specifically for use in automation for 100% in-line inspection. Accuracy in diameter is (2 + D/100) microns and length is (5 + L/100) microns, both to ISO 10360. Measurements include lengths, diameters, angles, radii, runout, roundness, eccentric- ity, cylindricity, straightness, form and profiles. The Wavemove automated surface roughness and contour measuring system is another measuring device the company released in 2011 and recently introduced to North America to meet the growing need for automated measurements. The device includes up to seven CNC axes for complete high-accuracy measurement and evaluation of complex shaft or prismatic parts such as automotive crankshaft, cylinder heads, engine blocks, or transmission housings. “We make the distinction between retoolable and flexible,” says Gary Sicheneder, manager, New Market Development, Mar- poss Corp. (Auburn Hills, MI.) “Retoolable is where you move components or change compo-
nents [of a process gage] to make it ready for the next part.” A flexible gage, on the other hand, means it is ready to go for all the parts it is designed to check. Marposs delivers both, depending on the application need.
Marposs, too, has seen changes in how manufacturers approach lines and gaging. The growing trend, according to Sicheneder, is to plan for production lines to last for five or 10 years, that will have a short production duration (life span), while planning on running multiple parts that will change over that time. This means delivering a system that allows for minor retooling each time a part—within a basic geometric enve- lope—is changed. They might need gaging easily retooled for, say, a family of camshafts, crankshafts or brake pads. While this is limited flexibility, it is cost-effective and meets the needs of the manufacturer, as long as the line is planned correctly at its inception.
Modularity Held to a Standard
In response, Marposs developed standard, modular con- cepts for a set of standard parts. Around these they configure the details of the part to be measured. Dimensional measure-
Dedicated and tailored systems for metrology are still cost effective in larger runs, but increasingly they must exhibit some flexibility for repurposing.
ments are taken with linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) touch transducers, optoelectronic systems, even non- destructive checks through eddy currents. A good example is the company’s new M50 gaging system. Based on a standard modular architecture, the M50 performs dimensional, geometric, and nondestructive measurements. Roger Zeoli, product man- ager, Machine and Bench Gauges for Marposs demonstrated one that could measure eight different brake rotors, providing digital data on diameter, thick- ness, taper, parallelism, perpen- dicularity, and runout. Another example is their M110 auto- mated inspection machine that measures dimensional and geo- metric parameters for shaft-like part configurations. The system includes automatic mastering for recalibration. “It collects about 100 measurements every 25–30 seconds,” says Zeoli. As cost-effective as the retoolable, modular concept is, Marposs is also offering truly flexible parts measurements
with inspection using optoelectronic gaging. Their Optoquick set also uses shadow casting in a closed structure cabinet. Designed for the shop floor, it comes in either horizontal or vertical-type structures layout. They designed this for inspec- tion of shaft-like parts as well. Measuring programs are stored electronically and selected for each part. Similar to other systems, the number of parts that could be measured is limited only by their physical size and weight, based on the particular gage model type. Another ruggedized design using optoelec- tronic technology inspections is Marposs’ M110 M100 Optoflex. Manufacturers could integrate it into a production line or use it as an audit station, or as a postprocess inspection.
Shop-Floor CMMs
While what used to be called hard gaging is becoming more flexible, delivering digital data rather than simple go/ no-go checks, on the other end of the measuring spectrum, CMMs are finding their way to the shop floor. One example is the recent release by Hexagon (North Kingstown, RI) of its new line of Brown & Sharpe CMMs, the 4.5.4 SF, designed for portable use on the shop floor. It has a small footprint for a