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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): January 9, 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 January 9, 2006,  Cognex  Corporation  issued a news  release  regarding  its
expected earnings for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2005. 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 January 9, 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: January 9, 2006                  By: /s/ Richard A. Morin
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                                        Richard A. Morin
                                        Senior Vice President of Finance,
                                        Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer