An improved machine vision illumination system was proposed that used general LED light sources. General LED light source with the package type of surface mounted device, or chip on board was used in the new system. A uniform light system was used to make sure the illumination uniformity when the new system switched different light colors of general lighting LED light source. Based on the edge light principle of the nonimaging theory, a method of simultaneous multiple surfaces was used to design the universally uniform optical system. The system on the premise of maintaining the optical system being fixed can switch multiple light sources without specially designed uniform light source. It ensures the uniformity of target surface illumination and expands the illumination subsystem′s light color range. The comparison between several groups of Monte Carlo ray tracing simulation shows that the general illumination light sources meeting the requirements of sizes can be integrated into the system as long as the light source used in the new system meets the design requirements of sizes; the nonuniformity of the illuminated area will not lead to the decrease of distinguishing degree; so the proposed light source is suitable for the machine vision system that requires not too high energy efficiency and high uniformity of illuminance of the target area.