QUALITY


Zeiss AIMax cloud optical 3D sensor is easily combined with automation as shown here, for BIW and automotive sheetmetal applications.


Why Optical Metrology Is on the Move


Recently, the power of optical metrology combined with automation has been recognized. What makes automating metrology operations so important?


Bruce Morey Contributing Editor


M


oving metrology to the process, rather than keeping it just in the quality lab, will increase overall quality and make automation of manu- facturing itself more efficient,” said Robert


Wasilesky of Carl Zeiss Industrial Metrology LLC (Brighton, MI). “Metrology Optimized Manufacturing [MOM] is definitely a trend we are seeing.” He was careful to note that metrol- ogy does not enable manufacturing—it works well now—but optimizes it to work even better. Optical metrology in its various forms is often the best method to enhance automation, according to him, because of its speed compared to other methods. Other advantages of optical meth- ods include their ability to measure without marking or deforming delicate surfaces, such as autobody sheet metal, composite parts, or delicate surgical implants. Another example is to use metrology devices to precisely move robots, increasing their location accuracy from a few millimeters to 100 μm or better.


March 2017 | AdvancedManufacturing.org 65


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