deepanshu472 significantly
I’ve worked with both 2D and 3D vision setups, so here’s my take:
For most day-to-day tasks like label checks, barcodes, or spotting surface defects, 2D is usually enough. It’s cheaper, easier to set up, and gets the job done for a lot of manufacturers.
3D is great, but only when you actually need depth info — like if you’re doing robotic bin picking, measuring volumes, or inspecting complex shapes. Otherwise, it can feel like overkill (and yes, sometimes the marketing makes it sound like a magic bullet).
As for small and medium manufacturers — it can definitely be worth it. If you’re losing money on scrap, rework, or manual inspection, even a basic 2D system can pay for itself pretty quickly. You don’t need a huge automotive-style budget anymore; there are off-the-shelf solutions that are much more accessible now.
If I were starting out, I’d go 2D first, and only look at 3D if my process really demanded it.
