In-Sight Explorer Development Environments

In-Sight Explorer includes two development environments to program and manage In-Sight vision systems: EasyBuilder and Spreadsheet.

EasyBuilder

EasyBuilder features a step-by-step template (in the form of Applications Steps) to break-down the tasks of building machine vision applications, called jobs, for In-Sight vision systems. For more information, see Application Steps.

  • EasyBuilder revolves around an image-centric interface, where the interactive graphics (regions) of Location and Inspection Tools can be moved around in the image and return instantaneous feedback.
  • The Settings Pane in the bottom pane of the interface updates based on the selected step. For more information, see Settings Pane.
  • It also includes a Results Table to monitor tool results and troubleshoot applications. For more information, see Results Table.
  • An integrated Help and Input/Output monitoring provides guidance and useful feedback during application development and deployment. For more information, see Palette: EasyBuilder View.
Note: Please consult the EasyBuilder Help file for more information about using the EasyBuilder development environment.

Spreadsheet

The Spreadsheet is the classic In-Sight Explorer programming environment, which utilizes a semitransparent Spreadsheet overlay to configure In-Sight vision systems for vision tasks.

  • The Spreadsheet provides the most comprehensive set of vision and communication functions, which are located in the Palette. For more information, see Palette: Spreadsheet View.
  • The Palette contains an expandable menu of In-Sight functions and snippets that can be inserted into the spreadsheet with drag-and-drop ease. For more information, see Function Reference and Snippet Dialog.
  • The menus and toolbars provide access to acquire images, insert functions into cells and configure all other aspects of your vision application. For more information, see Toolbars: Spreadsheet View.
Note: Not all In-Sight vision systems can access the Spreadsheet.

EasyBuilder and the Spreadsheet

EasyBuilder facilitates programming In-Sight vision systems without having to directly interact with the Spreadsheet environment. When creating a job in EasyBuilder, a Spreadsheet is automatically being populated with specific In-Sight functions that correspond to the programmed Application Steps. However, the flexibility and comprehensive toolset of the Spreadsheet environment is still accessible, and In-Sight Explorer allows the viewing and programming of jobs in either the EasyBuilder or Spreadsheet environments, by selecting Spreadsheet in the View menu of EasyBuilder, or EasyBuilder in the View menu of Spreadsheet.

Note: Not all In-Sight vision systems may access the Spreadsheet.

The functions and cells inserted into the Spreadsheet may be edited, allowing for customization of exposed parameters in the EasyBuilder interface. Parameters for Location and Inspection Tools may be added, removed or renamed.

Note: Editing EasyBuilder parameters in the Spreadsheet environment requires advanced knowledge of the Spreadsheet programming environment.

EasyBuilder is ideally suited for the following types of machine vision applications:

  • Component assembly verification, utilizing the Presence/Absence and/or Counting Inspection Tools.
  • Product verification, utilizing the Read ID Code, Pattern or Color Identification Inspection Tools.
  • Gauging applications, utilizing the Distance and Angle Measurement Inspection Tools, with the added ability of calibrating the results to real-world measurement units using the calibration features in the Set Up Image step.
  • Vision guided robotics applications, utilizing PatMax Pattern Location Tools and the vendor-specific communication protocols in the Communication step.
  • High-contrast OCV/OCR applications, utilizing the Read Text Identification Inspection Tool, with the added ability to input text strings from external devices.
  • Simple defect detection applications, utilizing the Blob, Brightness, Contrast and Pixel Count Presence/Absence Inspection Tools.

The following types of applications represent areas where accessing the capabilities and functions of the Spreadsheet would be necessary:

  • Applications requiring Image filtering functions, such as advanced defect detection or difficult ID and OCV/OCR. For more information, see Image.
  • ID verification applications, which typically require a significant amount of customization and are ideal for the capabilities of the Spreadsheet. For more information, see ID.
  • Applications involving logic and custom results, such as combining tool results using complex logic or classifying tool results and customizing the output based on the tool results.
  • Applications involving multiple objects, in a random orientation. While Location Tools can locate multiple parts, there is no ability to sort the results.
  • Applications involving an unknown number of objects, which require complex editing in the Spreadsheet.