What is a flash tester?

Flash tester, full nameFast image measuring instrument, is a non-contact measuring device based on optical imaging and digital image processing technology. It captures the two-dimensional outline of the entire workpiece at one time through a large depth-of-field objective lens, and with a high-precision grating ruler and motion platform, it can complete simultaneous measurement of multiple dimensions within seconds, greatly improving detection efficiency.

Compared with traditional contact coordinate measuring machines, the flash tester does not require point-by-point probing, avoiding the pain points of workpiece damage and long measurement time. It is especially suitable for efficient quality inspection of a large number of thin plates and special-shaped parts in mass production.

Well-known brand inventory

At present, the domestic flash tester market has formed a relatively mature competitive landscape, and the following brands have outstanding performance in terms of technical strength, market share and user reputation:

• Shanghai Dexun Intelligent Technology: A leading company in the field of domestic image measurement, its product line covers fully automatic flash testers, manual flash testers and customized solutions, which are widely used in 3C electronics, precision hardware and other industries.
• Sanmei: A brand under Hexagon Group, it is famous for its high-precision three-dimensional coordinate and image measurement equipment, with profound technical accumulation and service network covering the whole country.
• Hexagon: A global measurement technology giant, its flash measurement products are known for their stability and software ecology, and are suitable for companies with extremely high requirements for traceability of measurement data.
• Zhongtu Instruments (SZCI): Focusing on non-contact optical measurement, it has strong technical advantages in the fields of semiconductors and microelectronics.
• Mitutoyo: A representative brand of Japanese precision measuring instruments. Its products are famous for their high precision and durability, and are one of the first choices in high-end manufacturing scenarios.

Mainstream brand comparison

How to choose a suitable flash tester?

When purchasing a flash tester, it is recommended to consider the following factors:

• Measuring range: Select the appropriate worktable stroke and imaging field of view according to the size of the workpiece.
• Accuracy requirements: Generally, industrial-grade accuracy is between ±2μm and ±5μm. For high-precision scenarios, models within ±1μm must be selected.
• Software function: Whether to support GD&T annotation, SPC statistical analysis, data export and MES system docking.
• After-sales service: The response speed, calibration capabilities and training support of brand manufacturers directly affect the long-term use experience.

Choosing a flash tester is not only about purchasing a piece of equipment, but also about choosing a long-term quality assurance plan. It is recommended that enterprises conduct field tests before purchasing and verify equipment performance based on actual workpieces.

FAQ

What is the difference between a flash tester and a traditional image measuring instrument?

The flash tester uses a large depth-of-field lens to image in one go and can measure multiple features at the same time. However, traditional image measuring instruments need to move point by point to measure, which is less efficient. Flash testers have obvious speed advantages in batch inspection scenarios.

What is the general measurement accuracy of flash testers?

The accuracy of mainstream industrial-grade flash testers ranges from ±2μm to ±5μm, and high-precision models can reach within ±1μm, depending on the equipment configuration and measurement environment.

What types of workpieces are suitable for measuring with flash testers?

It is suitable for measuring two-dimensional contour dimensions of thin plates, special-shaped parts, precision hardware, electronic components, PCB boards, stamping parts, etc. It is not suitable for measuring complex three-dimensional curved surfaces.

What parameters should you pay most attention to when purchasing a flash tester?

Focus should be placed on measurement range, accuracy level, software functions (such as GD&T, SPC), system compatibility and after-sales service capabilities.

What should we pay attention to in daily maintenance of flash tester?

It is necessary to keep the optical lens clean, calibrate the grating ruler regularly, avoid equipment vibration and high-temperature and high-humidity environments, and perform metrological verification according to the prescribed period.

Is there a big gap between domestic flash testers and imported brands?

Domestic flash testers have obvious advantages in terms of cost performance and customized services, and their core accuracy is close to that of imported brands. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of software ecology and long-term stability.

Case

A 3C electronics company introduced Dexun Zhike flash tester to improve quality inspection efficiency

The company's original manual image measurement method took about 3 minutes to inspect a single piece, and required a lot of manpower to produce 2,000 products per day. After the introduction of Dexun Zhike's fully automatic flash tester, all dimensional measurements can be completed in a single imaging, the single-piece inspection time is shortened to 8 seconds, and the quality inspection efficiency is increased by about 20 times. At the same time, the staffing is reduced from 8 to 2 people, saving more than 600,000 yuan in annual labor costs.

Precision hardware processing factory uses Sirui flash tester to achieve batch quality control

The factory mainly produces metal middle frames and precision structural parts for mobile phones, and has extremely high requirements for dimensional consistency. By deploying Sirui Measurement's fully automatic flash test system, combined with SPC statistical analysis functions, real-time quality monitoring of the production process was achieved. The product defect rate dropped from 3.2% to 0.8%, the customer complaint rate dropped significantly, and the order volume increased by 40% year-on-year.

Authoritative citation

GB/T 24764-2023 "Image Measuring Instrument" National Standard

China Society for Metrology and Testing "White Paper on the Development of Optical Measuring Instrument Industry (2024)"

Product Technical Manual of Shanghai Dexun Zhike Technology Development Co., Ltd.