Electric Switchon Deepinspect: AI-Powered Bearing Inspection

SwitchOn’s AI-Powered Bearing Inspection is a DeepInspect® visual quality inspection software designed to automate and elevate the inspection of bearings in manufacturing environments. It applies AI-driven machine vision to inspect a wide range of bearing types including tapered, ball and roller bearings enabling real-time detection of critical visual defects that impact performance and reliability.

Core Product Capabilities

DeepInspect® uses advanced AI and high-speed imaging to analyze bearings as they move along production lines. The system detects surface defects such as cracks, surface scratches, dents, burrs and similar anomalies with precision, helping manufacturers maintain consistent quality without manual checks.

Beyond basic surface inspection, the product also supports dimensional accuracy verification and bearing ball count validation, bringing greater depth to inspection workflows where geometric integrity and correct assembly are critical. DeepInspect®’s non-contact inspection method reduces the risks and variability associated with manual visual inspection, providing a reliable alternative for quality assurance.

Defect Types and Detection
The software identifies multiple defect categories commonly encountered in bearing production and handling

• Grinding defects such as surface scratches and uneven grinding marks.

• Turning defects including face damage and tool-related marks.

• Assembly defects like misalignment, rust, missing lubrication or incorrect components.

• Optical character verification (OCV/OCR) for accurate text, batch codes and serial numbers on bearing surfaces or packaging.

Performance and Accuracy
DeepInspect® significantly improves defect detection accuracy and efficiency. The product is capable of achieving ~99.5% accuracy in detecting bearing defects, ensuring precise identification of quality issues that might otherwise escape human inspection. This high level of reliability supports stricter quality standards and reduces the likelihood of defective bearings progressing downstream.

Training and Deployment
DeepInspect® requires fewer than 200 good images for AI model training, which minimizes preparation time and data requirements. Model training is rapid, typically completed in less than 45 minutes, enabling fast deployment and validation on production lines. The system’s AI-based approach eliminates the need for labeled defective images during training, simplifying setup and accelerating adoption.

Integration and Throughput
The bearing inspection software integrates with high-speed industrial vision hardware, supporting various camera types (such as area scan, line scan and thermal cameras) that are compatible with industry-standard vendors. It operates inline with existing conveyor systems, maintaining production throughput while delivering automated inspection at scale.

Manufacturing Impact
By automating bearing inspection with DeepInspect®, manufacturers gain:

• Consistent, high-precision defect detection that outperforms human inspection.

• Reduced error and variability compared to manual processes.

• Improved quality assurance with reliable identification of subtle defects.

• Faster inspection cycles that align with high-volume production demands.

SwitchOn’s AI-Powered Bearing Inspection software, powered by DeepInspect®, delivers automated, high-accuracy visual inspection for bearings. It identifies surface anomalies, dimensional issues, assembly irregularities and key visual markers in real time, enabling manufacturers to achieve consistent quality and operational efficiency without manual inspection burdens.