PRESSESERVICE

autoVimation now offers protective enclosures with Peltier temperature control for cameras with cross-sections up to 100 mm x 100 mm and maximum lens diameters of 120 mm. The highly efficient and space-saving Turtle enclosures cool the built-in camera technology to up to 30 °K below ambient temperature. They enable machine vision applications at ambient temperatures from -20 °C to 70 °C and thus in almost all climate zones and in warm industrial applications where water cooling installation is not possible or would be too complex. The previous models have been tried and tested in active service in the hottest desert areas worldwide for 12 years. Three control options are available: a compact internal controller only for cooling; a two-point external controller with automatic switching between heating and cooling; and exact thermal control, which keeps the camera at a specified temperature – especially for measurement applications that require top precision. The UV and weather-resistant enclosures ensure reliable IP65 protection. The low-energy 24-V power supply can be realized with solar cells for autonomous operation in remote installations. The standard enclosures have internal lengths of 180 mm and 250 mm respectively. They are supplied with a front cover with a large 4″ BK7 window, with an aperture diameter of 88 mm, suitable for large lenses. The alternatively available flange lid allows the combination of the Turtle Elephant with all Orca extensions and front lids, such as 3″ dome windows for fisheye lenses, germanium windows for thermal imaging applications or the Meganova LED ring light from autoVimation. Furthermore, there is an extensive range of brackets and mounting kits for enclosure mounting.
Product page: https://www.autovimation.com/en/enclosures-en/turtle-en

autoVimation expands its product range, adding protective enclosures for cameras with cross-sections up to 100 mm x 100 mm and lens diameters up to 120 mm, as well as for board-level embedded vision systems with up to 120 mm wide PCBs. Protecting larger cameras than any previous autoVimation enclosures, the new Elephant is the worthy successor of the Mammoth, which became extinct last year. The German manufacturer’s patented Quick-Lock/Heat-Guide camera mount provides secure attachment and excellent heat dissipation. The rugged IP67 enclosures with 40-mm dovetail profiles are available in three standard lengths that accommodate up to 250 mm long camera installations. Tailored enclosures up to 1 m long and longer are realized on request. The Elephant enclosures have a default 4″ BK7 window with an 88 mm aperture. A 3″ flange top adapts the enclosures for the use of any Orca fronts or extensions, thus also enabling mounting of the powerful Meganova LED ring light as well as various special windows for thermography applications or fisheye lenses. The enclosures are compatible with the manufacturer’s brackets, mounting kits and extensive range of accessories, including temperature control solutions. Shortly, the series will be supplemented by two special enclosures with Peltier and water cooling.
More information: https://www.autovimation.com/en/enclosures-en/elefant

At the upcoming Control trade fair in Stuttgart, Germany, autoVimation will be showcasing new protective camera enclosures and complete machine vision installations for industrial environments and hygienic processes as part of the special Fraunhofer Vision show “Non-contact measurement technology”. Along with the premiere of the new Elephant enclosure series for larger camera cross-sections up to 100 mm x 100 mm, there will be live demonstrations of autoVimation’s effective passive cooling by up to 25 °K through the patented camera mounting inside the protective enclosure and of water cooling with and without protective enclosure – the German company manufactures temperature management solutions for machine vision applications in all climate zones as well as climate chambers. In the “Snow globe” demo model, wind curtains, air nozzles and protective flaps ensure a clear view under difficult conditions as can occur for instance in the steel and paper industries. The programmable Meganova ring light is demonstrated in a demanding image capture setup, taking sharp pictures of a fan rotating at 50 km/h. Sample installations based on the “Machine Vision Building Kit” and its counterpart in hygienic design show how image processing technology can be flexibly assembled and positioned in different manufacturing environments, using modular components. The “Hygienic Machine Vision Building Kit”, made of stainless steel for processes with regular high-pressure cleaning, enables the legally compliant installation of vision systems in food and pharmaceutical processes according to strict EHEDG specifications.
autoVimation at Control
Stuttgart, Germany, 23 – 26 April 2024
Fraunhofer special show “Non-contact measurement technology”
Hall 8, Stand 8202

autoVimation complements its mounting solutions for vision applications, introducing a pole mount that interfaces to existing wall mounts and mounting kits. Featuring two stainless-steel ribbon clips and a dovetail profile, the new fixture fits pole diameters up to 115 mm and almost all profile mounts in the manufacturer’s range. It provides a convenient and secure way to attach camera enclosures with dovetail profiles on poles, pipes and trusses with differently shaped cross sections. The manufacturer specializing in robust solutions to enable machine vision in harsh industrial environments and outdoors provides a comprehensive range of camera enclosures and mounting kits. Depending on the required degree of freedom, there is a choice of fixed brackets or versions that can be freely rotated along up to two axes. Users can flexibly combine adapter plates, clamps and brackets and thus position cameras and lasers with the right perspective for their various applications.
More about mounting kits from autoVimation: https://www.autovimation.com/en/mounting-accessories-en

The autoVimation configurator guides users to suitable protective enclosures for a wide range of camera formats in just a few steps, including the adaptation to specific applications. Users can directly request a quote, which is usually sent by email in less than 24 hours on weekdays. Upon entering some basic parameters for the camera, lens and connector, the configurator automatically suggests the smallest suitable protective enclosure from the autoVimation portfolio. Users can customize the front lid and rear wall options and select feature options and accessories. The manufacturer offers a wide range of mounting accessories, heating and cooling devices and wind curtains for vision applications in extreme environments as well as various window materials, such as germanium for infrared cameras. The configuration result is displayed with the correct order number. There are direct links to the data sheets for all housing series and accessories. autoVimation has been designing and manufacturing enclosures and mounting solutions for machine vision applications for 15 years. The effective, industrial-grade products featuring high ingress protection save customers the time-consuming development of their own enclosures and brackets.
Link to the enclosure configurator: https://www.autovimation.com/en/enclosures-en/enclosure-configurator

New lightweight Stingray enclosures launched by autoVimation provide reliable protection for cameras with cross sections up to 75 mm x 75 mm. The enclosure profile is roomy enough for line-scan cameras as well as other large camera models that are too large for Orca-type enclosures, such as Allied Vision Bonito Pro or Flir A6xx thermal imaging cameras. The manufacturer offers BK7 or acrylic glasses up to ~2000 nm and sapphire and germanium discs for sensors in the infrared wavelength range. Stingray enclosures come in three standard lengths and with different window options. The “flange” version can be used with a Meganova ring light, all Orca front lids, including the dome window, and 30-mm and 60-mm extensions for easy lens access. Thanks to the flexible Quick-Lock/Heat-Guide camera mount, lenses can be positioned directly behind the enclosure window to avoid vignetting. In addition, special front covers are available for time-of-flight (ToF) cameras from IFM and Lucid and others. In addition to a high IP66 protection rating, the anodized aluminum enclosures feature high chemical resistance, vibration-proof mounting and very good heat dissipation, which ensures passive cooling of the installed camera. Both a 40-mm dovetail and a T-slot can be used for mounting. The manufacturer offers a wide range of accessories that facilitate efficient and reliable configurations for all kinds of demanding application scenarios; these include various mounting kits, sunroofs, protective lids, air nozzles, heating plates and cooling technology.
More information: https://www.autovimation.com/en/enclosures-en/stingray

autoVimation has expanded its Chameleon series of protective camera enclosures, adding a model for the FLIR AX8 thermal imaging camera. The germanium and BK7 glass windows are perfectly aligned with the FLIR AX8 imagers to allow simultaneous operation of the infrared camera, visual camera and LED lighting. The rugged aluminum enclosure with protection class IP66/IP67 is designed for long-term use in demanding industrial environments with high humidity levels. In order to compensate for thermal expansion and vibrations, autoVimation does not glue the germanium and BK7 lenses, but fits them with a special sealing system. Under normal ambient conditions, the enclosure requires no internal cooling as the solid camera mounting plate ensures reliable heat dissipation. The manufacturer provides extensive accessories including a wide range of brackets and mounting kits for precise angled orientation. An optional dovetail profile on the back of the protective enclosure ensures heavy-duty, vibration-proof connection to the brackets. The enclosure measures 175 mm x 80 mm x 57 mm without cable gland.

