Selection Guides

Machine Vision Working Distance Guide

Understand how working distance affects field of view, lens choice, lighting geometry, fixture design and inspection stability.

Machine vision working distance setup with industrial camera on rail lens lighting fixture and sample part

Direct answer

Machine Vision Working Distance Guide

Working distance is the physical distance from lens to part, and it directly affects lens selection, field of view, lighting angle, fixture clearance, focus stability and measurement repeatability. It should be fixed early enough to avoid redesigning the whole vision station.

Where this matters

Start with the inspection condition.

Choose working distance from machine clearance and optical needs together. A convenient camera location can be wrong if it forces bad lens distortion, weak lighting or unstable focus.

Why projects fail

Confirm the limits that change hardware.

Fixture clearance should be known early.

RFQ preparation

Send enough context for a real review.

Measurement tasks need stable mechanical geometry.

What engineering should check

What this page should help teams decide.

Working distance shapes lens and light selection.
Fixture clearance should be known early.
Measurement tasks need stable mechanical geometry.

Related Deyi routes

Product families commonly involved.

Practical note

Working distance constrains lens choice.

For a fixed field of view, changing working distance changes focal length, magnification and lens availability. Very short distances can create distortion or mounting conflicts; very long distances may require larger optics and stronger light.

Practical note

Lighting geometry changes with distance.

Ring, bar, coaxial, dome, backlight and line-light routes all need physical space. A quote that ignores working distance can select a light that cannot be mounted at the required angle.

Practical note

Fixture and operator access must be included.

The camera cannot occupy the same space as grippers, safety covers, product loading, reject mechanisms or maintenance access. Mechanical clearance should be reviewed before optical model lock.

Practical note

Measurement applications need stable geometry.

If working distance changes during production, focus, magnification and calibration can drift. Gauge-style measurement should control part height, camera mount rigidity and calibration method.

How to test before buying

Use this guide as a pre-RFQ decision filter, not as a part-number shortcut.

Machine vision selection is usually stable when the project starts from the inspection condition instead of a catalog model. Before requesting a quote, define what must be detected or measured, how the part moves, what surface behavior affects contrast and which factory constraint cannot change.

Use this guide to translate the requirement into testable inputs: sample images, target tolerance, line speed, field of view, working distance, mounting envelope and the current failure mode. That gives the factory enough evidence to map the request to camera, lighting, optics, reader or 3D routes.

Decision checks

Three checks before locking the route.

Short working distance

Can save space but may increase distortion, lighting conflict and maintenance difficulty.

Long working distance

Improves access but may require longer focal length, stronger light or larger lens.

Measurement task

Working distance should be stable and calibration-friendly.

Decision table

Use these data points to turn the concept into an RFQ-ready decision.

Factor	Practical rule	RFQ impact
Short working distance	Can save space but may increase distortion, lighting conflict and maintenance difficulty.	Send machine clearance and required FOV.
Long working distance	Improves access but may require longer focal length, stronger light or larger lens.	Confirm mounting height and light power limits.
Measurement task	Working distance should be stable and calibration-friendly.	Send tolerance, fixture repeatability and part height variation.
Reflective surface	Distance affects the available light angle and reflection path.	Send surface finish and glare examples.
Line scan or wide FOV	Working distance must support lens coverage and line-light uniformity.	Send web width, speed and installation envelope.

Application proof

Related delivery routes that make this selection decision concrete.

View all cases

Battery inspection

Battery Tab Weld Height Inspection

Battery tab weld inspection needs geometry confidence, stable position reference and traceability under high station throughput.

Electronics inspection

PCB Connector Pin Presence Inspection

Small connector features require stable contrast, low distortion and repeatable part positioning before a pass/fail threshold can be trusted.

Robot guidance

Robot Guidance Pick and Place Positioning

Robot guidance fails when part presentation, height variation or lighting changes the coordinate output.

Common mistakes

Problems that slow down selection.

Selecting by model number before the inspection target is measurable.
Treating lighting as an accessory instead of the main contrast-control tool.
Ignoring fixture stability, part variation and operator maintenance workflow.

Factory handoff

What Deyi Vision reviews after receiving the project details.

The factory route review starts by checking whether the image can be made stable with lighting and fixture control. Then the camera, lens, reader or 3D sensor route is sized against speed, resolution, interface and installation constraints.

If you already have a Keyence, Cognex, Basler, OPT, LMI, Hikrobot or barcode-reader reference, include it as a reference model. Deyi Vision uses it to understand the application class; final selection still depends on real samples and production limits.

Guide to RFQ

Have a real part, sample image or production constraint?

Use the guide to frame the question, then send the details so engineering can recommend a route.

Request engineering RFQ

Guide FAQ

Questions related to machine vision working distance guide.

Ask engineering

What is working distance in machine vision?

Working distance is the distance from the lens or camera optical reference to the inspected part surface. It affects lens, FOV, lighting and fixture design.

Can I choose the camera first and working distance later?

That is risky. Working distance changes the lens route, magnification, light geometry and mechanical clearance, so it should be confirmed early.

What should I send for a working distance recommendation?

Send FOV, part size, target feature, available mounting height, fixture clearance, lighting space, tolerance, part height variation and sample images.