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

                                  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): July 18, 2006



                               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
          (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))


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




Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition

On July 18, 2006, Cognex Corporation issued a news release to report its
financial results for the second quarter ended July 2, 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
-----------      -----------

99.1             News release, dated July 18, 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: July 18, 2006                   By: /s/ Richard A. Morin
                                           --------------------
                                           Richard A. Morin
                                           Senior Vice President of Finance,
                                           Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer