Fast 3D-surface quality control

Inspection is the process of determining if a product deviates from a given set of specifications. Fast inspection usually involves measurement of specific part features such as assembly integrity, geometric dimensions and surface finish. The visual inspection of 3D-parts is a special task within manufacturing that has been automated. Different optical methods for 3D measurement include: the thin-films based laser scanning technique, the projected fringes method, the electronic speckle interferometry, white-light-interferometry, and SEM- and AFM-methods. In addition, stylus instruments and colorimeter measurements are also included. Advantages and disadvantages of different contemporary intelligent methods are discussed, they include: neural net based classification, fuzzy clustering, fractal analysis, and some industrial applications