January 2022 Metrology News Magazine
Editors Message:
2022 is being described as Smart Manufacturing’s year for coming of age. Spurred by the global pandemic, huge supply chain challenges, labor shortages and skills gaps, many companies now realize they must become serious in smart factory technology adoption to remain competitive. A company must embrace digital transformation at full speed across its full range of manufacturing processes and systems. Metrology, its associated measuring equipment, data collection software and data analytics are centric to smart manufacturing and therefore the metrology sector can look forward to a very dynamic and vibrant business climate going forward. We are witnessing a stream of start-up’s entering the field, strategic partnerships between established companies, and a continuous flow of acquisitions providing for a vibrant and dynamic sector.
Metrology’s role in digitized factories is to continuously collect and share data through inter-connected devices, machines, and production processes to support digital production at every stage. To achieve the objectives of the ‘smart factory’, manufacturers must evolve their processes to close gaps in inspection-related data at every stage in production. Metrology also has an important role in providing manufacturers greater visibility of its entire supply chain, including third party suppliers.
Fittingly this month the editorial focus of Metrology News has been Smart Manufacturing along with Computed Tomography. In what traditionally is a slow month, January proved to be anything but this year, with plenty of interesting news stories reaching our desk and over 80 articles published. We feature in the January magazine a selection of published Smart Manufacturing stories including ‘What is a Smart Factory’, ‘How AI is Enabling Self-Learning Factories’ along with ‘Using X-ray Computed Tomography for Dimensional Metrology‘, ‘Managing Quality of Cast Components With Computed Tomography’, ‘X-ray CT Scanning Ensures Highest Production Quality’.
During the holiday break we updated the Events Section on the Metrology News site listing the most significant global events for 2022. During January however, such is the current COVID situation, we published announcements from several Trade Show organizers in Europe postponing planned exhibitions scheduled for April/May until June. We expect to hear of more event deferments in coming weeks. Certainly there is no shortage of hotel rooms availability for major events as potential visitors hold-off making travel arrangements in these still challenging times.
The complete library of January articles can be accessed by clicking here.
As usual I welcome your comments, news and views – my inbox is always open.
Keith Mills – Publishing Editor
In essence, a smart factory is a highly digitized production facility that relies on fully integrated, collaborative manufacturing systems that can respond in real-time to changing and dynamic conditions. Additionally, the actual manufacturing processes are enhanced, and the product significantly improved through the adoption of emerging technologies … read more
Cloud, Edge and 5G Technologies Bring Smart Factories To Life
What if you could not only predict the future but correct events before they go awry? Like performing automatic, on-the-road maintenance on your car before it ever breaks down? Or stopping yourself from saying the wrong thing in a meeting by predicting the audience’s reaction? Industry 4.0 promises to do just that … read more
Driving Supply Chain Compliance Forward With Blockchain
In the first tenth of a second of a front-end crash, your bumper deforms. In the next instant, your hood crumples. Airbags explode open. Your seat belt stretches to slow your body down. In less than a second, you and the car have stopped moving forward … read more
How AI Is Enabling Self-Learning Factories
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming one of the most important enablers of autonomous systems. But in order to become more widely used, it has to be industrial-grade. The message was startling: “Porsche’s electric Taycan overtakes the classic 911.” That headline appeared in October 2021 in the German weekly Der Spiegel … read more
3DEXPERIENCE Platform Collaboration To Provide Cloud Virtual Twin
Dassault Systèmes and Renault Group announced they are reinforcing their 20-year collaboration with a new partnership contributing to Renault Group’s strategic plan “Renaulution” focused on value creation. In a first-of-a-kind deployment for an industrial company of this scale, Renault is adopting Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE … read more
Real-Time Equipment AI Adjustments Set To Improve Manufacturing Quality and Productivity
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and the Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has announced that they have developed an AI technology that predicts changes during automated manufacturing processes and then makes real-time adjustments in factory-automation (FA) equipment during operation. In addition to eliminating the need for time-consuming manual adjustments … read more
Collaboration To Deliver 5G Mobile Edge Computing To Smart Factory
Verizon and Google Cloud have announced they are working together to bring the power of the cloud closer to mobile and connected devices at the edge of Verizon’s network. With Verizon 5G Edge with Google Distributed Cloud Edge, Verizon plans to bring Google’s compute and storage services to the edge to the edge of the local network … read more
CNC Machine Shop Brings iSMART Factory To Life
A precision engineering firm that prides itself on investing in state-of-the-art technology has transformed its workshop with iSMART Factory solutions from Mazak, providing a digitalized Industry 4.0 network connecting all of its machines. “We’ve always been a company that have looked to adopt cutting-edge practices to increase our machining capacity … read more
Smart Solution Digitalizes and Optimizes Operational Processes
Crate.io, an enterprise data management company that enables data insights at scale, recently announced the launch of CrateOM, a smart solution that transforms process data into actionable insights. CrateOM runs in the cloud, at the edge or in a hybrid environment. By enabling digital transformation through real-time insights and in-app communications … read more
Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing: Real World Success Stories and Lessons Learned
For manufacturers, artificial intelligence (AI) can be a game changer. Greater efficiencies, lower costs, improved quality and reduced downtime are just some of the potential benefits. This technology is not only for large manufacturers. High-value, cost-effective AI solutions are more accessible than many smaller manufacturers realize … read more
Delivering Smart Coordinate Metrology Solutions Supporting Quality 4.0
Metrology News recently sat down with Dr. Heike Wenzel, CEO Wenzel Group, for a discussion on the future role of three dimensional coordinate metrology in the new era of smart factories and seamlessly integrated manufacturing processes. Q: The era of Smart Manufacturing is upon us. How do you see the role role of the Coordinate Measuring Machine changing … read more
Automotive OEM Reduces BIW Inspection Time Seven Fold
Metrologic Group specializes in integrated 3D measurement software solutions, universal and compatible with all measurement technologies on the market and a major player in the automotive industry, have recently carried out a joint project to automate and standardize a multi-robot measurement system, connected to an automotive manufacturing line … read more
Using X-ray Computed Tomography for Dimensional Metrology
X-ray computed tomography (CT) has successfully entered the field of coordinate metrology as an innovative and flexible non-contact measurement technology for performing dimensional measurements on industrial parts. It provides unique advantages compared to conventional tactile and optical coordinate measuring machines … read more
Managing Quality of Cast Components With Computed Tomography
Metal casting in its many forms has been around for thousands of years, but it is by no means outdated. Steady improvements to the casting process itself and to the materials used have made sure that there still is really no match when it comes to reliably producing large numbers of complexly shaped metal parts … read more
X-Ray CT Scanning Ensures Highest Production Quality
X-ray computed tomography is a well-known method in medical diagnostics; however, an increasing number of industries, including automotive, are discovering that X-ray CT scanning is a vital tool to ensure the highest quality in production of industrial components such as machine parts, cast metal and compounds as well as plastic … read more
Computed Tomography Analyzes Skeletonist Helmet
Up to 140 kilometers per hour, head first, body just inches above the ice and competition from the best racers. This awaits multiple world champion Anna Fernstädtová at the upcoming games in Beijing. The helmet developed in cooperation between the company of downhill driver Ondřej Bank (Vagus) and the company One3D should … read more
Additive Manufacturing – New Frontiers For Production & Validation
Over the last few decades, additive manufacturing (AM) / 3D printing has fundamentally changed the way that manufacturers approach product development. Industry is now almost universally aware of the term rapid prototyping, using AM to convert 3D CAD data into physical models in a matter of hours. The role of AM in prototyping … read more
The World of Physical Automotive Model Making
The Česana design centre is one of ŠKODA’s most secret workplaces. It is here that models of future cars or concepts for exhibitions are created. In the case of mass-produced models, the cars are actually created here years before they first appear in public. Once the modelers’ work on a particular car is done, the result remains secret … read more
Adaptive Machining Using Metrology Data Takes Flight At Leading Aircraft Manufacturer
AAT’s CAPPSNC CAD-based online and offline dimensional measurement software is allowing aircraft manufacturers to adapt and program any machine tool as a CMM with integrated capability providing real time feedback for adaptive manufacturing. For 30 years, AAT has been a leader in on-machine metrology to improve precision manufacturing processes … read more
Optical Metrology Guides Automated Aircraft Assembly With Machine Learning
Aircraft operation is responsible for the lion’s share of emissions and resource consumption in aviation. To make flying more environmentally friendly and climate-friendly in the future, not only the aircraft but also production, maintenance and repair should be optimized. In the Hi-Digit-Pro 4.0 project, researchers from TU Braunschweig and DLR … read more
New Bluetooth Ballbar Improves Machine Tool Diagnostics
Building on the success of the Renishaw’s QC20-W ballbar system, the new replacement QC20 ballbar has been carefully designed to meet the needs of the modern machine shop. The quickest, easiest, and most effective way to monitor machine tool performance has been improved with the QC20 ballbar … read more
Achieving Highest Accuracy of Industrial Robots
Robots, once manufactured, need to be calibrated for accuracy and specific alignment per their design. This is a critical process. So, when Advanced Manufacturing Technology Development Centre (AMTDC) designed and developed two robots which needed to have the design, accuracy, and tolerances of the builds verified. After traditional calibration methods … read more
Nikon Announces Dynamic Visual Acuity For Robots
“The fusion of robots and vision systems will bring a paradigm shift to manufacturing” stated Nikon at the introduction of it Robot Vision system development at CES 2022. Nikon’s robot vision can make robot movements extremely fast, accurate, and flexible. “Nikon will contribute to the development of robotics by making full use of its developed camera … read more
Why a Measuring Probe is First Tool You Should Load into a Machine’s Spindle
On-machine probing is particularly critical for Mazak customer Jasper Engines and Transmissions. The shop’s Mazak HCN 6800 Horizontal Machining Center processes families of engine cylinder heads, and the parts can look similar, but involve very different dimensions. For this reason, the first tool Jasper Engines and Transmissions runs is a … read more
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