Injection Moulder Enhances CMM Productivity With Virtual Programming
Savoy Moulage, a flagship subsidiary of the Savoy International group specializing in the injection of technical plastic parts and the design of injection molding tools, is a reference in the plastics industry. To maximize the quality of parts and optimize its quality control processes, the company has chosen Metrologic Group.
Having a single software solution to streamline 3D inspection is a real performance booster. After fifteen years of using Metrolog XG, Savoy Moulage upgraded to the X4 software package in 2015 to improve its quality control and simplify its day-to-day measurement work. The acquisition of a single, universal 3D metrology software package, compatible with all measuring devices, regardless of brand or application, has enabled the company to perpetuate and transversalize all its measurement programs. As the acquisition of Metrolog X4 took place at the same time as the purchase of a new CMM, the entire database of its programs on the old CMM could be saved and converted to the new CMM. For Savoy Moulage, this was a crucial step, as the multitude of 3D measurement programs created over the years has been the core activity of the metrology department.
Error and Collision-Free Measurement Programs
When metrologists program offline 3D inspection tasks using virtual twins of their environment, this enables the measuring equipment to keep measuring. Once simulated and tested virtually, these measurement programs are error- and collision-free, for a safe inspection process. This is why Silma X4 software was introduced to Savoy Moulage’s metrology department in 2020, to drastically reduce off-line programming time.
A lot of time was allocated to the program preparation phase, which is an important step in tooling development. Due to the diversity of parts measured, a different program has to be created for each new part, which represents a time-consuming task for the metrology department. The company therefore needed to save preparation and programming time. With Silma X4, it is now possible for Savoy Moulage to prepare the appropriate measurement program before the arrival of the part with the received CAD files. Thanks to off-line simulation of the measurement environment, configuration time is significantly reduced.
Point Cloud Analysis Frees Up Machine Time
At Savoy Moulage, Silma X4 is not only used to reduce programming time. Using the point cloud function, the company also performs its metrological analyses with STL files, mainly from tomography. “They use this software as a programming and analysis program, while at the same time saving a lot of machine time, as these machines are designed for production only”, explains Alexandre GOUPY, Sales Manager Eastern France & Switzerland at Metrologic Group.
Reduce 3D Measurement Cycle Tmes With 5-axis Technology
Faster and more accurate than 3-axis technology, 5-axis technology coupled with the power and ergonomics of Metrolog X4 software offer many benefits for Savoy Moulage.
In 2022, the company acquired a high-performance package in 5-axis technology: a Wenzel CMM equipped with Renishaw’s PH20 5-axis contact measurement system, all driven by Metrolog X4. The choice was made for point measurement technology, rather than scanning. Savoy Moulage needs to have points distributed geographically on its parts, in order to translate this into tooling retouching.
Benefiting from a strategic partnership with Renishaw, Metrologic Group has developed a modern software interface specifically for this technology, to improve CMM performance. The user interface has been improved for simple, fast and easy programming, keeping pace in real time with developments in 5-axis technology.
Dramatically Reduced Measuring Times
The main objective in adopting 5-axis technology was to reduce the execution time of measurement programs. After several months of use, the company quickly realized that the initial objective of dividing measurement time by three compared to 3-axis measurement was easily achieved. On certain types of programs, it is even possible to reduce it even further. Not only are points captured faster than with a 3-axis system, but also with greater precision and repeatability. By using Metrolog X4 for 5-axis measurement, Savoy Moulage has opted for the most appropriate solution to save time and reduce costs.
The PH20 5-axis head’s infinite positioning possibilities allow easy access to more features on measured parts. 5-axis technology enables Savoy Moulage not only to go faster, but also to take a higher volume of points on its parts, and thus obtain more detail. With Metrolog X4, it’s easy for Savoy Moulage to manage more data.
CMM Calibration Time Reduction
The calibration of traditional CMMs takes up a considerable amount of time that could otherwise be spent measuring parts. Thanks to the 5-axis system, calibration time for measuring machines has been drastically reduced. On a conventional 3-axis machine, calibration takes several hours, or even dozens of hours when an entire machine fleet has to be calibrated. Now, this operation only takes around thirty minutes. This is a significant advantage for Savoy Moulage, as it allows more frequent calibration of its machines, and saves considerable time.
Savoy Moulage is a long-standing local customer of Metrologic Group. The two companies have maintained a trust-based relationship for over 10 years, enabling responsiveness, feedback and continuous improvement. Savoy Moulage’s metrology department benefits from annual customized training, adapted to changes in their measurement scenario, to ensure the continuity of their business.
As the X4 platform is an evolving metrology software solution with regular updates, the personalized follow-up provided enables Savoy Moulage to keep abreast of market and product developments, and to remain up to date to take full advantage of its use of the software.
For more information: www.metrologic.group
