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DCM Sistemes DKL3223A machine vision lighting
DCM SistemesDark field
  • Rosepetal compatible
  • Recommended by AIS Vision

DCM Sistemes DKL3223A Darkfield Light

DKL3223A

The DKL3223A is part of DCM Sistemes' DKL darkfield series, providing a high-intensity low-angle direct light that grazes the part from the camera axis to emphasize small cracks, lines, edges and height variations while suppressing glare and shadows. It has a 230 mm inner diameter and a recommended working distance below 20 mm, and is powered from 24 VDC via 2-pole flying leads. It is offered in white and monochromatic UV 400 nm, blue 470 nm, green 525 nm, red 630 nm and IR 850 nm variants, in continuous (Type C), powered/overdrive (Type P) and strobe (Type S) modes; strobe operation requires a VST-series strobe controller. Continuous consumption is about 20 W (blue/white) and the unit is housed in black anodized aluminium with an IP40 rating.

Brand
DCM Sistemes
Lighting type
Dark field (low-angle direct)
Color / wavelength
Available in white, UV 400 nm, blue 470 nm, green 525 nm, red 630 nm, IR 850 nm
Available wavelengths
White, UV 400 nm, Blue 470 nm, Green 525 nm, Red 630 nm, IR 850 nm
Mode
Continuous (C), Powered/overdrive (P) and Strobe (S) modes
Working distance
Recommended working distance < 20 mm
Controller required
Yes for strobe (VST-series strobe controller)
Diffuser
No (direct darkfield emission)
IP rating
IP40
Inner diameter
230 mm inner diameter
Emission angle
Low-angle (grazing) darkfield illumination
Power consumption
~20 W continuous (Type C, blue/white); up to 127 W peak in strobe
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Technical overview

The DKL3223A is a large-format direct, low-angle darkfield ring light: a 337 x 337 mm square frame just 13 mm thick with a generous 230 mm clear inner aperture. Unlike a brightfield ring or a diffuse dome, its LEDs project light at a grazing angle from near the camera axis, so smooth, flat surfaces reflect that light away from the lens and stay dark, while any feature that breaks the plane (a crack, scratch, engraved line, embossed character, edge or step in height) scatters light back and lights up brightly against the dark background. This is why it has no diffuser (the spec explicitly lists diffuser: No) the effect depends on keeping the emission direct rather than softened. The trade-off is a short, unforgiving geometry: DCM recommends a working distance below 20 mm, so the part must sit very close under the ring and the camera looks down through the 230 mm aperture at whatever passes beneath.

Spectrally the unit is flexible. It ships in white plus monochromatic UV 400 nm, blue 470 nm, green 525 nm, red 630 nm and IR 850 nm variants, which lets you tune contrast to the material: shorter wavelengths (UV/blue) tend to scatter more off fine surface texture and tight scratches, while red and IR can be gentler on color crosstalk and suit some materials better. Because darkfield already throws away most of the incident light, monochromatic versions are often paired with a matching bandpass filter on the lens to reject ambient light and sharpen the defect signal. The light is driven from 24 VDC (plus/minus 3%) through simple 2-pole flying leads (BN = +24 V, BU = 0 V, roughly 180 mm long), so wiring is trivial, but note there is no connector or built-in dimming on the lead set itself.

Operating mode is where the design-in decisions concentrate. The DKL3223A is offered in Continuous (Type C), Powered/overdrive (Type P) and Strobe (Type S) variants. In continuous mode it draws about 20 W (blue/white) and can be run from a plain regulated 24 VDC supply for static or slow-moving parts. To freeze fast-moving product or push much higher instantaneous intensity, the strobe variant pulses the LEDs in sync with the camera trigger and can peak near 127 W, but that requires a dedicated VST-series strobe controller (controller_required: Yes for strobe) the controller manages the pulse timing, current limiting and duty cycle that keep the overdriven LEDs from cooking. The housing is anodized aluminium (the manufacturer does not specify the color) rated IP40, with a 0 to 40 C operating range and a 930 g mass, so it is suited to clean indoor inspection cells rather than washdown or wet environments.

Best for

  • Surface-relief inspection on flat or near-flat parts: revealing fine cracks, scratches, scribe lines and surface texture that brightfield washes out
  • Reading embossed, engraved or laser-marked codes and characters (DPM-style traceability) by lighting only the relief and leaving the background dark
  • Edge and contour emphasis for dimensional checks, where the grazing angle makes part edges pop against a dark field
  • AI/deep-learning defect inspection on electronics, metal and automotive components that need a clean high-contrast defect signal
  • High-speed inline inspection of fast-moving product using the Strobe (Type S) variant with a VST-series controller to freeze motion

Selection notes

  • Mind the very short geometry: DCM recommends a working distance under 20 mm and the part must pass under the 230 mm inner aperture, so confirm your part size, conveyor height and camera standoff fit this tight envelope before committing
  • Pick the right mode up front: Continuous (C) for static/slow parts on a plain 24 VDC supply, Strobe (S) for motion-freezing but only with a VST-series strobe controller budgeted in (peak draw approaches 127 W vs ~20 W continuous)
  • Choose the wavelength to match the material and pair monochromatic versions (UV 400 / blue 470 / green 525 / red 630 / IR 850 nm) with a matching bandpass filter to suppress ambient light, since darkfield already returns little light to the sensor
  • Plan the power and wiring: the light terminates in bare 2-pole flying leads (BN +24 V, BU 0 V, ~180 mm) at 24 VDC plus/minus 3% with no inline connector or onboard dimming, so dimming/control must come from the supply or strobe controller
  • Check the environment: IP40 and a 0 to 40 C range make this a clean dry indoor inspection-cell light, not a washdown or harsh-environment fixture; also account for the 337 x 337 mm footprint, 13 mm thickness and 930 g when designing the mount

Specifications: General
BrandDCM Sistemes
Lighting typeDark field (low-angle direct)

Specifications: Interface
Connection2-pole flying leads, L = 180 mm (BN = +24 V, BU = 0 V)

Specifications: Optical
Color / wavelengthAvailable in white, UV 400 nm, blue 470 nm, green 525 nm, red 630 nm, IR 850 nm
Available wavelengthsWhite, UV 400 nm, Blue 470 nm, Green 525 nm, Red 630 nm, IR 850 nm
Working distanceRecommended working distance < 20 mm
DiffuserNo (direct darkfield emission)
Emission angleLow-angle (grazing) darkfield illumination

Specifications: Electrical
ModeContinuous (C), Powered/overdrive (P) and Strobe (S) modes
Controller requiredYes for strobe (VST-series strobe controller)
Power consumption~20 W continuous (Type C, blue/white); up to 127 W peak in strobe
Supply voltage24 VDC ±3%

Specifications: Environment
IP ratingIP40
Operating temperature0 to 40 °C

Specifications: Geometry
Inner diameter230 mm inner diameter

Specifications: Mechanical
Housing materialAnodized aluminium (color not specified by manufacturer)
Dimensions337 x 337 x 13 mm (outer), 230 mm inner aperture
Weight930 g

Frequently asked questions

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