April 2022 Metrology News Magazine
Editors Message:
Are we really there?
Next week the International CONTROL exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany is taking place as a physical event after a three-year absence. Much has happened in both the world and the metrology sector since everything ‘shut down’ in March 2020. With the unabated pace of technology enhancements continuing throughout the pandemic the expo represents the first opportunity to gather all of the major sector suppliers together and for them to present, in person, their many products introduced over the ‘missing years. We are anticipating many new product introductions and technologies to be unveiled at the upcoming show; many of which will shape the future of smart manufacturing as the relentless push towards Industry 4.0 continues. Metrology News will be walking the hall floors at the event and reporting all of the latest industry news as it happens. It promises the be a very busy week!
This month we had an editorial focus on robotics and their increasing role in production metrology. Robotics are at the center of the Smart Factory of the Future; metrology systems and the generation of real-time actionable data, eliminating traditional off-line measurement data latency, will be at the heart of the Smart Factory. Improving the accuracy of robotic measuring systems, generating increased data density at faster rates, along with software advancements to improve programming and overall measuring performances are becoming a critical focal point. I am anticipating robots and optical sensing technologies to feature strongly at the CONTROL event.
Published robotic articles this month included “Software Increases Robot Productivity 70% and Accuracy 50%“; “Smart Guided Robots Focus on Final Assembly”; “Advanced Robotics Automatically Identifies and Measures Non-Conformities During Final Assembly”; “Camera-Based Angle Sensors Provide Robot Independent Accuracy” and “Robotic Gauging System Automates Measurement Inspection”.
We have also been previewing this month some of the new product introductions that have been announced in advance of the event over past weeks and feature in this month’s newsletter all five of our CONTROL preview articles. Over 100 articles were published in April with the magazine below offering a selection of published stories. The complete library of March articles can be accessed by clicking here.
As usual I welcome your comments, news and views along with guest articles – my inbox is always open.
Keith Mills – Publishing Editor
Wireless Scanning Connectivity For Large-Scale Laser Tracker Automated Inspection
Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has announced the launch of its latest solution for automated inspection integration projects based on 6DoF laser tracker technology. The WRTL solves common configuration problems faced by customers setting up large, automated inspection systems by removing the need for a cable connecting the laser tracker and the scanner controller … read more
4D InSpec Selected for Automated Inspection of Edge Break on Aerospace Engine Parts
4D Technology has received and order for a 4D InSpec AT, a fully automated, non-contact, three-dimensional surface gauge integrated with a collaborative robot. This system will be used to measure chamfer, rounding and edge break on aircraft engine parts. The 4D InSpec, which can be used as a handheld instrument … read more
Lumafield Introduces Next-Generation CT Scanning Platform
Lumafield has emerged from stealth launching a groundbreaking accessible X-ray computed tomography (CT) platform that gives any engineer the ability to look inside their products with unprecedented clarity. Every day, engineers make design and manufacturing decisions that put millions of dollars at stake … read more
100% Inline-Quality Control Provided By iQ-One
Austrian solution provider enigmasoft brings quality control into the production line with its new test cell iQ-one. The all-new inspection cell has been specially developed for the automated 3D digitization of components in manufacturing plants. The high testing speed and the intelligent machine concept focusses the iQ-one test cell for … read more
Measurement Technology as a Competitive Advantage
With their latest measuring system ‘InfiniteFocusG6’, Bruker Alicona offers a world premiere to all visitors of the CONTROL trade show in Stuttgart, Germany: The supplier of optical measuring technology continues its successful concept in combining roughness measurements with coordinate measuring technology, presenting a new measuring instrument that scores with its … read more
3D Optical Profilometer Offers Built-In Motorized Rotation Unit
Keyence Corporation has announced the release of the VR-6000 3D Optical Profilometer. This high precision measurement system is designed with a built-in motorized rotational unit allowing users to take 3D measurements around the circumference of their part without having to worry about blind spots. Wall thickness, undercuts, and cross-sectional measurements … read more
PointShape Design Software Creates Parametric CAD Models
DREAMTNS Co., Ltd., has released PointShape Design software that is used for creating parametric CAD models of real-world products from Scan/Mesh data. With a familiar design process and user interface, the software enables users to accomplish their reverse engineering projects easily. PointShape Design uses the Hoops visualization platform and offers the world’s first ‘CATIA’ based CGM … read more
Inline Dual Sensor – Automotive Gap & Flush Robotic Inspection
Measuring surfaces like automotive headlights, windows, and glossy white or black paint can be a challenge for traditional red line laser sensors. Red laser line sensors perform better on lower reflectivity or matte surfaces, particularly on fast-moving targets. However, for specular or shiny surfaces, the red light becomes distorted, resultingresultin in a “speckle” effect … read more
Robotic Structured Light Scanning Cell Inspects AM Sand Cores
Loramendi S. Coop, headquartered in Vitoria, Spain started its activity in 1973, and has been part of the Mondragon Corporation since 2005. Loramendi’ s activity is focused on the design and supply of global foundry solutions: sand core manufacturing equipment, vertical molding machines. Principle customers are global automotive manufacturers ((OEMs and TIERs) … read more
Robotic Gauging System Automates Measurement Inspection