Camera applications in dirty industrial environments require appropriate devices to keep the windows of protective enclosures free from dust, moisture and oily substances. Pneumatic devices from autoVimation such as wind curtains, protective flaps and air nozzles have proven themselves to be efficient protection methods against window contamination that impairs vision. Introducing the Dragon High Power fan nozzle, the German manufacturer now provides a new solution for its Salamander, Gecko and Orca series protective enclosures, which combines economical compressed air consumption and low noise emissions with high blowing force. The tiltable air nozzle blows a fan-shaped air jet over the enclosure window at a 20° angle. Due to its blowing force of 3.3 N at a pressure of 5 bar and an air flow of 333 liters per minute, Dragon High Power prevents dirt accumulation and can remove even severe pollution. The blowing force of the nozzle corresponds to an open pipe with an inner diameter of 4 mm, but the energy consumption is 33 % lower and noise is reduced by 40 % to 82 dB(A). The air fan is wide enough to clean 3-inch windows at only 50 mm from the nozzle outlet. Therefore, Dragon High Power can be directly affixed to the protective camera enclosure, saving installation space. autoVimation also supplies brackets with dovetail connection as accessories for flexible mounting and orientation of the nozzle on the enclosure.

autoVimation expands its protective enclosure range for Specim FX10 and FX17 hyperspectral cameras by two new models. In addition to the standard enclosure for Specim cameras featuring protection class IP66/IP67, a stainless-steel version in hygienic design and a temperature-controlled version are now also available. Specim hyperspectral cameras are mainly used for foreign object detection, plastics sorting and drug concentration analysis in food and pharmaceutical processes. However, until now, no suitable, hygienically designed protective enclosures were available that could be safely installed above the production lines. autoVimation now closes this gap, launching the new camera enclosures made of AISI 316L (V4A) stainless steel, which withstand wet cleaning with aggressive cleaning agents. Gap-free enclosure surfaces and hygienic cable glands minimize the risk of contamination. The second innovation for Specim cameras, thermoelectrically temperature-controlled protective enclosures allow cameras with a permissible temperature range of 5 °C to 40 °C to be used in ambient temperatures up to -20 °C to 70 °C. The system provides camera cooling by up to 25 K below the ambient temperature. The enclosures can also be used to stabilize camera temperatures to increase measuring accuracy in critical applications.

In 2008, autoVimation introduced the Orca and Salamander series of protective camera enclosures with a patented camera mounting technology and standout features like compact size, high robustness and excellent heat dissipation. To celebrate the highly successful series’ 14th anniversary, the German manufacturer has examined the enclosures thoroughly and improved the design for even easier camera mounting. The enhanced Quick-Lock/Heat-Guide mounting system simplifies horizontal camera mounting inside the enclosure. The tolerance compensation is tripled, so cameras that deviate from the specified heights can still be precisely positioned. As a further innovation, Orca enclosures have a 10 mm slimmer camera mount and can now accommodate cameras up to 70 mm high at 50 mm maximum width. In addition, both Orca and Salamander enclosures feature new internal guides for precise alignment of cameras parallel to the outer wall: autoVimation added guides to the camera mounts, so users can now easily slide cameras with grooved housings into the cylindrical installation space, exactly parallel to the outer wall of the enclosure. If applications require rotated installation, users can easily dismantle the guides and affix the cameras as usual. Last but not least, autoVimation has simplified the replacement of enclosure windows, which are now fastened by retaining rings with holes. Using suitable pliers, the change takes only a very short time. For ESD-protected camera mounting, the manufacturer offers double-sided adhesive thermal conductive films with a dielectric strength of 3 kV, which offer high-level protection against electrostatic discharge in indoor or outdoor areas and prevent ground loops because of electric potential differences between camera and enclosure.

