Falcon 300 Precision Video Measuring System Overview
Vision Engineering's Falcon incorporates over 50 years of proven optical experience, in a high accuracy 3-axis non-contact video measuring system. Packed with technical innovations, Falcon delivers high accuracy measurement results in a compact footprint, yet is suitable for both shop-floor quality control and manufacturing inspection applications. 

Falcon provides fast and accurate 3-axis measurement of both routine and complex precision component parts. From simple, single-feature operation to multi-point video edge detection measurements, Falcon combines amazing simplicity with high accuracy and repeatability.

The simplicity of Falcon allows consistent results to be obtained no matter how many operators use the system, so you can have complete confidence in your results.

'Best-in-class' performance
Compact with a small footprint, Falcon incorporates many advanced features designed to increase accuracy and simplify operation, delivering performance normally to be found with more expensive systems.

Falcon includes both surface and substage iris aperture control, motorised Z-axis movement, controllable quadrant LED illumination and both high and low magnification lens options as standard. 

* Non Linear Error Correction
† Segmented Linear Error Correction

 

A powerful but simple video measuring microscope

High specification, yet affordable
Vision Engineering has packed massive technical capabilities into a small and compact system. Falcon has been designed to provide accurate measurement results, without the need for complex and expensive training, suitable for both routine and complex measurement requirements.

Falcon incorporates many advanced features you would expect to pay more for, as standard, all designed to increase accuracy and simplify operation.

• Both surface and substage iris aperture control
• Motorised Z-axis movement
• Controllable quadrant LED illumination
• Both high and low magnification lens options

Focusing on accuracy, Falcon employs high resolution zoom optics (up to 100x magnification) to provide enhanced component edge definition, with a unique indexed camera iris control allowing depth of field to be reduced, increasing accuracy and repeatability of Z-axis results. A large field of view (13.5mm max.) simplifies component location and orientation.

Key features at a glance.

Camera/Optics

Camera	High resolution colour CCD camera with 5:1 zoom ratio
Camera Iris	5-position indexed camera iris allowing increased Z-axis accuracy and enhanced component edge definition
Standard Magnification	10x - 50x	20x - 100x
Field of View	13.5mm (max.)	6.75mm (max.)
Zoom Indexing	Repeatable 5-position indexed zoom

Measurement

Measuring Stage	150mm x 100mm	150mm x 150mm
NLEC* Stage Calibration	Standard	Standard
X/Y Quick Release	-	Standard
Maximum Stage Load	10kg	15kg
SLEC† Z-Axis Calibration	Standard	Standard
Z-Axis Capacity	125mm	115mm
Z-Axis Control	Progressive motorised Z-axis for fine & rapid movement

Illumination

Surface	Controllable quadrant LED illumination for detection of low-contrast edges with high precision - long-life LEDs with 10,000+ hours illumination
Substage	Controllable LED illumination with 5-position indexed iris, for accurate profile measurement - long-life LEDs with 10,000+ hours illumination

Processor

Part Programming	Programme a measurement sequence to measure the same points per feature, in the identical sequence, part after part
Geometric Tolerancing	Easy-to-view graphical representation instantly views pass/fail performance details for critical part dimensions
Image Capture	Image capture (in JPEG format) to either internal memory or directly to USB port

* Non Linear Error Correction
† Segmented Linear Error Correction

Falcon utilises a high resolution video camera to provide enhanced component edge definition for fast and simple measurement, with an array of video measurement tools to simplify the measurement process. This ensures the highest possible accuracy of measurement plus consistency of results, no matter how many operators use the system. 

Precision Measuring Stages
Falcon, complete with Vision Engineering's renowned precision measuring stages include factory-completed non-linear error correction (NLEC) calibration as standard to ensure optimum accuracy, traceable to international standards for the purposes of ISO9000. 

Controllable Quadrant LED Illumination
Controllable quadrant LED surface illumination optimises lighting conditions, enhancing edge definition, inclusions and fine scratches, with an indexed substage iris aperture allowing precise edge contrast of profiled and turned parts. 

Fully controllable surface and substage illumination can be programmed as part of a measurement routine, ensuring accurate and repeatable measurements. 

Construction and Ergonomics
Falcon's robust, dynamically engineered design reduces stress points to optimise accuracy. Rugged in construction, the sealed unit has been designed to cope with the demands of a busy production environment.

 

QC-300 Video Microprocessor
The QC-300 video microprocessor utilises all the benefits of video measurement, providing an array of powerful video measurement tools, yet the intuitive software has been designed with ease of use in mind and can be used by shift workers, or advanced users alike.

Edge Detection/Measurement Tools
The advanced touch-screen colour video microprocessor provides an array of powerful video edge detection tools to speed up and simplify the measurement process, including crosshair, offset crosshair for difficult-to-find edges, manual or automatic single point detection and multi-point video edge detection for measurements both inside and outside the field of view. 

Measurement Results Graphic representation of the data cloud with errors.	Tolerance Displays Translates data intensive reports into visual displays that are readable at a glance.	Automatic Video Edge Detection For improved throughput and accuracy.

Controllable Quadrant LED Illumination
Fully controllable surface and substage illumination can be programmed as part of a measurement routine, ensuring accurate and repeatable measurements. 

Part Programming
Program a measurement sequence once and run it back as often as you need. Measure the same number of points per feature, in the identical position and sequence, part after part.

Geometric Tolerancing
QC-300's unique graphical representation instantly displays pass/fail performance details for critical part dimensions. Results and important measurement data are displayed in an uncluttered and comprehensive display. 

Image Capture & Analysis
QC-300 captures video image (in .jpeg format) to either internal memory or directly to the USB port. The image can then be edited or appended with text and measurement data.

Languages
As standard, QC-300 can accommodate English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Czech, Chinese (simplified) and Japanese.

Falcon 300
Measurement Uncertainty (X,Y)	Repeatable accuracy in X and Y axes, 4µm or better - Uncertainty formula U952D = 3+(6L/1000)µm where L = length in mm, using controlled conditions
Measurement Uncertainty (Z)	Z-axis accuracy 10µm, using highest available magnification under controlled conditions

Zoom Magnification Range	10x - 50x	20x - 100x
Maximum field of view	13.5mm	6.75mm
Minimum field of view	2.7mm	1.35mm
Working distance	91mm	61mm

Video Camera

High resolution colour CCD camera with 5:1 ratio,  5-position indexed zoom and iris aperture control

Surface Illumination	Quadrant controllable surface illumination provided by 20 x high intensity LEDs (10,000+ hours)
Substage Illumination	Controllable substage illumination provided by 1 x high intensity LED (10,000+ hours)

Stage Capacity (X,Y,Z)	150mm x 150mm x 115mm - (15kg maximum load)
Stage Capacity (X,Y,Z)	150mm x 100mm x 125mm - (10kg maximum load)
Encoder Resolution	X = 1µm     Y = 1µm     Z = 1µm

Power

Power supply: 85 - 264V AC 47/63Hz

System Weight	Falcon with 150mm x 150mm stage 24.5kg
	Falcon with 150mm x 100mm stage