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                                  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): October 17, 2006



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


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


                                One Vision Drive
                        Natick, Massachusetts 01760-2059
          (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)


                                 (508) 650-3000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:
|_|  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)
|_|  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)
|_|  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
|_|  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


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Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On October 17,  2006,  Cognex  Corporation  issued a news  release to report its
financial  results for the third quarter  ended October 1, 2006.  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.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)  Exhibits

Exhibit No.    Description
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99.1           News release, dated October 17, 2006, by Cognex Corporation




                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                           COGNEX CORPORATION

Dated: October 17, 2006                    By: /s/ Richard A. Morin
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                                           Richard A. Morin
                                           Senior Vice President of Finance,
                                           Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer