NeuroCheck Machine Vision Training

Training Overview Nothing is more important than having well trained personnel on staff to operate your automatic inspection systems. In the long run, it will actually lower your cost of operations and provide you with true long-term ownership of the system. This will result in fewer down times and service calls.

FSI Technologies offers comprehensive training on all aspects of machine vision as well as NeuroCheck software. Topics covered range from general product introduction and software programming to application specific training, including all the tools and features for successful machine vision project implementation. For class specifics, see the Course Overview section below.

These are hands-on classes that range from a few hours to a few days. Classes are held in the Chicago area, or we can customize classes for your specific application with an on-site visit. For more information about these services, to sign up for a class, or to schedule a class tailored to your needs, give us a call.

On-Site Machine Vision, NeuroCheck or Application-Specific Training

On-site training is available. This is often utilized by companies who prefer:

  • to train a larger group.

  • to combine it with other on-site consulting services

  • to include some training on the actual on-site systems and solutions

  • to have only their company’s personnel attending the training

  • customization of the training

Please contact FSI to discuss the specifics and we will be happy to provide a quotation.





Chicago area Course Schedule & Registration Information
Course Name Course Name
Introduction to Machine Vision MVC-101 Machine Vision and NeuroCheck overview MVC-102
Machine Vision Overview MVC-103 Machine Vision & NeuroCheck Technical Training
MVC-201
Hands- On & Specialized-Topic NeuroCheck Training MVC-204 Industrial Machine Vision Course MVC-221
Principles, Methods and Technologies of Machine Vision Lighting Course MVC-230 NeuroCheck Plug-In Training MVC-291

For full schedule click here






Overview of pricing:

Please contact your FSI Machine Vision representative or FSI for detailed pricing and registration information. Here is a general overview:

MVC-101, MVC-102, and MVC-103 are free.

MVC-201, MVC-202, MVC-204, MVC-205, MVC-206, MVC-218, MVC-221 ,MVC-230 and MVC-301 are economically priced.

MVC-291 is a specialized course with substantially higher pricing.

On-site training is quoted based on your requirement.




Courses Overview:

Introduction to Machine Vision (Course # MVC-101)

MVC-101 is a short, basic introduction to the concepts and terminology of machine vision. It is typically run for about 30 minutes just prior to the NeuroCheck / machine vision course #MVC-201,or EyeVision/ machine vision course # MVC-205.

This is a beginner course intended for persons who have had no exposure to machine vision.


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Machine Vision and NeuroCheck overview (Seminar # MVC-102)

This is a 3 to 4 hour seminar which presents an introductory overview of all areas important to the success of a machine vision application from inception through long term ownership. Includes an example project taken through inception, specification, solution, programming, startup, and long term ownership, with the specific “nuts and bolts” of each step. Plus a NeuroCheck-based technology discussion.

Machine vision equipment, technologies, tools, terminology and concepts are also covered. Includes a description of the types of functions that machine can fulfill and accomplish, the strengths and weaknesses of machine vision and how they apply in manufacturing processes. Also includes A Manager’s Guide to Successful Machine Vision.


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Machine Vision Overview (Seminar #MVC-103)

This is a 3 to 4 hour seminar which presents an introductory overview of all areas important to the success of a machine vision application from inception through long term ownership.

Includes an example project taken through inception, specification, solution, programming, startup, and long term ownership, with the specific “nuts and bolts” of each step. Plus an EyeVision and EyeSpector based technology discussion.

Machine vision equipment, technologies, tools, terminology and concepts are also covered.

Includes a description of the types of functions that machine can fulfill and accomplish, the strengths and weaknesses of machine vision and how they apply in manufacturing processes. Also includes A Manager’s Guide to Successful Machine Vision.


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Machine Vision & NeuroCheck® Technical Training Course (#MVC-201)

This is our main and most popular NeuroCheck® course, which covers how to do automatic inspection applications using NeuroCheck-powered machine vision. This is a 1 2/3 day, “industrial strength” non-commercial course. Commonly used topics are covered in greater depth, and the more advanced or specialized topics are covered as overviews. There is substantial focus on the use of NeuroCheck software, and highly condensed sections cover other areas that are crucial to project success. Topics include:

  • Brief general overview of machine vision technologies, architectures, evolution and purposes.

