quality
The MWP Awards and MACH provided a valuable focus on developments in quality
control, metrology and inspection technology over the past year
A measured approach
ONE of the technology path finders in shop floor
measurement methods, Faro has been prolific in its
delivery of new portable systems. The aim is always to
increase productivity by reducing on-site measuring
time. The Quantum FaroArm, for example drew these
comments from the MWP Awards judges: ‘A very
versatile measuring system that enables users to take the
equipment to the job- just how did we check very large
and heavy components previously?’ The device can
measure accurately to within 0.018mm - a fifth the
width of a human hair. This accuracy is now even
sufficient for measuring engine blocks in the
automotive industry - which wasn’t possible before due
to the high accuracy demands of this application.
Using the Quantum FaroArm is very simple; users
just guide the arm’s touch-probe along the surface of
the object to be measured. The Quantum’s laptop
computer simultaneously illustrates the 3D
measurements on-screen and records all of the data. It
creates a 3D ‘blueprint’ of a part or machine
components, making it an all-in-one portable tool for
performing inspections, tool certification, CAD-to-Part
analysis, or reverse engineering. It also offers cable-free
operation using Bluetooth technology. This enables
users to inspect and digitise up to 10m away - even
through walls. As energy usage is not only an ecological
issue, but also an economical one, the Quantum
FaroArm comes with the Auto-sleep mode turning the
unit automatically off after a certain time to save
energy and extend component life. The company is also
offering an entry-level portable measuring arm - the
Fusion FaroArm. This device is available at very
economical price and offers up to 15% higher accuracy
than its predecessor, the Titanium FaroArm.
At MACH Renishaw highlighted the fruits of its
continued commitment to R&D with a range of
products and new training initiatives designed to help
businesses manufacture profitably by reducing process
times and minimising the cost of quality. New products
included the TRS2 tool recognition system which takes
typically less than one second to detect broken tools: ‘a
boon to unmnanned operation, this unit is crammed
with technology to provide accurate and consistent
operation under hostile conditions’ said the MWP
Awards judges; and the RMP600 compact, high
accuracy touch probe with radio signal transmission,
which will reduce inspection times by measuring
complex 3D part geometries on all sizes of machining
centres.
However the best example was arguably the REVO 5axis
measuring head and probe system for CMMs
which can improve inspection throughput levels by up
to 900% on machines previously fitted with 3-axis
Heidenhain’s TS 740
workpiece probe uses
three high-precision
sensors arranged between
the contact plate and the
probe housing to obtain a
trigger pulse through force
analysis. The method
ensures extremely
homogeneous probing
accuracy over 360 degrees,
with precise trigger
characteristics in all
directions.
64 MWP july 2008
scanning systems. Its value lies in its ability to overcome
the limitations of 3-axis scanning methods, where any
attempt to rapidly move the large mass of a CMM
results in inertial errors caused by accelerations and
decelerations. Hitherto therefore, maintaining accuracy
in 3-axis scanning has meant sacrificing measuring
speed. However, REVO uses synchronised head and
machine motion when scanning, rapidly following
changes in part geometry without introducing its own
dynamic errors. The CMM is able to move at a constant
velocity whilst measurements are being taken, without
undermining accuracy.
The REVO measuring head features a range of novel
technologies resulting from years of research and
development. This includes ultra stiff spherical air
bearing technology in each of its two axes, providing a
stiff metrology platform. The two axes are driven by
state-of-the-art brushless motors that are linked to 0.08
arc-second high-resolution encoders, giving fast ultra
high positioning accuracy. A key benefit of this
technology is easier access to features to be measured,
due to infinite rotation and positioning capability.
This year saw Hexagon’s biggest MACH show yet,
with 95% of the products on show having their first
public outing. The new Sheffield Discovery III - an
evolution of the original Sheffield shop floor CMM
product line - offers higher accuracy, improved
thermal performance and a new industrial design.
Mechanical improvements and advanced geometric
thermal compensation algorithms form the basis of the
Discovery III’s enhanced performance. The main
design features of the evolutionary Discovery III are
hardened linear guides and re-circulating ball bearings
in place of air bearings. The improvement forms the
backbone of Discovery’s shop hardened design.
The LSP-X1 - part of the Leitz X-series of scanning
probes - has been designed specifically for Hexagon
CMMs. It will be offered with two different probe
types, the LSP-X1s and LSP-X1m. Each of the types is
optimised for a different range of styli lengths. The
new product accommodates probe extensions up to
250mm in length which - coupled with its small
overall diameter - allows measurements to be taken
deep inside work pieces. The Leitz Micra, the latest
addition to the Hexagon UK range of CMMs, is a
compact high accuracy measuring tool designed for the
inspection of small, high precision components. It
features the miniaturised Leitz LSP-X1 3D scanning
probe system which facilitates single point inspection
and high speed surface scanning of profiles and
complex contoured shapes.
The new ROMER MultiGage portable easy-to-use
CMM - which features a measurement accuracy of
To view a Ceros magazine you need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser and have the flash player 8 or higher installed. To install the latest flash player, click the icon above, install the flash plugin and then click here to refresh this page.