With the IM-X Series
Image Dimension Measurement System
Measure Resin-Molded Products in Just 5 Seconds!

Measurement Problems with Optical Comparators and Measuring Microscopes

Time-Consuming and Open to Operator Errors

The time measurements take and the drive toward eliminating human errors are two challenges many of our customers face. Particularly with optical comparators and measuring microscopes, part positioning, focusing, and measurement alignment must all be done by hand. This means that measurement times and accuracy are highly dependent on personal technique.

Problems with Optical Comparators and Measuring Microscopes (Multiple choices allowed)
Measurement time 89%, operator errors 70%, data management workload 51%, training period 49%, maintenance costs 40%, installation location 19%, nothing in particular 10%.

Top problem: Measurements take too long

Conventional measuring instruments

  1. 500 minutes every day

    The resin-molded part used as the example in the measurement-time calculation.

    If dimensions for 50 parts like the one above must be measured every day, with each measurement taking 10 minutes, ...

    500 minutes are needed every day.

  2. 10000 minutes every month

    If there are 20 operating days in a month, the time used for measurements will be ...

    10000 minutes per month.

  3. 2000 hours every year

    In a year, this means ...

    2000 hours are needed for measurements.

Only 40 hours a year with the IM-X Series: an optical comparator or measuring microscope takes 2000 hours per year to measure, while the IM-X Series takes only 40 hours, saving 1960 hours of labor.

Why Customers Choose KEYENCE Image Dimension Measurement Systems over Optical Comparators and Measuring Microscopes

Drastically Reduce Measurement Time

Customer testimonial

With optical comparators and measuring microscopes, we needed to move the XY stage to obtain the coordinates of each measurement point one by one for every measurement. However, KEYENCE’s image dimension measurement system automatically performs measurement regardless of the part’s position and orientation, drastically reducing the time spent on measurements.

Using optical comparators and measuring microscopes

  1. Align the part’s position and orientation with the coordinates

  2. Acquire the measurement point coordinates

  3. Move the stage to the measurement point

The steps must be repeated for each measurement point.

Using an image dimension measurement system

Dimensions can be measured using the Pattern Search function regardless of the target’s position or orientation.

A hand places a small part anywhere on the stage without aligning it to specific coordinates.
Place
A finger presses the start button on the device's base after placing the part.
Press
A measurement results screen showing automatically measured dimensions on a part, each with a pass/fail judgment.

Complete measurement in just a few seconds regardless of the part’s position and orientation.

Additionally
Multiple parts can be measured at the same time

The IM-X Series can simultaneously measure up to 1000 parts placed on the stage. There is no need to measure each part individually. This can shorten the total measurement time even further.

A results screen showing many parts measured on the stage at once, each individually judged OK or NG, with a summary count of OK, Fail, and NG results.

Eliminate Operator Measurement Errors

Customer testimonial

When measuring using an optical comparator or measuring microscope, we needed to finely focus on each measurement point. It takes time, and the location to focus also differs from operator to operator, which can cause errors in measurement. The image dimension measurement system uses lenses with a large depth of field, allowing us to measure without any worries about focusing.

What makes this possible: Large diameter telecentric lenses allow for place-and-press measurement

The IM-X Series is equipped with telecentric lenses, which means that the image is not affected by the height differences of the part. This allows for accurate measurements of parts with uneven surfaces.

Zoom lens
Accurate measurements cannot be performed due to height differences between different parts of the target.
Image dimension measurement system
Accurate measurements can be performed even for targets with uneven surfaces.

Molded Product Measurement Examples

Measurement Using Ring Illumination

A small bracket-shaped part with several dimension measurements overlaid in green, each numbered and labeled in millimeters. An elongated rectangular part with multiple width and spacing measurements overlaid in green, each numbered and labeled in millimeters. A larger molded part with sixteen dimension measurements overlaid in green, each numbered and labeled in millimeters, covering hole positions, diameters, and edge distances.

Simultaneous measurement of up to 5000 points is possible with no positioning required.

A monitor connected to the device displaying a circular part's measured dimensions and an OK judgment, with trays of ring-shaped parts beside the device.

The illumination conditions are also reproduced automatically, making it possible to perform measurements with no variations between operators.

Contact us to learn more about how our advanced technology can help take your business to the next level.