DVT SmartImage 630 Process Automation Camera - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 08:16:49 pm
content: This is something i picked up cheaply off ebay.Its basically a cctv camera with it's own built-in programmable image processing, used for industrial process automation, quality assurance or robot control etc. It can take measurements, count and identify objects, read barcodes and ocrI may do a teardown, if it proves to be working i may just resell it as they seem to be somewhat expensive.Once i get it working i'll post more up.Would be interested if anyone has any experience with them or similar products

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 10:31:30 pm
content: I saw that unit and did some research on the internet. I thought I found an installation manual for it and it needed proprietary software to read/program it.I decided that even at the give-away price it would only languish on a shelf unused in my 'interesting but useless items' box. I am pleased you are going to try to do something with it. Like many specialised items these cost a small fortune but they are only worth what the market will pay and in this case the camera/sensor has a very limited audience who require reliability so used kit isn't usually their thing.

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 10:50:07 pm
content: I've used these a few times, still got a few plus breakout boards in storage somewhere. Congex took over DVT years ago and as far as a remember the last version of software supporting the 630 was Framework 2.8 (free download)http://www.cognex.com/support/downloads/File.aspx?d=673But I might be wrong!

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 10:57:08 pm
content: I have a couple of manuals i found, one quite comprehensive one is 160 odd pages long and includes some information on the programming. Thankfully i have sourced the software too. Or at least i think i have, i guess i will know more when i get it powered up and on my network.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 30, 2013, 10:58:38 pm
content: Quote from: TopLoser on July 30, 2013, 10:50:07 pmThats what i found too, thanks for confirming!What did you use them for in your application?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 12:40:25 am
content: There's something similar (don't recall make) in a cabinet X-ray machine I have - it takes a 10 second exposure, displays to a VGA monitor. Apparently end-users can write software to run internally to provide a customised 1-box solution to simple imaging functions.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 09:57:40 am
content: ok, got this powered up after cannibalizing a cable for a 15pin d connectorthe camera seems to go through a boot process ending with the ready light on and flashing the fail light every second so it looks like it's probably already programmed with something which it's not finding so it seems to be working.i know the camera is connected to my network as i found it's on IP 192.168.0.240 through it's ARP broadcasts and manually configured by pc onto that subnet, the framework software installed ok but it just says there is no camera on the network and cant seem to get any further with iti was hoping i wasn't going to have to muck around with it's serial port

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 10:14:30 am
content: I used them for inspecting engine parts prior to assembly, also for reading invoice numbers and barcodes. The VB DLL was atrocious 10 years ago, always hanging up.Don't recall ever using the serial port, once you get a connection to the camera with Framework you should be good to go. Seem to recall having to set my PC up for static IP addresses, dynamic didn't work for me.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 11:10:38 am
content: yea, i'm using static ipsjust tried it from my windows xp laptop as i wondered if framework didn't like windows7, but get the same results.i can talk to the camera directly, in fact after portscanning the camera i found a few open ports including one i can telnet to which responds with 'System Terminal Driver' on port 5000 which seems to be waiting for commands but without knowing what to type...can these cameras be configured so they are basically locked out from framework application without a password?

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 03:46:03 pm
content: ok, could not seem to get anything from the RS422 port but i found some documentation about the serial protocol.All the commands seem to generate the right responses using the terminal interface on port 5000 which i can access over the network with telnet but no luck with the software.hmm, more tongue angle required i think

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 10:30:33 pm
content: I'm stuck in a tin can factory in Ireland right now but I'll dig my dev stuff out when I return if you've not sorted it by then

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 10:43:39 pm
content: Lol, sure thanks!I will keep poking it in the meantime

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 31, 2013, 10:52:11 pm
content: There's a niggle lurking in my mind that the latest version of Framework didnt work with the earliest versions of the 630... they didnt have enough space to upgrade the firmware. Maybe try an earlier version of Framework

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2013, 07:41:04 am
content: poking around with telnet the camera seems to be running 2.4.6, i just found an installer for 2.4.6 so will try that tonight

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 11:15:58 am
content: @TopLoserOk, some good newsFound and installed the Framework 2.4.6, the same version that i found on the camera and it finds it and all seems to be working, there are 6 products on the camera and i can get realtime images from it tooam i stuck using version 2.4.6 or can the camera be upgraded so i can play with the newer software?

