Positioning Correctly

Mounting the camera straight above the scene is most common and recommend.

It is especially beneficial for imaging large surfaces that are extremely specular, and in particular, also dark. Here you will benefit from mounting the camera perpendicular to the object to maximize the signal back to the camera.

The 2D camera and the projector have an angle with respect to the center axis. This should be considered if it is desired to have the camera perpendicular to the scene.

Zivid 3 XL250 as seen from above. Shows how the camera is angled relative to the projector.
Zivid 2+ MR130/M130 as seen from above. Shows how the camera is angled relative to the projector.
Zivid 2+ LR110/L110 as seen from above. Shows how the camera is angled relative to the projector.
Zivid 2+ MR60/M60 as seen from above. Shows how the camera is angled relative to the projector.
Zivid 2 as seen from above. Shows how the camera is angled relative to the projector.

In presence of strong interreflections from the bin walls, you can place the Zivid camera projector above the back edge or above the rear corner of the bin (see images below). Pan and tilt it so that the 2D camera is looking at the center of the bin. The projector rays should not fall on the inner surfaces of the two walls closest to the projector; they should almost be parallel to those two walls.

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Mounting the camera this way minimizes interreflections from the bin walls, and also frees up space above the scene for easier access for tools and robots.

Zivid cameras do not need any additional light source; the projector provides all the illumination required for both 2D and 3D. A strong and focused light, such as a spotlight mounted right above the bin, can reflect directly into the camera, saturating the sensor and causing blooming in the 2D image. Avoid mounting the camera where it looks straight into such a reflection. To minimize this, remove the extra light if it is not needed, or try slightly moving or tilting the camera. For more on capturing in these conditions, see Dealing with Strong Ambient Light.

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Mount the camera to minimize occlusion if you have bin dividers and/or multiple bins in your scene. Occlusion is especially important for stationary mounted cameras in bin-picking. You can use our calculator to Calculate Occlusion.

For physical installation, check out Mounting Specifications for our cameras and our camera Mounts. If you have a robot mounted camera, you may want to read Mechanical Considerations for Robot Mounting. This article should help you make the right decisions regarding purchasing or designing, integrating, and installing accessories and equipment for robot mounting.

In the following section, we guide you on selecting Camera Settings based on capture speed requirements.