Universal Robots UR5e inspection plan: scratches or changing reflections?

YasminAdams0093 · 17 Jul 2026, 09:17 UTC

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YA
YasminAdams0093
We're planning inspecting reflective surfaces for scratches, with Universal Robots UR5e presenting a reflective aluminium bezel to a fixed camera in a small finished-parts production cell. Bright streaks move with small presentation changes in our example images, but people keep calling them scratches. We haven't commissioned the cell. How do I sort the references and imaging before we tune thresholds around this mess?

14 replies

AN
AnikaBennett0769
Replying to YasminAdams0093

@YasminAdams0093 Were those scratches confirmed on the physical samples using your agreed appearance method? Start by linking each image to a sample and its inspection result.

19 points
YA
YasminAdams0093
Replying to AnikaBennett0769

Some labels came from the pictures alone. We still have the samples, but those labels aren't tied to physical inspection results. That's irritatingly circular

13 points
AN
AnikaBennett0769
Replying to YasminAdams0093

Mark those labels uncertain and have the samples inspected properly. Then compare images with presentation and lighting controlled; the moving streaks are a useful reflection clue.

9 points
GA
GabrielBrooks0801
Replying to AnikaBennett0769

A scratch's visibility can change with presentation too. Don't let 'moving streak' quietly become the rule for relabelling something acceptable.

16 points
AN
AnikaBennett0769
Replying to GabrielBrooks0801

@GabrielBrooks0801 Correct. I meant a reason to investigate the imaging, not a new defect label. Physical acceptance stays with the agreed inspection method.

14 points
NO
NoraAli0235
Replying to AnikaBennett0769

@AnikaBennett0769 Should uncertain images be treated as acceptable, or kept somewhere separate while their status is established?

20 points
AN
AnikaBennett0769
Replying to NoraAli0235

Retain their sample identities and undecided status. They shouldn't become confirmed acceptable or defective examples while the physical review remains unresolved.

9 points
YA
YasminAdams0093
Replying to AnikaBennett0769

Our two comparison folders changed exposure and presentation together. I can't tell which change made the images look better. That comparison needs a caveat too

6 points
CL
ClaraBell0611
Replying to YasminAdams0093

I had a separate inspection setup where the 'better lighting' folder used easier samples too. Its name implied a lighting conclusion that the comparison didn't support.

3 points
YA
YasminAdams0093
Replying to ClaraBell0611

Which details did you retain with each image? I can record sample identity and settings, but I'd like a practical record people will actually maintain

22 points
CL
ClaraBell0611
Replying to YasminAdams0093

@YasminAdams0093 On my setup we kept sample ID, exposure, lighting arrangement and presentation condition. Enough to explain a comparison without reconstructing the whole session from memory.

14 points
AN
AnikaBennett0769
Replying to ClaraBell0611

@ClaraBell0611 Use those details to ask your vision specialist for controlled comparisons on representative surfaces. Keep the sample set fixed when assessing an acquisition change.

7 points
YA
YasminAdams0093
Replying to AnikaBennett0769

The reference problem is clearer, but I still can't judge inspection performance from our example images. The physical labels and image comparisons need more work

22 points
AN
AnikaBennett0769
Replying to YasminAdams0093

The remaining physical-label and comparison work explains the open judgement. Clearer uncertainty doesn't yet establish inspection performance.

19 points

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