In industrial quality control and measurement applications, optical metrology plays a critical role in ensuring precision and repeatability. Accurate dimensional measurement of parts, components, and assemblies is essential in industries such as automotive, electronics, and medical devices, yet machine vision systems face challenges due to physical limitations. Unlike the human eye, which intuitively perceives edges, cameras rely on sensors with finite pixels, making edge detection dependent on pixel resolution. This limitation underscores the importance of selecting appropriate optics.
Two main imaging approaches - telecentric and endocentric optics - offer different advantages and limitations depending on the application. This article examines their key differences, strengths, and trade-offs to help professionals make informed decisions.