Product Line
Fluorescent Apertures
When Fluorescent light-sources are the lamps of choice for a Machine Vision application, Fluorescent apertures should be seriously considered for their extra brightness, despite the fact that they have to be semi-custom ordered (according to the aperture's size and orientation).
Aperture lamps are generally 4-to-5 times brighter on the surface than a similar Flourescent lamp without an aperture (opening).
Comparison of: |
Regular Fluorescents |
to | Fluorescent Apertures* |
| In terms of Candle Power Yielded |
1400 | vs. | 6500 |
Comparison of: |
The SUN |
to |
Fluorescent Apertures* |
| In terms of Foot Candles Produced |
14,000 | vs. | 20,000 |
Definition of Apertures
Other than the partial removal of its white reflective-material coating along the inside of its wall to a specified degree, the Aperture lamp is an ordinary Fluorescent lamp. This slot or opening is created by scraping off the phosphor coating INSIDE the reflective layer, end-to-end, thereby concentrating the light in a certain direction, making them extra bright.
Degrees of Apertures Width:
The 3 most common sizes are the 15°, 30°, and 60° aperture; however, the 30° aperture is the most useful, therefore, the most popular. The next most common size is the 60° aperture, but apertures of almost any size can be custom ordered.
Since it is difficult to hold the mechanical alignment between the aperture and the target with anything less than a 30-degree aperture, anything less than 30° is not desirable for Machine Vision applications.
Placement / Orientation of Apertures:
IF the lamp is viewed end-on, and the pins are located at 3 o'clock & at 9 o'clock, then the aperture will be centered @ 12 o'clock. This is true of a lamp ordered from MERCRON. MERCRON's replacement for the Sylvania 48" lamp is constructed such that one edge of the aperture is @ 12 o'clock. The aperture is offset 15°. The orientation of this aperture with respect to the lamp sockets and target area must be noted in Machine Vision applications.
• When ordering, it is important to specify the position of the aperture with respect to the filament pins.
• The lamp's base type should be specified as well as the different orientations relative to an axis on the lamp's base.
General Applications of Apertures:
A single aperture is ideal for illuminating a transparent target by projecting the light from the aperture THROUGH the target into a line-scan camera.
Two parallel aperture lamps can be used to illuminate a common area so that light will be reflected from the target into the scanner. When two aperture lamps are used, a lighted zone with excellent depth of field is generated
Apertures In-Stock:
MERCRON stocks many sizes of Fluorescent apertures, ranging from FA6/T5-D, 30° to FA72/T12 -TB1, 30°. See Chart here.
Note: The "D" and "TB1" above, denote the respective phosphors: Daylight and Tri-band: Red, Blue, Green. See also their Spectra.