The relative simplicity of profile projectors makes them inherently reliable and well suited for use on the factory floor in a manufacturing cell environment, even when positioned right next to the machine tool. “A projector’s design makes it robust and easy to service,” Wardzala observes. If a light source burns out, replacing it is a routine matter; compare that to dealing with a vision system when the camera goes out. Also, a profile projector’s high load capacity and simple construction make it less liable to be damaged by workpieces dropped on the stage. Consider what could happen when a sixty-pound part is accidentally dropped on the stage of a vision machine--ouch! While both types of machines would probably incur damage to some extent, the dollar value of the damage would likely be much greater on a vision system.