Screw heads: choose bright faces or bright edges with the light angle
The same screw-head application is shown with low-angle and high-angle rings. One capture emphasizes thin bright edges on black; the other makes the head face bright and the drive recess dark.
Choose lighting angle for the feature that actually drives the decision.
Real camera capture
- Proposed light housing (spec)Ø70 × 20.5 mm
- EvidenceReal lighting-lab captures
- Camera (proposed)2448 × 2048 monochrome
- Field (derived proposal)33.78 × 28.26 mm
Explore it in 3D
Camera and available lens CAD are published models. Lens and light envelopes use printed dimensions. The linked station uses its published base size and column height; carriage, brackets, fittings, parts and spacing are illustrative. Confirm load, travel, fasteners and clearances before ordering. Light paths explain the arrangement and do not simulate optical performance. The part geometry is illustrative and is not reconstructed from the camera image. The proposed field is derived from the printed lens magnification and camera pixel dimensions; actual coverage and focus need a bench check. The illustrated ring position keeps the drawn viewing envelope inside its central aperture; verify vignetting and illumination on the actual sample. Representative part geometry is illustrative, not reconstructed inspection evidence.
Lighting application-lab image sheet
What the camera saw
Cropped from the source test sheet; original test annotations are retained. Captures are not generated or enhanced. Drag a comparison slider, or open any image full size.
High-angle ring: High-angle ring: the head face is bright and the drive recess dark.
The challenge
The correct contrast depends on the task: finding a head outline is different from classifying its drive recess. Reflections can make those features trade places.
How it was solved
The sheet identifies white LS-RNG-0724 for the low-angle capture and white LS-RNG-0177 for the high-angle capture.
The proposed setup uses the high-angle ring for a bright face and visible recess. The low-angle alternative remains available for an edge-focused test and is excluded from the combined kit.
Why it works
- 1
A low light angle emphasizes edges that scatter light toward the camera. A high-angle field can brighten the nearly flat head face.
- 2
The capture comparison demonstrates contrast polarity. It is not a dimensional accuracy result or a screw-drive classification benchmark.
Lighting application-lab image sheet
Evidence you can inspect
The two real captures show different edge/face contrast on a screw head.
The sheet labels low and high angle and says they highlight the contour; no measured classification or gauging result is given.
A lighting application-lab demonstration. The source supplies no customer deployment, defect-size limit, repeatability study or production false-call data. Proposed camera, lens, field, mounting and spacing are not the original tested system.
From image contrast to a production decision
What to validate on your part
- 01
Name the feature
Choose whether the acceptance decision uses outside diameter, drive shape or head-surface damage.
- 02
Test rotations and coatings
Repeat with different drive orientations, plated finishes and acceptable wear.
- 03
Choose contrast polarity
Compare edge and filled-region algorithms under both light angles at fixed camera settings.
From the demo to your test bench
Parts in this setup
LightTested
LS-RNG-0177
70 x 36 mm ring light, 90° (LS-RNG-0177)
High-angle ring in the source comparison; 70 mm outer diameter, 36 mm opening, 20.5 mm height.
$209.00
In proposed setup
LightTested
LS-RNG-0724
96 mm dia. ring light (LS-RNG-0724)
Low-angle ring in the source comparison; 96 mm outer diameter, 60 mm opening, 9 mm height.
$259.00
Separate test / alternative
CameraOur pick
MV-CS050-10GM(NPOE)
Hikrobot MV-CS050-10GM(NPOE) 5 MP GigE area scan camera, IMX264, Gen 2 basic version, Mono, Without PoE
5 MP monochrome global-shutter camera, 2448 × 2048 pixels, 3.45 µm pixels and C-mount. Proposed for a bench contrast trial; the source does not identify its camera. Requires separate camera power; this NPOE model does not support PoE.Not available in the United States. Available for delivery to other countries.
$819.00
In proposed setup
LensOur pick
LS-FFL-1456
35mm, F2.8, 1.1", C-mount, Macro lens (59 mm (-0.7X) to 150 mm (-0.25X)) (LS-FFL-1456)
35 mm C-mount macro lens; its printed 0.25x at 150 mm working distance gives a derived 33.78 × 28.26 mm field on the proposed camera. Confirm light coverage and focus on the actual part.
$339.00
In proposed setup
Camera test stationOur pick
LS-MNT-0097
Camera stand with XZ adjustment and glass tray, height 600 mm (LS-MNT-0097)
600 mm column, 600 × 450 mm breadboard, XZ adjustment, glass tray and two lighting holders as listed. Proposed bench fixture; confirm loads, travel and camera/lens clamps.
$629.00
In proposed setup
"Tested" identifies the part named in the source. "Our pick" is a proposed alternative or supporting part. Confirm colour, optics, controllers, power supplies, cables and mounting before ordering.
The set-up
| Lighting evidence | Application-lab source captures |
|---|---|
| Camera and lens | Proposed catalog components; source camera unspecified |
| Proposed field (derived) | 33.78 × 28.26 mm at 0.25x |
| Lens working distance (spec) | 150 mm at the listed magnification |
| Mounting (proposed) | LS-MNT-0097 · 600 mm station, glass tray and two lighting holders |
Mount the optics with intent
The station is an optical test bench, with its two lighting holders included in the catalog listing. The 3D column and base follow the published height and footprint. Carriages, clamps and part supports are schematic: confirm camera screw pattern, lens support, light fasteners, permissible load and actual travel before ordering.
Complete the electrical system
Select a controller against the exact light voltage, drive mode and power, then confirm camera data/power/I/O cables and a suitable PC. These are not silently added to the proposed optical kit.
Build this system
Start from this setup, adapt it to your part.
The configurator opens with this study's camera, lens, light and station picked. Swap any part, check fit and price, then buy or ask for a quote.
Camera and available lens CAD are published models. Lens and light envelopes use printed dimensions. The linked station uses its published base size and column height; carriage, brackets, fittings, parts and spacing are illustrative. Confirm load, travel, fasteners and clearances before ordering. Light paths explain the arrangement and do not simulate optical performance. The part geometry is illustrative and is not reconstructed from the camera image. The proposed field is derived from the printed lens magnification and camera pixel dimensions; actual coverage and focus need a bench check. The illustrated ring position keeps the drawn viewing envelope inside its central aperture; verify vignetting and illumination on the actual sample. Representative part geometry is illustrative, not reconstructed inspection evidence.
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Make the next trial specific.
Tell us the part size, smallest defect or tolerance, available working distance, material and line speed. Include what a good part and a reject look like.
About this case study: the photos and camera images come from the application laboratory of the maker of the lighting and optics we sell, imaged on the parts shown; your results depend on your part, camera and set-up. This is an application-lab study, not a LumaSpec customer deployment. Source figures are reported results; proposed components require a fresh trial. The 3D scene illustrates the arrangement and does not simulate imaging performance.