Backlighting problem solved for camera assisted CMM systems

The problem of backlighting components that are to be measured by a camera system mounted on a CMM has been solved by a patented Aberlink system that contains a ring of alternate white LEDs and UV LEDs around the camera lens. The component to be measured is placed on a plate containing a special reflective paper. When a back lighting effect is required the component is illuminated with UV light. Any light striking the surface of the component is reflected and because it is UV remains invisible to the camera. However, any light that passes by the component and strikes the reflective paper fluoresces and therefore becomes visible. The effect of this is that an extremely sharp silhouette of the component is produced, as though it had been lit from underneath. This enables very accurate measurement of a profile. This fully software controllable backlight source, which can easily be used over the whole bed of a CMM, allows the user to automatically switch between top and backlighting on a single component.