Introducing the Piranha series of extremely robust protective laser enclosures, autoVimation completes its new Hygienic Building Kit, which is the world’s first system for fully hygienic mounting of cameras, lighting and lasers in machine vision applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries and in cleanrooms. The Piranha enclosures – now available – are used to integrate line lasers with a diameter of 19 – 20 mm and up to 160 mm length with or without focusing ring. Featuring an IP69k protection rating and hygienic design without recesses, they are suitable for thorough cleaning with steam jets. The AISI 316L stainless-steel material ensures high corrosion resistance to harsh disinfectants and other aggressive chemicals. The 28 mm wide front window, which can be easily attached or replaced by means of a circlip, comes with a BK7 window with double-sided anti-reflective coating, or optionally with a sapphire or acrylic window. The deep front cover allows for placement of lasers with or without focusing ring directly behind the front window. Users can access the focusing ring at any time, simply by removing the screw cap. autoVimation supplies Piranha enclosures with a standard cable gland made of AISI 316L stainless steel for easy mounting to hygienic T-pieces and tubes. In addition, versions with hygienic cable glands and hoses are available for other mounting variants. For users to easily achieve compliance in every application, autoVimation is undergoing EHEDG certification of the protective laser enclosures.

autoVimation now offers highly efficient, easy-to-use polarization filters and diffusers for its innovative Meganova ring light for installation in Orca, Shark and Megalodon protective camera enclosures. The Meganova ring light with eight high-power LEDs, placed directly behind the enclosure front window, eliminates the need for further external lighting. The ring light design is matched to the enclosure series cited above for efficient heat dissipation. This allows for continuous operation at 200 % power and brightness under normal conditions. In standard vertical installations, coaxial orientation of light source and camera lens can cause light reflections on reflective surfaces and thus impair the inspection of metallic parts or paper packaging. The new Meganova polarizing filters solve this issue by means of two linear, crossed polarization filters, which completely eliminate light reflections into the camera lens and thus enable excellent imaging quality. The solution consists of a polarization ring placed over the ring of LEDs and a polarization disc for the central lens aperture, which eliminates the need for a polarizer on the lens. The ring and disc are simply attached to the lighting tube, then, the outer ring, which polarizes the LED light, is twisted against the inner disk until their polarization directions are offset by 90°. The newly available Meganova diffusion rings for homogenizing light distribution in the camera image are mounted analogously to the polarization ring. They are available in two versions with strong and weak diffusion at light transmission coefficients of 45 % and 80 % respectively.

Launching the Hygienic Building Kit, autoVimation presents the world’s first mounting system for machine vision applications that is suitable for installing cameras, lighting and lasers in the food and pharmaceutical industries or in cleanrooms. Since imaging components can be contaminated with product residues during steam-jet cleaning of conveyor systems and can thus become a source of germs themselves, they are subject to the same hygiene requirements that apply to plant components in direct contact with the product. autoVimation’s existing, proven machine vision mounting systems use aluminum dovetail profiles for easy adjustment of the camera housings and are therefore out of the question for use in hygienically sensitive areas. For one thing, the recesses and undercuts of the joints create difficult-to-clean dead spaces, for another, the materials do not have the corrosion resistance required by regular cleaning and disinfection with aggressive chemicals. In contrast, the new Hygienic Building Kit is based on autoVimation’s hygienic, IP69k-protected, AISI 316L stainless-steel enclosure series Dolphin, Shark and Piranha. The camera, lighting and laser enclosures are mounted on rails made of smooth stainless-steel rods. Hygienic T-pieces enable flexible positioning and orientation. Cable routing within the tubes not only ensures optimum protection against mechanical forces, but also eliminates the need for a separate food approval of cable materials. Alternatively, hygienic protective hoses are available for cable routing; these can also be used for additional cable routes to machines etc. All gaskets as well as an acrylic window are approved for direct food contact according to FDA and EU guidelines. In addition, all components meet the strictest criteria for hygienic surface design. The kit can be mounted directly on conveyors, walls, machine covers and ceilings. For application-specific configuration, users can shorten the available shafts to the required length and machine a hole for cable entry at the required location. The tube connectors for IP69k sealing of the joints enable sturdy designs even with longer rods and eccentric loads due to their strong internal clamping. For users to easily achieve compliance in every application, autoVimation is undergoing EHEDG certification of all components of the modular system.