New Scale Robotics’ new Q-Span Gauging System enables do-it-yourself automation using existing gauges and workflows. Quality teams in high-mix, small-batch manufacturing operations can improve throughput and process control by eliminating the bottlenecks and variability inherent in manual gauging. The mobile workstation combines robotic part handling, automated gauging using a variety … read more
Software Increases Robot Productivity 70% and Accuracy 50%
ABB Robotics has launched an industry leading, pioneering software solution to transform speed and accuracy in electronics assembly. Packed with 50 years of software expertise, ABB’s High Speed Alignment software is the first to offer manufacturers the ability to increase the speed of 6-axis robots by 70 percent, and accuracy … read more
Smart Guided Robots Focus on Final Assembly
In recent decades the automotive industry has automated a wide range of processes, including press automation, body shops, painting and engine and transmission assembly. But when it comes to final assembly, automation is still a big challenge. The reason is that areas such as cable plugging, wheel assembly … read more
Advanced Robotics Automatically Identifies and Measures Non-Conformities
When it comes to final automotive assembly, the problem of nonconforming gaps and flush alignments can result in production slowdowns as well as higher rework costs. To address this issue, Comau has developed a fully automated gap and flush verification system that uses advanced robotics and an intelligent vision system … read more
Camera-Based Angle Sensors Provide Robot Independent Accuracy
Visevi Robotics has introduced ViseJoint, a virtual sensor based on machine vision that measures angular positions of robot joints (virtual encoder). All axes of a robot arm are measured simply by looking at them with cameras. Positioning and control of robot arms works purely camera-based, even a robot arm without … read more
InnovMetric Releases PolyWorks 2022
InnovMetric, the independent software development company that empowers manufacturers of every size to digitally transform their 3D measurement processes, has launched PolyWorks 2022, the latest release of its smart 3D metrology digital ecosystem. PolyWorks 2022 offers new key functionalities that significantly expand the capabilities of its three ecosystem foundations … read more
Sub-Micron Gear Inspection Machine Launching
At the CONTROL Show Gleason will presents its latest developments to meet the challenges of extreme gear quality and minimum gear noise. With the capability of measuring gears at sub-micron level, executing advanced waviness analysis and evaluating gear noise using the most advanced analytical tools, make the 300GMS nano ideally suited to support automotive e-drive production … read more
Improving Metrology Results with an Adaptive Measurement Template
Measuring parts that are very close to tolerance is relatively easy. When the features and tolerances to be measured are where you expect them, your measurement device can be programmed using the nominal shape. But in the beginning of a part’s life cycle, early in its design, and during necessary iterations … read more
Gone In 55 Seconds – High Speed Optical Tire Inspection System launched
Zeiss has announced the release of its shearography tire-inspection system. The ZEISS INTACT 1360-X was specifically developed for the inline control of new tires. Separations and air bubbles, but also foreign material inclusions in the tires that are difficult if not impossible to detect with an X-ray procedure, are visible … read more
Sandvik – Closing The Loop in Digital Manufacturing
Digitalized manufacturing enables a closed-loop production that results in increased efficiency, less waste and improved quality. Sandvik has rapidly expanded its digital offering to automate and connect the manufacturing value chain, from design and planning to preparation, production and verification. Sandvik has since long been a world-leading supplier of tools and … read more
3D Metrology Software Paving The Way To Industry 4.0
At the upcoming Control exhibition, visitors will be able to explore Metrologic Group expertise with an immersive experience in its ‘end-to-end’ 3D metrology software with numerous interactive demonstrations with different technologies and inspection devices. Presentations will highlight the ability of the Metrologic Group software suite to virtually program and get the … read more
Control Expo 2022 Preview #1With the most important event in the exhibition calendar for Quality Control and Metrology equipment and services suppliers fast approaching we commence a series of preview articles highlighting a few of the many new and innovative solutions that will be showcased at the Control Exhibition May 3 – 6th May … read more
Control Expo 2022 Preview #2The second in a series of preview articles highlighting a few of the many new and innovative solutions that will be showcased at the Control Exhibition. Optical metrology and robotic solutions are expected to feature strongly at this year’s industry event as smart manufacturing takes centre stage … read more
Control Expo 2022 Preview #3The third in a series of preview articles highlighting a few of the many new and innovative solutions that will be showcased at the Control Exhibition. Optical metrology and robotic solutions are expected to feature strongly at this year’s industry event as smart manufacturing takes centre stage … read more
Control Expo 2022 Preview #4The fourth in a series of preview articles highlighting a few of the many new and innovative solutions that will be showcased at the Control Exhibition. Optical metrology and robotic solutions are expected to feature strongly at this year’s industry event as smart manufacturing takes centre stage … read more
The fifth in the series of preview articles highlighting a few of the many new and innovative solutions that will be showcased at the Control Exhibition. Optical metrology and robotic solutions are expected to feature strongly at this year’s industry event as smart manufacturing takes centre stage … read more
The Role Metrology Will Play In The Digital Factory
The question is what role quality assurance (QA), and in particular metrology, will play in the digital factory? What is changing due to digitalisation and which technologies will be in demand in the future? – Prof. Dr. Heiko Wenzel-Schinzer, CDO of the WENZEL Group, provides the answer. Of course, metrology will … read more
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