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Suppliers’ clients today have greater expectations than ever when it comes to the accuracy and quality of the parts that they source, and for shops to deliver to their requirements on time, they need to invest in better metrology equipment. Metrology in recent years has grown beyond just the coordinate measuring machines, even though they […]
Suppliers’ clients today have greater expectations than ever when it comes to the accuracy and quality of the parts that they source, and for shops to deliver to their requirements on time, they need to invest in better metrology equipment. Metrology in recent years has grown beyond just the coordinate measuring machines, even though they remain at the foundation of any efficient quality assurance department.Knowing that faster and more accurate quality assurance is the future of any competitive shop, the question remains, how can you make it a reality in your shop?
CAD Parts Programming – One of the most common causes for backups in the workflow come from the inability of metrologists to program part routines before a part is actually built. That means the rest of the line has to wait until the dimensions come back from the inspections lab, while the operator programs the routine based on a component. Using software like PC-DMIS CAD allows operators to program directly from the CAD model so that inspection can begin as soon as components are ready, without any time delay. For more information on PC-DMIS CAD and training for the software, visit www.cmmxyz.com and find how you can implement the software and train operators with minimum disruption to your workflow.
Laser Scanners – When you’re dealing with large components like sheet metal, probing systems simply take too long to get the job done. A laser scanner, especially one integrated to a portable arm, can gather thousands of data points in seconds, and is also a great way to perform reverse engineering tasks.
Portable Arms – Portable arms are an affordable way to introduce greater inspection capacity fast and they are ideally suited for in-line inspections. As shop-floor ready coordinate measuring machines, they allow you to take inspection out of the lab and onto the floor, even integrating them into cellular manufacturing. While they work well for large components that require a large span and the ability to measure beyond that span, they are manually operated, so an automatic probing system will outstrip them in terms of labor hours.
Better Probing – There are three main types of probing systems: touch probes, scanning probes, and laser probes, each with its own features and each suitable for different types of components. While there are three major probe manufacturers, shops like Canadian Measurement Metrology (CMM) exclusively sell Renishaw as they are the leading performer in probing technology. New Renishaw probing technology (the PH20) also comes with features like inferred calibration, meaning that it uses only one operation to find the position of the head, a process that would take several operations with an older system. Five-axis positioning also cuts down on the space it requires to rotate and increases the size of the component that you can comfortably measure.
All of these solutions are available from quality metrology dealers like Canadian Measurement Metrology (CMM) and will improve the efficiency of your quality inspection. Talk to a dealer today about improving your shop’s processes and investing in better metrology equipment.
