CMM Discovery at IMTS Helps Machine Shop Grow Aerospace Business
As the manufacturing industry evolves, so too does the need for more advanced equipment to stay competitive. No one knows that better than Craig Johannsen, lead inspector and CAD/CAM programmer for EWT/3DCNC, Inc., a contract machine shop in Rockford, Ill., with a desire to grow its aerospace customer base. In business since 1973, the company also sells EDM wire and supplies and provides wire, sinker, and small-hole machining services.
“We do high-speed machining and prototype work. We machine complex parts for defense, medical, and mold and die jobs, and we do a lot of aerospace work,” says Johannsen. “Because the aerospace industry requires increasingly more documentation, we needed more accurate metrology equipment, enhanced documentation, and a better way of entering data.”
IMTS Visit Sparks a Metrology Upgrade
After online research and learning that top aerospace and aviation companies rely on ZEISS, one of the leading providers of metrology technology, Johannsen wanted to learn more. Recognizing the urgency, company owners Jim Monge and Doug Mason attended IMTS 2024 and visited the ZEISS exhibit.
Evaluating and Selecting the Right CMM Solutions
Based on their experience, the owners returned with a positive impression of ZEISS technologies and the company. Within a few weeks, Dylan Coutelle, ZEISS regional sales manager, coordinated a tour for Johannsen at a local ZEISS Channel Partner, Prymetech. After evaluating needs and considering the options, EWT/3DCNC purchased two machines: a ZEISS CONTURA bridge CMM with a touch probe and a ZEISS O-INSPECT multi-sensor vision measuring machine (VMM) with a touch probe, a camera, and a white light scanner.
Combining Technologies for Flexibility and Precision
“EWT/3DCNC makes parts of varying sizes, from tiny, intricate parts to very large, simple parts,” says Coutelle. “The combination of the two solutions provides flexibility while achieving the required tolerances.”
Matching Measurement Methods to Part Requirements
For tighter-tolerance applications and larger parts, Johannsen uses the CONTURA bridge-style CMM because it delivers the most accurate results. Touch probes also work well with reflective or low-contrast surfaces. However, touch probes also increase measuring time, especially with small or intricate parts.
Boosting Throughput with Multi-Sensor Inspection
To improve throughput, Johannsen uses the O-INSPECT’s camera, which can capture many details in a few seconds. When needed, the white light sensor enables non-contact capture of workpiece topography and works well for sensitive (subject to probe deflection), reflective, or low-contrast surfaces, where other sensors make it difficult to use. Most importantly, state-of-the-art ZEISS solutions deliver repeatable, high-tolerance results.
Improving FAI Documentation and Data Confidence
“The new ZEISS equipment has helped me out a lot because I can trust my measurements. It’s easier to create my first article inspections (FAIs), a critical verification process-documentation required for the AS9102 aerospace standard,” says Johannsen. “Having both machines helps us give our aerospace customers the data they need.”
From Days to Hours: Measurable Productivity Gains
So far, EWT/3DCNC has been using the new equipment to measure tolerances of 0.0005” or less, down to 0.00005”. Johannsen has reverse-engineered parts to measure surface shapes and locations, then used the data to create 3D models.
Time savings is another important factor with the new ZEISS equipment. Parts that once took a full day to measure now take only one or two hours.
Automated Inspection Streamlines Workflow
Further, the inspection software automatically creates inspection plans based on product manufacturing information (PMI) data, and exports results to meet FAI requirements. As a result, Johannsen can inspect more parts more quickly and with greater accuracy, freeing up his time to complete other responsibilities, such as scheduling and programming.
Better Tools, Better Experience
“Using the cutting-edge CMM technology creates an overall better experience for me,” Johannsen adds. “Now I get accurate, fast, and trustworthy data. I don’t get frustrated in my job because I get what I need from the measuring process.”
Explore Metrology Solutions at IMTS 2026
To find metrology equipment that you can trust to deliver the results your customers demand, register for IMTS 2026 and start researching the exhibitors in the Quality Assurance Sector. IMTS 2026 runs in Chicago September 14-19 2026.
