which vision software/hardware can i use to read barcodes with?

[stew j]

i have an application where i will need 4 cameras to look for the barcode on my cylindrical product which is moving down a production line.

[Michael Noll-Hussong]

This should be possible with the IMAQ Vision Toolbox - examples are here:
http://sine.ni.com/apps/we/niepd_web_display.display_epd4?p_guid=B45EACE3E59A56A4E034080020E74861&p_node=DZ52000&p_source=external

Hope that helps,

Michael

[stew j]

is it compatable with compact vision?

[BruceAmmons]

The vision toolbox is compatible with the compact vision system. One minor issue is the fact that the CVS only has three firewire inputs, and you mentioned four cameras.

Bruce

[BruceAmmons]

As Michael said, this should be possible with the Vision toolbox. It includes all the standard 1-D barcode reading algorithms. However, it may become difficult for a couple of reasons.

1. The NI tools don't search for the barcode. You will have to locate them and provide the reader a box that passes through the stripes.

2. Distortion due to the camera angle may confuse the reader, unless your cameras are fairly close to horizontal.

Hardware just requires good lighting, cameras and lenses. There are dozens of combinations that should work for this application.

Bruce

[stew j]

do you think it is possible to detect a barcode with 3 cameras, considering it could be located anywhere on the circumferance of the cylinder?

[BruceAmmons]

It would be possible, but more difficult. You would need to see 120 degrees with each camera, plus the width of the barcode. If it is a large barcode, it may not be completely visible from any of the three cameras. At the edges of the view, the distortion also becomes much more significant. Is the barcode going to be vertical or horizontal? Vertical would work better.

You might want to check if the CVS can use a firewire hub to increase the number of cameras. I think it can, but I am not sure.

Bruce

[MikeeB]

Which way are the barcodes running on the product? If they run top to bottom(along the product rather than round it) then this will be much easier. Are the products moving or are they indexed along the line? What is the production rate?