Judge inspection station lighting from where the inspector actually works, looking at the real part and the exact feature being checked. A room that looks bright overall doesn't tell you whether a scratch, edge, or raised detail is visible from that working view. So judge supplemental light from the inspector's position, not from the doorway or a ceiling plan.
No single angle suits every station. The check below compares possible light positions on the same task. It then turns what you see into a clear requirement: keep a position you tested, or plan for a light you can move.
Run a Same-View Check on the Actual Task
This is a practical station-level check, not a standardized protocol. Testing candidate locations with a portable LED work light keeps the part, the target, and the inspector's view fixed while only the supplemental light moves. That way, any change you see comes from where the light is placed.
- Set up the real view. Put the actual part on the bench or fixture in its normal orientation. Have the inspector take their usual working position and look the way they do during inspection. Write down this baseline, such as "seated, facing the fixture, part flat."
- Name the target. Pick the specific area and feature to judge, such as a broad surface mark on the top face or the front edge. Now "visible" has a concrete meaning for this trial.
- Look under the current lighting. Note whether the target can be seen. Also note whether glare, shadow, or lost detail gets in the way. This gives you something to compare each option against.
- Try one light position at a time. Move only the supplemental source, using grab-and-go temporary fixtures to reposition freely while keeping everything else the same. For each position, write down whether the target is visible and what, if anything, blocks it.
- Move on when the view is blocked. If a position puts glare or shadow on the target, or if detail disappears, try another position. Don't aim for a set number of degrees.
- Record the position that works. Write down where the light sits for the result you want to keep. If a required condition of the task changes, run the check again under that condition.
If every position you try still leaves the station feeling dim, the problem may be outside the supplemental light. Our guide to checking the whole lighting system covers task areas, light distribution, controls, and surfaces before you add fixtures.
Identify Which Conditions Change the View
A trial result applies only to the inspector position, part orientation, target, and surface you tested. If your task requires one of those to change, treat that as a new check instead of reusing the old result.
Surface Finish and Reflections
Run the trial on the surface you actually inspect, not on a stand-in sample. If your station handles both matte and glossy versions of a part, test each finish on its own when the view looks different between them. Say a bright reflection lands on the target from the inspector's seat on the glossy part but not on the matte one. That light position works for one finish and fails for the other. Record it that way instead of calling the position good or bad overall. For more detail on placement around shiny finishes, our guide to controlling specular glare covers high-gloss paint inspection. Our guide on lighting for reflective surfaces shows how to map reflective areas before you buy.
Target Feature and Part Orientation
What you're looking for affects which light works. A review of visual-inspection literature from Sandia reports that some defects are easier to see with mostly diffuse lighting, while others stand out more with directional lighting. Its aircraft example uses broad area lighting to scan large surfaces and focused lighting to take a closer look at a possible defect. For your station, write down the exact feature in each trial, such as "top face, broad marks" or "left edge, raised burrs." Don't assume a result for one feature carries over to the other. If the task requires flipping the part, rotating it, or having the inspector stand instead of sit, check the target again from that new view.
Turn the Result Into a Positioning Requirement
Your trial should end with one of two requirements. Base it on what you saw on the real task, not on a general rule for inspection station lighting.
- The target stays visible in every required condition at one tested position. Keep that position as your requirement. Specify a source that can be mounted there and hold it steady. This fixed position is the answer for this task, not for every station.
- Required conditions need different positions, or one position hides the target in some of them. Specify repositionability: a light you can move or re-aim between the positions you tested. Then check each of those conditions again with the actual source before you rely on it.
Use this requirement when you compare fixtures, including our LED shop light range. Check the specific model's details for how it mounts and whether it can be moved or re-aimed at your station. If the station is long and the target runs along it, our comparison of linear and point-source lighting weighs task direction, obstructions, and glare.
FAQs
Should I turn off the room lights while comparing supplemental light positions?
Keep the room lighting the way it will be during real inspection shifts. You're judging what the inspector will actually see at work. To isolate the supplemental light, change only its position between trials and leave the room lights, the part, and the inspector's view exactly the same.
Does one inspector's result apply to everyone who uses the station?
It applies only if everyone works from the same position and looks in the same direction. If one person sits and another stands, or their eye position differs noticeably, treat each working position as its own condition. Confirm the target is still visible from each one.
Is there a recommended light angle or brightness level for quality control stations?
This method doesn't use a universal angle or brightness level, because the right setup depends on the target and the view. Research on human visual inspection reports that different defects can be easier to see under diffuse or directional lighting. So a fixed number can mislead you. Your own same-view comparison is the better guide.
Can I use machine-vision lighting guidance to set up a human inspection station?
Not directly. A camera's position and optics are not the same as an inspector's eyes and working position. Lighting set up for a camera can place glare or shadow differently from what a person sees. If people make the call at your station, test light positions from the inspector's view.
