Having worked with video measuring machines for many years, I can say that many first-time buyers focus mainly on accuracy, measuring range, and price. Features like zoom lenses and navigation systems are often seen as “nice-to-have.” But in practice, I’ve found that these two components save not just operating time, but also prevent a lot of unnecessary hassle.
Continuous Zoom Lens: Smooth Magnification Switching
In older machines, stepped zoom lenses were common, with fixed magnification levels that required manual adjustment. For precision measurements, every magnification change demanded recalibration with a standard reference; otherwise, data could be inaccurate. Handling a batch this way alone was exhausting.
Continuous zoom lenses work differently. They use multiple lens groups and relay lenses, combined with precise mechanical movements, to achieve smooth magnification changes. From 0.7× to 5× magnification, you can stop anywhere, and the optical axis and image center remain stable.
More importantly, modern high-end models use stepper or servo motors with high-resolution encoders. The system always knows the current magnification, so no guessing is needed. I once helped a precision connector factory switch lenses. Previously, measuring a single part required three magnification changes and recalibration each time. With an automatic continuous zoom lens, the system automatically compensates, and recalibration isn’t needed. Single-part measurement time dropped from over two minutes to just over one minute, improving efficiency by around 40% and reducing human error.
Image Navigation System: Fast and Accurate Positioning
I know from experience that locating measurement points can be tedious, especially with small, numerous, or complex parts. Older methods required dragging the image on-screen manually to find the right spot before zooming in, which was slow and prone to mistakes.
The image navigation system acts like a “map” of the platform. It captures a low-magnification, wide-field image of the entire stage and matches it to CAD drawings or templates to find measurement points quickly. At a LED bracket factory, one platform held dozens of small brackets. Previously, manual positioning for a batch took half a day. With the navigation system, it identifies all brackets at once and measures them sequentially; operators only need to load and unload parts.
The system also works well with irregular parts. For automotive interior panels or medical components, edge feature recognition corrects positioning even if the part is slightly rotated, ensuring accurate measurement points.
Combined Benefits
I often explain that the continuous zoom lens solves the problem of “fast and accurate magnification switching,” while the image navigation system solves “fast and accurate point positioning.” Together, they make the measurement workflow as smooth as driving on a highway—fast and without mistakes.
For example, measuring a laptop C-shell:
The navigation system captures a full overview and locates the first measurement region.
The continuous zoom lens switches to high magnification to measure small holes and chamfers.
Switch back to low magnification, and the navigation system moves to the next region.
Repeat until all points are measured.
This workflow avoids stopping for recalibration and manual image adjustments, saving at least half the time.
Over the years, I’ve realized that what truly makes a measuring machine convenient isn’t just specs like “±3 μm accuracy,” but the thoughtful design details that improve workflow and reduce effort. Continuous zoom lenses and image navigation systems are exactly these kinds of features. Once you use them, going back to older methods feels cumbersome.
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