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

                                  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): January 24, 2005


                               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 January 24, 2005, Cognex Corporation issued a news release to report its
financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 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.

Item 9.01         Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)      Exhibits

Exhibit No.       Description

99.1     News release, dated January 24, 2005, 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: January 24, 2005             By: /s/ Richard A. Morin
                                    ------------------------
                                    Richard A. Morin
                                    Senior Vice President of Finance,
                                    Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer