environments, the system supports quick re-positioning and secure mounting, vastly reducing setup time.