Hammer-IMS: Making a Difference with Radiation-Free, High-Precision Measurement Technologies

Hammer-IMS elevates quality control and process efficiency to the highest level in industrial production lines with its innovative measurement and inspection systems. Specializing in thickness, basis weight, and surface inspection solutions, the company stands out with its M-Ray technology, offering non-nuclear, radiation-free measurement that ensures both high precision and safety.

Edge-Vision-4.0 CURTAIN: Next-Generation Technology for High-Resolution Surface Inspection

One of Hammer-IMS’s standout products, Edge-Vision-4.0 CURTAIN, is a high-resolution surface inspection system designed to deliver continuous quality control in industrial production lines. Built within rugged steel frames, the system provides long-lasting performance in both continuous and batch processing environments.

By capturing detailed images of products and materials, it enables rapid and accurate detection and classification of surface defects. Its enclosed design blocks out external light interference, delivering consistent and precise inspection results even under challenging conditions.

With its high-resolution imaging, adaptable configurations, and robust operation, Edge-Vision-4.0 CURTAIN becomes a powerful solution for manufacturers aiming to boost accuracy, efficiency, and process stability.

Comprehensive Features for High-Precision Inspection

Edge-Vision-4.0 offers versatile inspection options tailored to various industrial applications:

Anomaly Detection and Classification: Quickly identifies defects and classifies them for quality control and process optimization.

Classical Machine Vision: Reliable and proven image processing for routine inspection tasks.

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Advanced algorithms boost detection accuracy and adapt to complex inspection scenarios.

Material Separation (SWIR): Uses Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) imaging to accurately identification and sorting.

Dimensional Measurements: Precisely determines the dimensions and shapes of products to support quality assurance.

Process Monitoring and Feedback: Real-time monitoring of critical process parameters to maintain optimal production conditions, including:

• Homogeneity analysis
• Uniformity index calculation

Lighting Options for Every Application

Proper lighting is key to successful defect detection. Edge-Vision-4.0 CURTAIN supports three different lighting methods tailored to material types and surface characteristics:

Bright-field (direct) lighting: Illuminates the object from above or the front, creating strong contrast on surface features and textures. It’s ideal for detecting surface defects, scratches or dirt on reflective or opaque materials.

Dark-field (angled) lighting: Uses angled illumination to highlight surface irregularities. Suitable for identifying fine surface defects such as scratches or bumps to scatter light differently than smooth surfaces with high contrast.

Transmission (backlight) lighting: Illuminates the object from behind, allowing light to pass through transparent or semi-transparent materials. This method excels in inspecting holes, cracks, or inclusions in thin films, glass, plastics, or packaging materials.

AI-Powered Quality Assurance

Hammer-IMS is among the pioneering companies that recognized the importance of artificial intelligence in production processes early on. Its AI-supported system performs offline learning using pre-classified image datasets provided by customers, creating a powerful neural network model. This model detects defects and foreign particles in real time during the production of products such as textiles, plastics, or battery films.

Integrated Quality Control Software – Connectivity 3.0

The Connectivity 3.0 software environment developed for Edge-Vision-4.0 integrates multiple measurement tools into a single system, offering a fully unified quality control solution.

• Real-Time Feedback: Monitors and reports on product quality continuously.
• Product Acceptance/Rejection: Automatically marks, rejects, or provides visual feedback on defective products.
• Dimension Tracking: Tracks dimensions of batch-processed items like panels and boards.
• User-Friendly Interface: Controlled from a panel PC or optional stack light, with an intuitive interface for easy operation.

Enhanced Production Efficiency with Real-Time Panel Inspection

Each panel passing through the Edge-Vision-4.0 CURTAIN system during production receives a unique “fingerprint.” Inspection results are instantly displayed on the operator screen (HMI) and recorded.

This enables manufacturers to achieve significant advantages in early defect detection, waste reduction, and process optimization.

Intuitive User Experience and Extensive Connectivity Options

The Edge-Vision-4.0 platform can be easily operated through a panel PC or optional signal light (HMI technology). An independent version is also available, allowing system configuration with just a few buttons.

At the core of the system lies the Hammer-IMS Embedded Connectivity 3.0 software, offering intuitive user interaction and extensive integration options via PROFINET or optional OPC UA connectivity.