  • An overview and framework for successful machine vision project implementation. Strategies for mission and application definition that successfully fulfills the mission while avoiding unnecessary cost escalation. Feasibility studies, application review, review of scope questions and related implementation, project management.

  • Basic setup and navigation of NeuroCheck® software for implementing machine vision applications.

  • NeuroCheck® software tools and their use including image acquisition, asynchronous image acquisition, using NeuroCheck® ’s 54 standard filters or custom filters for image processing, creating / applying look-up tables to images, image thresholding, defining, processing, sorting, screening, counting regions of Interest, template matching, thresholding, bar code reading, deriving object-level mathematical results (elsewhere), gauging color processing, Neural Net color classifications, Neural Net processor use, Neural Classifier use. Creating and passing results of checks as ROI objects, image-level math and other tools.

  • Other NeuroCheck® system features which are utilized for machine vision applications. Password and multi-level security profiles. Creating and exporting output files and data, networking, Check Routine Wizards, operating modes (manual, test, live and automatic) and their uses. Configuring the user interface / automatic mode screen. Use of XML self-documentation capabilities.

  • Brief introduction to Plug-Ins, and NeuroCheck Plug-In capabilities. If requested in advance, a section on how to install, enable and access plug-ins will be added.

  • Implementation of example machine vision applications: Presence verification to check for proper assembly and forming of parts, character recognition, print quality inspection, robot guidance, pattern recognition, gauging, color analysis, surface analysis, and flaw detection.

  • Overview of principles and implementation concepts for triggering and high-speed image acquisition. Overview parallel processing. If requested in advance, a detailed section on parallel processing is added.

  • The 4 methods of discrete I/O control: global, check level, tool level and combining flow control with I/O tool insertions.

  • NeuroCheck software & license media and administration.

  • Introduction to NeuroCheck capabilities for unusual (non-default) program flow control, including non-sequential passage/linkage of input and output objects from and to tools, and conditional branching.

  • Hardware overview of machine vision systems powered by NeuroCheck. Includes various approaches utilizing FSI pre-tested systems and pre-tested building blocks where compatibility issues have already been resolved. Overview of relevant image acquisition / camera specifications and selection including resolution, speed, and comparison of performance and operational characteristics of monochromatic, color and line-scan image acquisition. Brief overview of image acquisition, I/O hardware functions, plant-floor enclosure ratings, and relevant specifications.

  • Machine vision lighting purposes, principles and implementation. This briefly distills and covers the key points of this important and extensive topic. It covers the objectives of machine vision lighting, and how they are often the opposite of just “lighting it up”. Next is an introduction to the fundamental illumination scenarios, their uses and how they are created. This includes the geometry of the workpiece, the imaging equipment and the lighting equipment, and the geometric relationship between these three. Review of types of light sources that are inside lighting products, and the types and terminology of lighting products. Finally, examples are given which combine all of the above principles.

  • Machine Vision lens types and selection. Standard and specialized lenses. Brief overview of this extensive topic.

An extensive notebook, NeuroCheck CD, and a training course CD with example images, problems and solutions are provided to each participant. The duration of the MV-201 course is 1 3/4 days.

A technical starter package is also available is also available as an add-on to the course, or available separately. At the core of it is a complete (extensive) set of manuals; but additional demo & presentation software and other publications are also included. Consult your FSI representative for pricing. Another popular add-on is the book “Industrial Image Processing” by C. Demant and other core NeuroCheck® personnel. Recommended source is www.amazon.com or other booksellers, but for convenience it is also available at higher cost through FSI. 


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Hands-On & Specialized-Topic NeuroCheck Training (Course #MVC-204)

This is a 3/4 day course with hands-on NeuroCheck programming practice for approximately 10 basic applications. Includes extra coverage of those areas that are of greatest interest to the attendees. Also includes practice on other aspects of setup. Pre-requisites are MVC-201 and (for full hands-on participation) a notebook computer with a CD drive; otherwise partial hands-on participation is still available.

A NeuroCheck CD, and a training course CD with example images, problems and solutions are provided to each participant.


