Industrial lens as the core component of industrial vision system, its performance directly affects the accuracy and efficiency of production inspection. Once the lens failure, not only will cause detection data deviation, but also may lead to production line stagnation, bringing huge economic losses. Therefore, do a good job in the maintenance of industrial lenses, to extend the service life of the lens, to ensure the stable operation of production, has an extremely important significance. This article will be from a variety of aspects, for you to introduce the maintenance of industrial lenses in detail.

Environmental Controls

(i) Clean environment operation

Industrial lenses are extremely sensitive to dust, and once tiny dust particles enter the interior of the lens, they may be adsorbed on the surface of the lens, affecting the transmission of light and imaging quality. In the installation and use of the lens, should try to choose a clean environment, it is best to operate in a dust-free workshop. If it is not possible to operate in a dust-free environment, it is also necessary to take the necessary dust-proof measures, such as setting up a dust-proof cover in the work area and avoiding frequent replacement of lenses in a dusty environment. In addition, regular cleaning of the workplace to reduce the dust content in the air is also very necessary.

(ii) Suitable temperature and humidity

Drastic changes in temperature and humidity can cause damage to industrial lenses. The lens inside the lens consists of a variety of different materials, thermal expansion and contraction coefficients there are differences in temperature fluctuations may lead to changes in the relative position between the lens, affecting the focal length of the lens and imaging accuracy. At the same time, excessive humidity can cause water mist or mold on the surface of the lens, reducing the light transmission of the lens. Therefore, it is important to control the temperature of the environment in which the industrial lens is used in a suitable range, usually 0 ℃ - 40 ℃, and the relative humidity is controlled at 30% - 80%. Temperature and humidity monitoring equipment can be installed in the work area, real-time monitoring of environmental parameters, and through the air conditioning, dehumidifiers and other equipment to regulate.

Standardized Operation

( i ) Installation and dismantling precautions

When installing the industrial lens, make sure that the interface between the lens and the camera is clean and free of foreign objects, and hold it gently during installation to avoid collision and falling. Operate according to the correct installation steps, screw the lens smoothly into the camera interface, and ensure that the installation is firm. When disassembling the lens, operate with the same care, turn off the camera's power first, and then disassemble in the reverse order. Immediately after disassembly, a protective cover should be installed for the lens and camera interface to prevent dust and debris from entering.

(ii) Avoid Frequent Varifocal

Frequent adjustments to the focal length and aperture of the industrial lens will cause frequent movements of the mechanical parts inside the lens, accelerating the wear and tear of the parts and shortening the service life of the lens. In the actual use of the process, should be based on the needs of the detection task, a one-time adjustment of the parameters of the lens, to avoid unnecessary varifocal operation. If you do need to adjust the parameters in the detection process, you should also try to operate slowly and smoothly to reduce the impact on the lens.

Daily Cleaning

(i) Lens surface cleaning

The lens surface is easily stained with dust, fingerprints and oil and other stains, affecting the imaging quality. When cleaning the lens surface, you should use professional lens cleaning tools, such as lens paper, air blow and lens cleaning fluid. First, use the air blow to blow off the dust on the lens surface to avoid scratching the lens with dust when wiping directly. Then, the appropriate amount of lens cleaning fluid drops in the lens paper, from the center of the lens outward in a spiral gently wipe, pay attention not to excessive force, so as not to damage the lens coating. After the completion of the cleaning, and then use a clean lens paper to dry the residual cleaning fluid.

(ii) The lens internal cleaning

Lens internal cleaning is relatively complex, it is generally not recommended that users disassemble the lens to clean, so as not to cause damage to the lens due to improper operation. If you find dust or foreign objects inside the lens, you should contact a professional maintenance staff to deal with. Maintenance personnel will use specialized tools and equipment to clean and maintain the lens interior in a professional dust-free environment to ensure that the performance of the lens is not affected.

Storage Essentials

(i) Proper storage

When the industrial lens is not in use, it should be stored in a dry, ventilated environment. You can use a special lens organizer or moisture-proof box for storage, and place a desiccant in the box to maintain a dry environment. Lenses should try to avoid stacking to avoid damage caused by mutual extrusion. At the same time, the lens should be stored away from heat sources and strong magnetic fields to prevent the lens from thermal radiation and electromagnetic interference.

(ii) Regular inspection

Even if the lens is in an idle state, it should be regularly inspected to see if there is dust, stains or damage on the surface of the lens, and to check whether the mechanical parts of the lens are functioning properly. Regular power-on tests of the lens to ensure that the optical and electrical properties of the lens are normal. Through regular inspection, potential problems can be detected in time and appropriate measures can be taken to deal with them to avoid worsening of the problem.

The maintenance of industrial lenses is a long-term and meticulous work, which needs to start from the use of the environment, operating specifications, daily cleaning and storage and other aspects. Only do a good job of all-round maintenance work, in order to effectively extend the service life of industrial lenses, to ensure the stable operation of industrial vision systems, to provide strong support for production activities.