The new Megalodon series from autoVimation features the same outer dimensions as Orca protective camera enclosures but with a larger inner diameter. It thus provides IP66/67 protection for all those camera types that are slightly too large for the existing enclosures. Due to the 2 mm wider inside dimensions, Megalodon enclosures are suitable for Flir A400 and Dalsa Linea as well as for other, similarly sized large-format cameras, such as Jai Spark, Runner Basler and many more. autoVimation supplies a mount for cameras from the new Flir A400/700 series, as well as a special dual germanium and BK7 front window, which enables simultaneous operation of infrared and visible-light cameras. For “reverse” installations, Megalodon enclosures are designed to fit all available Orca front lids such as the dome window. The existing 30 mm or 60 mm Orca extensions allow users to increase the standard housing length of 227 mm. Thanks to the flexible Quick-Lock/Heat-Guide camera mount, lenses can be positioned directly behind the enclosure window to avoid corner shading. In addition to the high protection rating, Megalodon housings made of anodized aluminum are characterized by chemical resistance, vibration-proof camera mounting, very good heat dissipation and passive cooling of cameras by up to 23 °C. Numerous optional accessories ensure optimal configuration for demanding application scenarios: various mounting kits, deflection mirrors, sun roofs, protective shutters, heating plates and cooling units.

With double the power and half the size, the new autoVimation heating plate ensures trouble-free camera operation even in arctic temperatures and strong winds. Thanks to its compact design, it is now suitable for all Salamander, Gecko and Orca series housings from size S. The new mode of attachment via lateral clamping ensures easy installation since no components have to be removed. The controlled heating plate with a built-in PT100 temperature sensor consumes less energy, heats up faster in interval operation and does not overheat at higher ambient temperature levels. Featuring exact temperature control with a freely adjustable setpoint, it constantly provides the right heating power even with severe ambient temperatures fluctuations. The large-area heating keeps the camera temperature above freezing point at outside temperatures as low as -50 °C, minimizes temperature differences in the housing and thus avoids dew points and the resulting condensation. The easy-to-use 75 W and 24 V/DC heating plate is available as a set with a five-meter connection cable and adjustable heating controller. It is supplied with a controller that can supply several heating plates. It also fits under the sun roof if that is required. autoVimation has managed to reduce the price and offer customers higher quantity discounts through increased in-house production.

autoVimation expands its Chameleon XS enclosure series for the Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera family, adding a new enclosure for the D455 camera. The 500g lightweight aluminum enclosure provides reliable IP66/67 ingress protection all-around, allowing the depth cameras to be employed in unmanned aerial vehicles, in outdoor vision applications, and in challenging industrial environments. The outer dimensions are 150 mm x 64 mm x 34 mm. Like the existing Chameleon XS enclosures for the RealSense sensors D415, D435, and T265, the D455 model ensures shade-free images thanks to the special arrangement of the windows. The windows are made of anti-reflective BK7 glass. To compensate for thermal expansion and vibrations, they are fitted into the housing openings with special seals instead of being glued. Under normal conditions, cooling is not required because the camera is connected with a solid aluminum adapter and a double-layer thermal film for heat coupling with the enclosure. A cable gland with an extra-large sealing inlay enables tool-free entry of standard cables with USB-C plugs. With the help of a dovetail adapter plate, the Chameleon XS enclosures are fully compatible to autoVimation’s machine vision construction kit. This way, all 30mm dovetail mounting kits can be used to mount and align the housing vibration-proof on flat surfaces or slot profiles.