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Industrial Machine Vision (Course # MVC-221)

This covers the diverse technical and project management fields crucial to successful machine vision. Machine vision principles, practices, programming, systems, hardware, software, applications, implementation, technologies, physics, and project management. This is a 1 ¾ day course with sections on each area important to successful machine vision, with modules that distill each of theses areas.

  • Overview of machine vision system architectures, configuration and terminology.

  • Objectives, Principles and Engineering of machine vision lighting. Machine vision lighting purposes, principles and implementation. This briefly distills and covers the key points of this important and extensive topic. It covers the objectives of machine vision lighting, and how they are often the opposite of just “lighting it up”. Next is an introduction to the fundamental illumination scenarios, their uses and how they are created. This includes the geometry of the workpiece, the imaging equipment and the lighting equipment, and the geometric relationship between these three. Review of types of light sources that are inside lighting products, and the types and terminology of lighting products. Finally, examples are given which combine all of the above principles.

  • Machine Vision Light Sources Strengths, weaknesses, terminology and application parameters of machine vision light sources.

  • Lenses and Optics Purpose, principles, types, specifications and selection.

  • “A Manager’s Guide to Successful Machine Vision” . Covers project inception through successful long term ownership. This covers the “secrets” of the FSI “Assured Path to Success” roadmap which has double the success rate of machine vision applications from 50% to 100%. This includes development of an application specification optimized to reduce cost while accomplishing the require mission. It covers effective methods and sequencing of the other steps including selection of equipment and technologies, creation of the physical and programming solutions, testing and hardening, and documentation and planning for successful long term ownership.

  • Machine vision software and programming. This section uses two software engines (NeuroCheck and EyeVision) to provide visuals and specifics in all of the covered areas. This covers inspection program and image processing tools and methods such as gauging (including high accuracy edge modeling, static and dynamic calibration, gauging rules) color analysis, neural net processing and classification, , image transformations and filtering, gauging, image calibration, gauging tools, bar code and data-matrix reading, OCR, OCV, edge detection algorithms, re-sampling, print quality inspection, sub-pixeling resolution, robot guidance, surface analysis, template matching, “location” programming for inspection of product where the position and orientation varies, unrolling images. System level programming function such as GUI’s, discrete and data I/O, security, effective software, image and programming documentation, image storage for troubleshooting triggered applications, running and programming operating modes, reference images. Program architecture including program flow and passage of parameters.

  • Adaptation to the full range of line speeds using (where needed) direct hardware triggering, strobe synchronization and parallel processing.

  • Imaging and imaging resolution. Introduction imaging parameters and technologies. Progressive, interlaced, rolling, area and line scan imaging processer covered. Gray scale, single and three chip color imaging. Brief coverage of imaging outside of the visible band including near-IR, IR, UV, UV florescence, and X-Ray. Introduction to spatial and array resolution.

  • Adaptation to factory floor conditions.

  • Introduction to false rejects in automatic inspection systems. Analysis, including the relationship with zero defect automatic inspection. Strategies and specification.

  • Machine Vision accuracy and how to achieve it. Begins with a framework which dispels common misconceptions.

  • Machine Vision Software and Programming.

The course does not cover the manufacture of machine vision units and systems. Nor does it cover lower (library and code) level machine vision programming.

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Principles, Methods and Technologies of Machine Vision Lighting
(Course # MVC-230)

This is a 1 day (8 hour) course covering the purposes and objectives of machine vision lighting, the underlying physics and engineering concepts for design of machine vision lighting solutions, as well as common machine vision methods, equipment and technologies.


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NeuroCheck Plug-In Course (#MVC-291)

This is a 2 day course. Content: Creation of Plug-ins. Utilization of Already-Developed Plug-Ins.
Pre-requisites: Completion of MVC-201, Fluent on writing DLL’s with C++ (only a brief review of key areas on this is included), Instructor approval (based on above 2 items), Bring Notebook computer with C++ loaded, and CD ROM drive.


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Customized Training, with MVC-301 Type Customization (#MVC-301)

This condensed, customized training selects material from any of our standard courses except MVC-291.
Usually it is designed to include the material most relevant to a particular application. The standard length of this course is 1 day. Shorter and longer variants are available.


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