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 04:20:06 pm
content: Updated...ok, figured this out, i found the last framework that had a firmware file for the 600 series is 2.6.4, so loaded that on and wiped what was there so it's blank now.Had a play around with it, i can see how they are very powerful but you need a lot of planning to get the camera setup to do anything particularly interesting. I have had a play around with barcodes, edge detection etci have attached a few images of the framework software that configures the camera.Basically it will configure the camera with sensors and products, products can be made up of multiple sensors to generate a pass/fail condition which the camera can either output on physical output lines or through serial or IP comms. You can have as many sensors and products as the camera has flash space for.Once the camera is flashed with the program all the image processing is internal.The images attached showEdge Counting of the vents on the side of my cheapo bench PSU showing 18 edges (light+dark)Zoomed version of above but now counting only light edgesBarcode of a can of BudSome OCR of lettering on the same can.

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 08:18:32 pm
content: Yes lots of planning needed! Key is light lighting and lighting, I've often spent more on the lighting than on the camera. Nice to know you got it up and running for £25 plus a few hours work, that was a very capable £3000 camera a few years ago!

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2013, 09:57:31 pm
content: Yea i have already noticed how critical the lighting is.I think i will play with it for a bit and see if i can sell it on, else it will just end up on a shelf unused which seems a shame. Unless someone can suggest a novel application?These were £3000 when they were new? Wow, love to see the internals, always like to see the insides of kit thats built to perform and not down to a price. I would do a teardown but they seem to be so well put together i dont want to damage it. Is there much call for them 2nd hand?

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2013, 03:54:26 pm
content: Sadly, as I pointed out before, this is a specialist piece of kit with a very limited customer case. much like high performance production line bar code readers. As to the original price....well it is common for high end industrial kit to cost a small fortune yet to be worth magnitudes less money on the used market. My thermal cameras cost a small fortune when new but cost me far less.That DVT camera was unsold for some time when I saw it. You may get lucky though and find someone who actually needs one enough to buy used. Remember, yours has older firmware so that could be a problem. You appear to be in the situation that I predicted I would end up in if I had purchased it. My garage is full of kit that I bought thinking it would be useful some day....I love fine engineering, both electronic and mechanical. I have spent the weekend having a major clearout and much is headed for the tip now as I have realised it will never be used.

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 04, 2013, 04:29:03 pm
content: Yea, the firmware does puzzle me, the framework 2.8 software manual talks of being compatible with the 600 series but there is no firmware file included. I installed every version backwards until i found one that included it. All the versions included firmware for the 500 series.One thing i have found with selling obscure kit is it needs to be tested and shown to be working, i think i'll do a nice listing with worldwide free shipping. If nobody bites i'll pull it apart!Didnt know it had been on ebay a while, it just popped up in one of my saved searches i use when i want to get something cheap and interesting to wield a screwdriver at. I didn't know what it was until i bought it.Thanks for the replies on this btw

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 12, 2013, 08:10:14 pm
content: SOLD after 4 months on ebay, it's off to the USAkinda disappointed, if it didnt sell this time i was going to do a teardown!

author: TopLoser
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 16, 2013, 10:07:10 am
content: Well done! Any profit is a good profit, even if it takes 4 months!I've got a box full of the chuffing things in assorted unknown states of disrepair, might have to dig them out and see if I can turn them into $$$

author: dexters_lab
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 16, 2013, 10:17:34 am
content: tbh it does look like a limited market. It took me 4 months selling worldwide and my price (£175.00) was way lower than everyone else selling them and mine looked to be in decent condition too.maybe like you other people in that industry have a box of old spare cameras!least it will pay for a couple of xmas presents!!