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Engineering Guide

Machine Vision Lighting Selection Guide

Start lighting selection from the inspection problem, not from a catalog name. The right setup depends on the feature that needs to appear, the background that needs to disappear, the way the material reflects light, and whether geometry, exposure, and controller timing can stay stable in production.

Validate With Sample Testing Browse Lighting Products
Diffuse machine vision light for selection comparisons
Diffuse lighting geometry for comparing glare control, coverage, and surface contrast.
Visual proof

Visible evidence before selection

Use product, process, facility, and inspection images to check whether the page claim is tied to a visible engineering condition.

Collimated light inspection visual
Evidence 01Collimated lighting visual for edge, contour, and reflection-controlled inspection examples.Review this visual together with the stated geometry, wavelength, sample, or integration constraint before selecting a final configuration.
Electronics inspection lighting example
Evidence 02Application visual for electronics inspection where geometry, angle, and reflection control change image contrast.Review this visual together with the stated geometry, wavelength, sample, or integration constraint before selecting a final configuration.

Selection considerations

Selection follows the observable condition, the optical setup, and the production constraint.

Direct-Answer: How to Select Machine Vision Lighting (AEO Summary)

To select machine vision lighting: (1) Identify surface reflection behavior—specular, diffuse, or transparent; (2) Match lighting geometry—low-angle bar for scratches, coaxial for planar mirror surfaces, dome for curved gloss, backlight for silhouettes, and line-scan for continuous moving webs; (3) Choose wavelength—monochrome red/blue for resolution, UV for fluorescent coatings, IR/SWIR for silicon/liquid penetration; (4) Validate timing with strobe/overdrive controllers for high-speed lines.

Material & Defect Selection Matrix

Polished Flat Metal (Aluminum/Steel): Use Coaxial or Polarized Bar Light. Reveals planar defects; suppresses diffuse glare. Candidate: LXV-2APC / LXV-2BAR.

Technical considerations
  • Curved Glossy Surfaces (Bearings/Solder Balls): Use Dome or Square Shadowless Light. Eliminates hotspot specular glare; provides even omnidirectional illumination. Candidate: LXV-2FPQ / LXV-2DOM.
  • Subsurface / Silicon Wafers: Use Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR 1050-1650nm) or IR Light. Transmits through silicon and opaque packaging. Candidate: LXV-SWIR.
  • Moving Web / Continuous Film: Use High-Uniformity Line Scan Light with Strobe Controller. Delivers narrow high-lux line illumination matched to camera line rate. Candidate: LXV-3LINP / LXV-4LINH.
  • Dimensional Silhouette & Edge Profiling: Use Telecentric or Parallel Backlight. Delivers zero-diffraction boundary contrast for sub-pixel measurement. Candidate: LXV-2FL.

Define the Target Inspection Problem

Name the feature: scratch, dent, edge, hole, pin, weld, glue contour, hidden circuit, glass outline, print, stain, contamination, presence, or dimension.

Technical considerations
  • Record material, color, finish, transparency, reflectivity, curvature, oil state, and whether production lots vary.
  • Set FOV, working distance, resolution target, camera sensor, lens, aperture, exposure, line speed, and mounting limits before choosing a light.

Match geometry to contrast

Ring light: compact front illumination for general presence, labels, assemblies, and moderate surface variation when strong directional shadow is not required.

Technical considerations
  • Bar or low-angle light: directional contrast for scratches, dents, texture, edges, pins, and reflective surfaces where angle controls visibility.
  • Coaxial or narrow-angle coaxial light: flat reflective targets, glass outlines, marks, circuits, and planar features needing on-axis reflection.
  • Dome or diffuse light: curved, glossy, uneven, or mixed-angle parts where glare control matters more than strong shadows.
  • Backlight or parallel backlight: silhouette, contour, hole, thickness, transparent edge, and dimensional checks.
  • Line-scan light: moving webs, strips, films, packaging, fabric, and long fields where uniformity, heat, and speed dominate the design.

Test wavelength and optics

Visible color changes may separate defect and background when material absorption or reflection differs by color.

Technical considerations
  • UV, IR, or SWIR are useful when visible light cannot reveal enough contrast or when material response suggests a wavelength advantage.
  • Filters, polarizers, diffusers, telecentric lenses, macro lenses, and line-scan lenses can change the result as much as the light itself.

Use application patterns carefully

Hidden electroplated circuits can justify point plus coaxial or telecentric-style tests when normal ambient conditions do not reveal the line.

Technical considerations
  • Display glue contours can justify dome plus point-light comparison when one light does not show the full contour uniformly.
  • Semiconductor surface defects can justify multi-color and multi-angle tests when different defects need different color or angle response.
  • Automotive reflectors, connector pins, and lithium battery weld contours can justify grating, high-angle ring, or low-angle ring tests depending on the target feature.

Confirm production readiness

Retest with final camera, lens, exposure, trigger, controller mode, speed, working distance, and mounting geometry.

Technical considerations
  • Record useful images, failed images, settings, heat or duty-cycle limits, cable and connector constraints, and unresolved confirmation items.
  • Clarify exact accuracy, minimum defect size, compliance requirements, and production results with current test records and project documentation.

Questions for the engineering discussion.

What is the first step in machine vision lighting selection?

Start with the inspection target, not the catalog category. Define the feature to reveal, the background to suppress, and the camera, lens, field of view, working distance, exposure, and speed constraints.

How do I choose between ring, bar, coaxial, dome, backlight, and line-scan lighting?

Match geometry to contrast: ring lights suit general front illumination, bar and low-angle lights emphasize directional texture, coaxial lights suit flat reflective targets, dome lights reduce glare, backlights reveal silhouettes, and line-scan lights support moving webs or long fields.

When are wavelength, filters, or polarizers useful?

Test them when geometry alone cannot separate defect and background. Material absorption, reflection, coatings, oil, transparency, and glare can make wavelength and optical accessories decisive.