QUALITY
for Jenoptik (Rochester Hills, MI). Jenoptik provides a wide range of metrology sensors, primarily but not exclusively for in-process control. These range from air gauges and contact gauging as well as advanced, high-speed optical sensors. “Each has its place. Optical techniques tend not to work well in environments that are dirty or oily, however optical is far more fl exible and is especially useful when the parts cannot be touched, or when you need speed,” he said.
sors, illumination, automation, and software that helps us detect even the smallest defects in surfaces and on parts,” he said. Detecting surface fl aws in the bores of engine cylinders is especially important with today’s focus on fuel economy and emissions. The advent of plasma sprayed bores replacing thicker and heavier steel sleeves in alumi- num blocks makes surface fl aw detection especially im- portant. “Our IPS line bore sensors are available in different bore sizes, from 4 to 150 mm, depending on the kind of sen- sor one would use,” Blind said. “They can detect fl aws down to 30 μm, and are usually automat- ed, though they are available in semi-automated versions as well,” he said. He noted that au- tomation is especially important to the automotive sector. “Eighty percent of our equipment is currently going to automotive,” he said.
New Sensors, More Automation Another unpleasant reality
The 360º Flexible Measurement Cell (360º FMC) is the fi rst automated measurement workcell to seamlessly deliver all four pillars of automation in one solution: fl exibility, footprint, through- put and performance. It was developed by Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Integrated Solutions Business Unit.
Jenoptik’s Opticline series of devices is a good example of a technique—a shadowgraph—packaged into a high-speed automated cabinet for measuring shafts. Shadowgraph sys- tems are ideal for measuring rotating parts, even ones that are not axisymmetric, such as camshafts and crankshafts. The company notes there are over 2500 Opticline systems installed worldwide, in a variety of sizes and capabilities for measuring large or small pieces. For example, there are a series of Opticline stations with statistical process control (SPC) interfaces for rapid monitoring using the SPC system of choice for that factory. Accuracies are reported as MPe and are as good as (1.5 +L/200) μm for measuring diameters with a measuring speed as fast as 80 mm/s. Another important function of optical in-process control is surface fl aw detection, according to Blind. “Our Op- tisense technology uses a combination of unique sen-
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for metrology providers is that quality checks can often be viewed as an expense, simply lost time in production. That is according to Stefan Scherer, president and CEO for Alicona
(Graz, Austria). He said metrology can add value. “If we are able to show that they can adapt their manufacturing process using metrology to proactively improve manufac- turing and make it more fl exible, we think that will make a big difference.” He especially believes the results from metrology are vital in the growing Smart Manufacturing or Industry 4.0 movement. “We need to give machines a smart eye,” he stated.
Alicona is an innovative company, founded on a rela- tively new metrology principle it calls Focus Variation. This technique provides high-resolution surface data using limited depth of focus, similar to but more advanced than confocal imaging or optical sectioning, since it also provides color data. It measures both surface form and roughness, and is especially useful in production settings, according to the company. “Our technology is useful for measuring small
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