================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 Current Report


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): April 20, 2004




                               COGNEX CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


       Massachusetts                        0-17869               04-2713778
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File Number)    (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)


                                One Vision Drive
                        Natick, Massachusetts 01760-2059
                                 (508) 650-3000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
              including area code, of principal executive offices)





================================================================================





Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c)      Exhibits

Exhibit No.       Description
-----------       -----------

99.1              News release, dated April 20, 2004, by Cognex Corporation


Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition


On April 20, 2004, Cognex Corporation issued a news release to report its
financial results for the first quarter ended April 4, 2004. The release is
furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. The information in this Current Report on Form
8-K, including the Exhibit attached hereto, shall not be deemed "filed" for
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of
1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, regardless of any general
incorporation language in such filing.





                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be filed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                          COGNEX CORPORATION

Dated: April 20, 2004                     By: /s/ Richard A. Morin
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Richard A. Morin
                                          Senior Vice President of Finance,
                                          Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer