The manufacturing industry is placing increasingly higher demands on dispensing machines, requiring accuracy, stability, and intelligence. Based on whether they utilize machine vision, there are primarily these two types. So, what exactly are the differences between them?
Below, we'll briefly discuss their differences in terms of working method, advantages, and applicable products.
I. Different Working Methods?
1. Non-Visual Dispensing Machines
This method is more traditional, relying on mechanical positioning and pre-set paths for dispensing.
Before production, fixtures, stops, or manual teaching are used to fix the product position and path.
Characteristics:
Fixed path;
High requirements for product placement consistency;
Cannot recognize deviations or automatically correct them.
If the product is misplaced, rotated, or has dimensional tolerances, the dispensing effect is easily affected.
2. Visual Dispensing Machines
This adds an industrial camera, light source, and vision algorithms to the traditional dispensing process. Before dispensing, the machine "looks" at the product, identifies the actual position, angle, and features through photography, and automatically adjusts the dispensing path.
The process is roughly:
Camera takes a picture;
Vision system identifies features;
System automatically corrects the position;
Precise dispensing is completed.
With the added "seeing" step, stable dispensing is possible even if the products are not perfectly aligned.
II. What are their respective advantages?
1. Advantages of Non-Visual Dispensing Machines
Simple structure, no vision system, lower cost, suitable for projects with limited budgets.
Intuitive operation and programming, simple debugging and maintenance, and low technical requirements for personnel.
Not affected by light, reflections, and other factors, and has lower environmental requirements.
2. Advantages of Visual Dispensing Machines
The biggest advantage is "accuracy."
Visual positioning and automatic correction result in more precise dispensing positions and better product consistency.
Can automatically recognize product displacement and rotation, reducing manual adjustments and making the process more stable.
When changing products or orders, switching visual templates allows for quick adaptation, improving efficiency.
With stable positioning, the cycle time is also stable, suitable for long-term mass production.
In addition, visual positioning reduces the reliance on high-precision fixtures, saving considerable fixture costs in the long run.
III. What products are they suitable for?
1. Products Suitable for Non-Visual Dispensing Machines
Suitable for products with simple structures, consistent materials, and less stringent accuracy requirements.
For example:
Dispensing for home appliance structural components;
Ordinary LED packaging;
Medium and low-precision electronic modules;
Sealing and fixing dispensing for plastic parts.
2. Products Suitable for Visual Dispensing Machines
Suitable for products requiring high precision, stability, and flexibility, especially small parts, complex structures, or situations where the position is not fixed.
For example:
Consumer electronics such as mobile phones and tablets;
Precision product dispensing;
New energy batteries and automotive electronics;
Metal nameplates, precision badges, high-end commemorative coins, and craft jewelry.
IV. How to Choose the Right Equipment?
When choosing equipment, consider these aspects:
Dispensing accuracy requirements;
Product consistency;
Feeding method;
Production cycle time;
Budget;
Whether you will need to change products or upgrade the production line in the future.
In general, if you prioritize cost control and stable mass production, Non-Visual Dispensing Machines are more suitable; if you are more concerned with precision, yield, and production flexibility, Visual Dispensing Machines will be more appropriate.
V. Summary
Visual Dispensing Machines and Non-Visual Dispensing Machines are not simply a matter of high-end versus low-end, but rather two different solutions for different products and needs. As manufacturing moves towards higher precision and greater intelligence, Visual Dispensing Machines will become increasingly common.
If you are considering upgrading your dispensing process, WELDO's Visual Dispensing Machines are a worthwhile option.
Only by choosing the right equipment based on product characteristics can you control costs while ensuring high product quality.
