>
QUALITY & INSPECTION
comments: “As failure in the field Bowers Metrology stocks a Superturn’s large diameter
of any of our joint and gaskets wide range of Gagemaker gauges are helping to maintain
could have catastrophic financial equipment. Gagemaker’s the high quality standards of the
and environmental implications, groove diameter/width gauges company’s rings, gaskets and
we undertake the most rigorous are able to accommodate seals. “As our new Gagemaker
quality control checks, both diameters from 2.6 inch to 13 instrument is proving to be very
throughout the manufacturing inch and groove widths from accurate and easy to use, it has
cycle of our components and at 0.34 inch to 1.5 inch. Optional taken away a potential
the final inspection stage. rails extend the range of bottleneck from our large
“To help facilitate this, we diameters that can be measured capacity CMM, and is being
frequently invest in our quality from 13 inch to 36 inch. used both in-process, with the
Petrochemical precision
control equipment and having The face groove gauges measured component still
recently identified a need for a accurately measure the ring located in the machine tool, and
flexible and accurate diameter groove diameter and width at the for final component inspection,”
measuring gauge that could be critical sealing point of the face continues Mr Adcock. “We’re
used on components located on groove, whilst the gauge very pleased with the
With its head office and predominantly destined for the managing director, Andrew Taylor our machine tools, we set about indicators display actual deviation Gagemaker products and will be
modern manufacturing plant demanding global petrochemical – continued to establish its carrying out research on the from a preset master dimension. purchasing further units in the
based in Sheffield, South industry. X:CEL Superturn has strong global supply chain and in options available. Having The Gagemaker BX-1000 can be near future.”
Yorkshire, X:CEL Superturn earned a reputation for July 2009 X:CEL Superturn thoroughly evaluated the used for a range of applications,
(GB) specialises in the producing high quality opened a sales office together market, we eventually including the measurement of
production of high quality components for down hole with a large stocking warehouse requested a demonstration of straight or tapered groove
precision machined drilling and both surface and facility in Houston, Texas. Gagemaker groove diameter diameters, shallow bores,
> BOWERS
components and specialised subsea applications, and now Wayne Adcock, X:CEL and groove width gauges from and hole locations. METROLOGY
joints and gaskets. supplies several of the world’s Superturn’s quality manager, Bowers Metrology.” Now in regular use, X:CEL
www.bowers.co.uk
Although serving customers in leading oil and gas OEMs.
the power generation, aerospace After purchasing X:CEL (GB)
and construction sectors, the in 2007, Sheffield Superturn –
company’s output is established in 1983 by present
Inspection on a
4 O T A L — Q U A L I T Y —
C O N T R O L — S O L U T I O N S —
large scale
W H E R E — Y O U — N E E D —
From its manufacturing plant components to be measured, and
U S — M O S T — h
located in Gateshead, Tyne their demanding tolerances, we
and Wear, Express Engineering consulted Northern Metrology and
specialises in the production owner Tony Smith suggested
E V E R Y W H E R E
# O O R D I N A T E - E A S U R I N G - A C H I N E S 6 I S I O N - E A S U R I N G - A C H I N E S
of high quality, precision employing a combination of two
machined components. complementary technologies – a
As a provider of CNC 2.5m Romer Sigma Measuring
machining, precision engineering Arm, linked to Aberlink 3D
and specialist solutions, Express measuring software. Now fully
Engineering operates across a employed, the new combination
number of industries but is a is proving both easy to use and
premier supplier to the oil and able to meet our stringent
gas, aerospace, defence and geometric part accuracy
power generation sectors. Having specifications.”
recently invested in three large One of the lightest measuring
capacity machining centres and arms in its class, the Romer
associated ancillary equipment, to Sigma offers total flexibility through
enable the company to undertake the use of the wireless
new contracts within the communications, optimum rigidity
burgeoning renewable energy and its infinite rotation ability.
sector, Express Engineering is The Sigma series provides total
& O R M - E A S U R E M E N T / P T I C A L - E A S U R E M E N T 3 E N S O R 3 Y S T E M S
now able to machine a range of compatibility with all Romer
parts of up to 2m in diameter, accessories and equipment,
weighing up to eight tonnes. including both contact and non-
Express Engineering’s contact sensors and laser
managing director, Nigel digitalisation equipment.
Davison, elaborates: “In the Aberlink’s 3D measurement
medium to long term, we expect software can be used with
that our planned increase in almost any measuring arm.
business will largely depend on Featuring automatic shape
our ability to manufacture large recognition, a welcome bi-product
complex parts from difficult-to- of an Aberlink 3D inspection
machine materials and in our routine is that a picture of the
capacity to strengthen our measured component is created
position in industry specific simultaneously on the system’s
supply chains – such as oil and computer screen. Dimensions
gas, renewable energy and between the measured features,
4 E S T % Q U I P M E N T A N D ( A R D N E S S 4 E S T E R S $ I G I T A L 3 C A L E A N D $ 2 / 3 M A L L 4 O O L ) N S T R U M E N T S
aerospace. To realise these mirroring those that appear on the
company objectives and help component drawing, are then
maintain our current competitive picked off as required.
advantage, we have recently In essence the ‘smart’ software
made a number of significant package represents an intelligent
changes to our business.” measuring system that is able to
- I T U T O Y O — 5 + — , T D
He continues: “Having automatically recognise and 7 E S T — 0 O I N T — " U S I N E S S — 0 A R K
previously been operating at full define the various features being ! N D O V E R — ( A M P S H I R E
capacity, the first phase of our measured. Aberlink 3D is simple
3 0 — 5 8 — 5 N I T E D — + I N G D O M
expansion programme – an to use and intuitive – so much so
4 — —
18,000ft² factory extension – that a complete novice is usually
& — —
means that we now have room to able to perform relatively involved
E N Q U I R I E S M I T U T O Y O C O U K
grow. To ensure the quality of the measurement routines after just
W W W M I T U T O Y O C O U K
output from our large capacity five minutes product training, the
horizontal machining centre, company claims.
having examined the alternatives,
we purchased a Hexagon,
3 O F T W A R E 3 U P P O R T 3 E R V I C E S A N D 4 R A I N I N G
Romer Sigma Measuring Arm
> NORTHERN
and Aberlink 3D software.
METROLOGY
“Mindful of the size of the
www.northernmetrology.co.uk
www.pesmag.co.uk
Production Engineering Solutions • March 2010 25
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