In the field of industrial inspection and measurement, line laser and structured light technology, as two important optical measurement means, each plays a unique role. For many industrial enterprises, the choice of a more appropriate measurement technology in complex industrial scenarios is a matter of production efficiency, product quality and cost control.

Working Principle

Line Laser Sensor

Line laser measurement utilizes a laser transmitter to emit a line laser that illuminates the surface of the object to be measured, creating reflected light. An image of the reflected light is captured by a camera from a specific angle, and based on the principle of triangulation, the three-dimensional coordinate information of each point on the surface of the object is calculated. In simple terms, it is like using a laser “ruler” to scan and measure along the surface of the object.

3D Structured Light

Structured light, on the other hand, projects a specific pattern (e.g., stripes, Gray code, etc.) onto the surface of the object to be measured, and the deformed pattern image is captured by the camera as well. Based on algorithms such as phase solving, it accurately acquires three-dimensional topographical information on the surface of the object. It is more like putting a special “pattern coat” on the object, and analyzing the deformation of this “coat” to understand the shape of the object.

Accuracy

Line Laser Sensor

Line lasers have significant advantages in high-precision measurement. With its small spot, it can realize sub-micron level measurement accuracy, which is especially suitable for the measurement of micro-sized and high-precision parts. For example, in precision mold manufacturing, electronic chip inspection and other scenarios, line laser can accurately capture the subtle dimensional deviations and surface defects, providing strong support for product quality control. With advanced optical design and precise algorithms, POMEAS line laser products have reached the industry leading level in terms of precision and can meet the demanding industrial production needs.

3D Structured Light

Although structured light can also achieve higher precision measurements, its accuracy is usually at the micron level. Since its measurement principle is based on the overall deformation analysis of the pattern, the ability to capture some complex shapes and detailed features is relatively weak. However, in some scenarios where the accuracy requirement is not extremely high, but there is a demand for measurement speed and overall shape acquisition, such as the overall inspection of automotive parts and the surface quality assessment of large castings, structured light can also fulfill the task well.

Measurement Speed

Line Laser Sensor

The measurement speed of line laser is relatively slow because it scans and measures point by point, and it takes some time to complete the coverage of the whole object surface. In some large-scale production lines that require high measurement speed, line laser may not be able to meet the demand for rapid inspection.

3D Structured Light

Structured light, on the other hand, has an obvious speed advantage. It can acquire large-area information on the surface of the object at one time, and through rapid pattern projection and image acquisition, it can complete 3D modeling and measurement of the object in a short time. In mass production fields such as automotive manufacturing and aerospace, the rapid measurement capability of structured light greatly improves production efficiency and reduces the cost of inspection time.

Environmental Adaptation

Line Laser Sensor

Line laser is more sensitive to ambient light, and may be interfered with under strong or complex lighting conditions, resulting in a decrease in measurement accuracy or even inability to work properly. In addition, it has certain requirements on the material and color of the surface of the measured object, and the measurement effect may not be ideal for objects with strong reflectivity or dark color.

3D Structured Light

Structured light is relatively good in terms of environmental adaptability. It can resist the interference of ambient light to a certain extent through the projection and analysis of specific patterns. Moreover, for objects of different materials and colors, as long as the pattern can be clearly projected and captured, effective measurements can be made. However, both technologies may face challenges in extremely harsh environments, such as high temperature, high humidity, and strong electromagnetic interference.

Application Scenarios

Line Laser Sensor

Based on line laser's high accuracy and ability to capture minute details, it is commonly used in precision manufacturing, electronic semiconductor, medical device and other industries. For example, line lasers play an irreplaceable role in such scenarios as flatness inspection of cell phone screens, pin size measurement of integrated circuits, and precision machining and inspection of medical device parts.

3D Structured Light

Structured light is widely used in large-scale industrial fields such as automobile manufacturing, aerospace, machining, etc. due to its fast measurement and the ability to acquire the overall shape. For example, three-dimensional inspection of automobile body, assembly inspection of aircraft parts, and contour measurement of large mechanical parts are all indispensable to the support of structured light technology.