Laser Welding Monitoring
Observe melt-pool evolution, laser impact, weld-seam consistency and process deviations while reducing saturation from bright emission.
Automated Inspection and Process Monitoring
Industrial Machine Vision with SWIR Cameras
Improve inspection, process control and manufacturing reliability with InGaAs SWIR cameras that reveal information conventional visible cameras may miss.
- Monitor welding arcs, melt pools and laser-material interaction
- Inspect moisture, material differences and hidden product features
- Capture high-contrast scenes with reduced saturation
- Integrate with industrial interfaces, triggering, SDKs and automation software
Why Add SWIR to Machine Vision?
SWIR imaging can preserve useful process and material detail in scenes where bright emission, glare or weak visible contrast limits conventional cameras.
- Area-scan, line-scan and hyperspectral options
- High dynamic range for bright and dark regions
- Fast acquisition for process monitoring
- Compact formats for industrial integration
900-1700 nmStandard SWIR response
Area and Line ScanFlexible inspection architectures
High-Speed ImagingDynamic process monitoring
Industrial IntegrationTriggering, interfaces and SDKs
The Inspection Challenge
Manufacturing Scenes Can Exceed the Limits of Visible Cameras
Industrial processes involving lasers, welding arcs, reflective metals, smoke and rapidly changing material conditions create difficult imaging scenes. Bright regions may saturate while darker process details disappear.
SWIR imaging can provide additional contrast and a more useful view of laser-material interaction, melt-pool behavior, moisture, composition and internal or subsurface features.
Camera performance must match the process
Useful machine-vision results depend on dynamic range, sensitivity, frame rate, exposure control, optics, illumination, triggering and software. Pembroke Instruments helps define the complete imaging configuration rather than selecting a camera by resolution alone.
Primary Applications
Industrial Machine Vision Applications for SWIR Imaging
Additive Manufacturing
Monitor LPBF, SLM, DED, LMD and laser-cladding processes for melt-pool stability, material deposition and thermal uniformity.
Semiconductor Inspection
Inspect silicon wafers, bonded structures, packages and hidden defects using wavelengths that can provide contrast through silicon.
Food and Agricultural Sorting
Differentiate products using moisture, bruising, foreign-material and composition contrast that may not be visible to color cameras.
Recycling and Material Sorting
Separate polymers, textiles, coatings and selected materials using SWIR spectral and reflectance differences.
Hyperspectral Material Identification
Acquire spatial and spectral information to classify materials, detect contaminants and separate products with similar appearance but different spectral signatures.
Inline Quality Control
Detect defects, non-uniformity, contamination and process drift in continuous production using area-scan or line-scan inspection.
Welding and Additive Manufacturing
See More of the Process in High-Contrast Industrial Scenes
Melt Pool
Observe size, shape, stability and dynamic behavior during laser processing.
Weld Seam
Evaluate consistency, alignment and process changes along the seam.
Heat-Affected Region
Visualize surrounding structures without relying only on the brightest emission.
Process Deviations
Identify instability, spatter, changing deposition and other transient events.
Production benefits
- Faster parameter optimization
- Reduced scrap and rework
- Improved repeatability
- Better evidence for quality control
Research and development benefits
- High-speed process characterization
- New material studies
- Laser parameter evaluation
- Improved understanding of failure mechanisms
Beyond Monochrome SWIR
Photon etc. Hyperspectral Imaging for Material Identification
When a standard SWIR image does not provide enough separation, a Photon etc. hyperspectral line-scan camera can record a spectrum at every position across the inspection line. The resulting data supports material identification and classification in continuous-flow applications.
- Identify and sort materials using their spectral signatures
- Detect contamination or product differences that appear visually similar
- Inspect moving conveyors, webs and continuous production streams
- Support recycling, food, pharmaceuticals, minerals, textiles and advanced manufacturing
- Integrate spectral acquisition with automated classification software
Camera Selection
Recommended Pembroke SWIR and Hyperspectral Cameras
SenS 1920
Full-HD area-scan SWIR imaging for detailed inspection, larger fields of view and precision measurement.
View SenS 1920
SenS 1280
Compact high-resolution InGaAs camera for automated inspection, alignment and production integration.
View SenS 1280Photon etc. L-EOS
Hyperspectral line-scan imaging for spectral classification, material identification and automated sorting.
View Hyperspectral Solutions| Camera | Resolution | Best Starting Point For | Integration Strength | Product Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SenS 1920 | 1920 x 1080 | High-resolution inspection and larger fields of view | Detailed area-scan imaging for automated inspection | View Camera |
| SenS 1280 | 1280 x 1024 | Compact high-resolution machine vision | Good balance of resolution, sensitivity and size | View Camera |
| SenS 640V-ST | 640 x 512 | High-speed process monitoring and OEM integration | Triggering, ROI and multiple interface options | View Camera |
| SenS HiPe | 640 x 512 | Low-noise and demanding process imaging | Useful where sensitivity and controlled cooling are priorities | View Camera |
| Photon etc. Hyperspectral Line-Scan Camera | Spectral line-scan | Material identification and classification on moving lines | Spatial plus spectral data for automated sorting | View Solution |
System Design
What to Define Before Selecting a Machine-Vision Camera
Inspection target
Define the defect, process feature or material difference that must be detected.
Field of view
Specify the inspection width, working distance and smallest feature size.
Process speed
State line speed, event duration, exposure limits and desired frame rate.
Illumination
Determine whether reflected, transmitted, backlit or process-emission imaging is required.
Interface and trigger
Confirm USB3, GigE, Camera Link or other requirements plus hardware synchronization.
Software workflow
Define GUI, SDK, GenICam, automation, recording and image-processing requirements.
Pembroke Application Support
Move from Camera Specifications to a Working Inspection System
Pembroke Instruments can help evaluate camera performance, lens selection, illumination, triggering, interfaces, software and mechanical integration for industrial machine-vision projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Industrial Machine Vision FAQ
What is industrial machine vision?
Industrial machine vision uses cameras, optics, lighting and software to inspect products, monitor processes, guide equipment and support automated quality control.
Why use SWIR instead of a visible camera?
SWIR can reveal moisture, material, subsurface and laser-process contrast that may be weak or invisible in the visible spectrum.
Why is high dynamic range important for welding?
Welding scenes contain very bright emission and much darker surrounding structures. Greater dynamic range helps reduce saturation while preserving useful process detail.
Can SWIR cameras monitor additive manufacturing?
Yes. SWIR cameras can monitor melt-pool behavior, material deposition, thermal distribution and process consistency in LPBF, SLM, DED, LMD and laser cladding.
Are SWIR cameras suitable for automated production systems?
Yes. Appropriate models provide triggering, industrial data interfaces, SDK support and compact mechanical formats for OEM and production integration.
Should I use area-scan or line-scan imaging?
Area-scan cameras capture two-dimensional frames and are suitable for discrete parts or process monitoring. Line-scan systems are often preferred for continuous webs, conveyors and high-speed inspection across a fixed line.
Request Technical Guidance or Pricing
Tell Us About Your Inspection Process
- Material or manufacturing process
- Required field of view and working distance
- Smallest feature or defect
- Line speed or frame-rate requirement
- Available illumination
- Interface and software requirements
SWIR Imaging Request
Send in your requests for informaation