There can be as many as 200 relevant measurement points on a wind turbine hub. “We used to have these parts measured by an external sup-


plier before, which meant transport and lead time. Tat was too expensive for us, so we looked for our own tool to carry out these measurements. It had to be an additional one, since


to difficult to reach areas, while avoiding damage to the arm against rotational hard stops. Te instrument can also oper- ate wirelessly with its WI-FI capability and high-capacity rechargeable batteries.


“It is very difficult to correct any mistakes once a part has left the factory, and in the case of a hub, scrap would cost us over $27,000 per piece for just the material.”


our two laser trackers are already in constant use. We devel- oped a business case and found out that the Romer Absolute Arm from Hexagon Metrology would be the best tool for this application,” Nielsen said. Te department’s ability to quickly inspect parts can


help to minimize production wait times and reduce both scrap and rework. Te measuring arm essentially moves dimensional inspection to the point of shop-floor produc- tion. Parts and assemblies that are too large or difficult to move can be measured in place with the portable CMM, well known for its ease-of-use factor. Te articulating arm operates much like a human arm and floats in the operator’s hands due to its pneumatic Zero-G counterbalance, which offsets its weight and minimizes user fatigue. Te arm’s patented infinite rotation in the principal axes allows access


“Ordering the measurement, sending the part and getting


it back eventually took us days before. Now we have the results in 10 minutes. Te measuring arm paid for itself in less than half a year. In addition, wireless data transmission, the fact that no setup time is necessary and the strong carbon fiber construction make it a very convenient and reliable measure- ment solution,” said Nielsen. Five measurement specialists in Nielsen’s team use the two


Leica Absolute Trackers and the Romer Absolute Arm every day. Without the metrology equipment, production stops at Vestas Nacelles—and that makes reliable metrology systems essential to their manufacturing success.


Edited by Yearbook Editor James D. Sawyer from material provided by Hexagon Metrology.


Energy Manufacturing 2014 55


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