autoVimation has launched a new, particularly compact system for positioning and precise alignment of protective camera enclosures. At the heart of the modular system, fine positioning axes with a 150-mm adjusting range feature hand cranks with 1.5 mm feed per revolution for maximum adjustment accuracy. The axes are more compact than conventional types, since slides travel directly on the spindle channel’s dovetail profile. At 40 mm x 16 mm, the axes‘ profile cross-section is similar in size to a matchbox. Cameras can be freely positioned at any angle. The system includes a comprehensive range of accessories – profile rails, rotary axes, angles, and exchangeable positioning tables for vertical or parallel-axis mounting – which allow for rapid construction of multi-axis assemblies. Unlike existing products, the autoVimation system requires no adapter plates, since all components feature the same profile systems. Camera housings or other axes can be mounted on the positioning tables by means of dovetail brackets. For ergonomic handling in any position, the feed cranks can be mounted on either end as required. A millimeter scale on the side of the profile facilitates exact adjustment of the slide position. Alternatively, autoVimation offers fine positioning axes with an integrated position sensor and an accuracy of 10 µm, accompanied by digital display modules that can visualize positioning data for up to three axes. Fixed in place, form-fit dovetail brackets withstand replacement forces up to 2000 N. They prevent scratching of the profiles and provide a secure hold even of vertically mounted axes and under high loads. Even with the bracket lose, the self-locking spindle drive prevents uncontrolled movement of the load in axial direction.

autoVimation now offers Meganova ring lights in six different colors. These modules are equipped with an onboard strobe controller. Developed to fit into autoVimation’s enclosures with a 3″ front window, like the Orca and Mammoth housings, the special clamping mount ensures good heat dissipation. Each light contains eight high-performance LEDs in four optional beam angles between 14° and 76° for optimal illumination of the camera field of view. In addition to two white ring lights with different CRIs, Meganova is available with red, green, blue, and infrared light. They are mounted using the integrated clamps with a large contact area. The ring lights feature a large enough inner radius for wide-angle lenses with diameters up to 36 mm to be fitted right behind the front window. This prevents reflection of light onto the camera lens. The LEDs can be pulsed with almost six times the nominal current, resulting in four times the normal brightness. The onboard controller calculates the maximum pulse/pause ratio depending on shutter speed and gain and prevents users from selecting damaging settings. Due to good heat dissipation via the camera enclosure, 200 % nominal current – almost twice the normal brightness – can be continuously maintained under room temperature conditions at 16 W power consumption. Continuous temperature monitoring with automatic emergency shut-off prevents overheating. Users can set the pulse length, triggering behavior, exposure time, current amplification, and other ring lighting and flash parameters exactly as required via RS232 interface. The trigger is controlled via an optically isolated 5…24 V DC wide-range input. The onboard flash controller enables direct connection of the camera trigger output to synchronize light activation, ensuring particularly accurate flashing especially with short pulses. Reflections at a vertical angle of view can be reduced with an optional polarizing filter ring. A matching diffuser ensures homogenous illumination. Water cooling systems developed by autoVimation can additionally protect the lights and camera even at higher ambient temperatures of up to 200 °C.

autoVimation celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The company has been developing and manufacturing modular enclosures for cameras and laser systems since 2008. Under the direction of founder and managing director Peter Neuhaus, the company has made its name as a renowned specialist in rugged protective housings and fixtures for vision technology. „Our concept, first launched at VISION Stuttgart in 2008, became an instant success with customers,“ says Neuhaus. „Our modular system enables easy installation of sensitive cameras and laser technology in virtually any environment. It allows users to save a lot of effort for in-house development of protective housings and mounting accessories.“ The company has seen a steady growth in sales volume. Its products and special solutions made in Germany are in demand around the world. Only last year, autoVimation’s expanding business prompted an HQ relocation to a larger facility in the Karlsruhe area. autoVimation has won the innovation prize of the Technologiefabrik Karlsruhe tech hub on two different occasions: in 2011 for its overall concept of protective enclosures and mounting systems; in 2013 for temperature-controlled desert-proof enclosures used by the solar industry. autoVimation enclosing solutions feature in all industrial sectors and across a wide variety of special applications. They are used in extreme climates and for extremely varied purposes, from solar power plant operations in the Mojave Desert to penguin monitoring in Antarctica. Past projects have also covered numerous water and underwater applications, including one with an underwater camera in a TV show segment about seven swimmers climbing into one bathing cap. Most recently, the company has launched a hygienic camera mounting and enclosing system for the food and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as ring lights in six colors with a flash controller for installation in Orca protective camera enclosures. More information on the company, applications, and international distributors as well as the product catalog are available at www.autovimation.com.