Measurement system delivers fast ROI

Based in Glenrothes, subcontractor Euro Precision has been eager to minimise the number of failures that might occur in large batches by taking action against faults at final inspection.

To achieve this goal, the company created a team of specialists that looked at the issues, with the task of clearly identifying any problems and coming up with corrective actions. As a result, Euro Precision has recently invested heavily in equipment such as CNC milling centres, a Mitutoyo CMM, a laser marker and an IM-7500 image dimension measurement system from Keyence. Within a short timeframe, final inspection failures were reduced to just 0.8%.
The IM-7500 enabled Euro Precision to check parts much quicker and with greater accuracy. This capability has saved the company a substantial amount of money by cutting inspection times, while improving quality levels on all components. Time savings have also been achieved through the machine being straightforward to operate and program, enabling inspectors to check a higher volume of projects within much shorter timescales.
Mark Ramsay, production manager at Euro Precision, explains: “The Keyence IM-7500 machine has proved to be excellent for our operators because it is easy to use, extremely precise and can check parts very quickly. For these reasons, we’ve been able to program the machine to minimise the risk of batch failures by checking more parts at a much faster pace and far more accurately.
“Selecting Keyence equipment was a new venture for us, but as soon as we had the demonstration and tested a few of our parts on the IM-7500, it was a no brainer; we had to have that machine,” he adds. “The unit has more than paid for itself in just 10 months, and if we could have many more of these around the workplace we would do so in a heartbeat.”
For further information www.keyence.co.uk

Marposs partners with DP

Marposs has struck a partnership with DP Technology, the author of Esprit CAM software. According to Marposs, Esprit software represents one of the easiest ways to add probing cycles to existing cutting programs. Through Esprit, Marposs will provide customers with a turnkey solution for creating everything from simple bore measurements to complex measuring cycles.

Probing cycles from Marposs will be available in Esprit software so that measuring a component on a five-axis or multi-tasking machine will become simple.
The digital twin supplied by Esprit software, thanks to the availability of machine kinematics, and workpiece and 3D probe files, will permit users to not only program a measuring cycle but to add and simulate all the movements required to reach the part in its position. The goal is providing the customers of Marposs and DP with a new and easy way to measure simple and complex parts on every type of machine tool, always deploying the best probing solution, and being able to program and simulate additional inspection cycles in the blink of an eye.
Probing is an established best practice for maximising the efficiency, quality, capability and accuracy of machine tools. Touch probes on CNC machining centres and lathes can be used to identify and set-up parts, measure features in-cycle for adaptive machining, and verify finished component dimensions.
”Most of our customers, especially those working in the mould and die, aerospace and 3C sectors, often seek cycle
time reductions without compromising quality,” says Roberto Bruni, sales and marketing manager. “Here, the type and number of touch points become the solution, and Esprit will help to speed up this research. For this reason, we believe Esprit with Marposs probes will provide the perfect solution.”
For further information www.marposs.com

K-TIG joins Nuclear AMRC

Welding technology specialist K-TIG has joined the Nuclear AMRC as a tier-two member to develop high-performance fabrication techniques for waste containers and other nuclear applications.

K-TIG has developed a patented keyhole welding technology which can produce welds 10-100 times quicker than conventional tungsten gas arc welding, joining metals up to 16 mm thick in a single pass. The technology is already in operation at some of the world’s largest fabrication businesses, and is also accessible to small and medium-sized manufacturers.
For further information www.namrc.co.uk

Apeks ‘regulates’ quality with Mitutoyo

Blackburn-based Apeks, a specialist in the manufacture of diving regulators, uses an assortment of Mitutoyo profile projectors that are strategically situated throughout the company’s production and QC departments.

As ever-growing global demand for Apeks’ regulators had resulted in increased levels of output, the need for an additional profile projector recently led to the purchase of a Mitutoyo PJA3010F-200.
The latest profile projector has a 200 x 100 mm X-Y range and a 380 x 250 mm table with built-in linear scales. Easy-to-read digital counters are located near the device’s 315 mm diameter projection screen, while a digital angle display facility eliminates the need to perform complex calculations.
Inspection data gathered by Apeks’ assortment of Mitutoyo profile projectors is downloaded to Mitutoyo’s MeasurLink software via RS 232C outputs. MeasurLink links and manages the measuring results generated by Apeks’ profile projectors into a common database of component information and statistical data. This data is shared across Apeks’ entire manufacturing facility and is used to prompt corrective actions, for analysis purposes and for various reporting functions.
Apeks’ quality manager Simon Mercer says: “Although we use a range of advanced material testing and inspection aids, we regard our collection of Mitutoyo profile projectors as our inspection workhorses. Quality control staff use the profile projectors for tasks such as making regular in-process quality checks, and for final inspection routines. In addition, our machine setters use them for duties such as checking the accuracy of first-off components before our machine operators continue a production run.”
For further information www.mitutoyo.co.uk

MTC invests in Stratasys FDM

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has expanded its additive manufacturing portfolio by investing in an FDM-based Fortus 450mc 3D printer.

According to the MTC, the addition strengthens its capability to meet more demanding production applications for UK manufacturers and develop innovative solutions geared towards driving increased productivity and profitability.
After announcing an official partnership with Stratasys in 2017, the MTC has been utilising the latest 3D printing technology to support customers’ manufacturing needs and objectives, which include engineering tooling and complex end-use parts. The Fortus 450mc installation complements the MTC’s existing stable of Stratasys PolyJet solutions, which comprises full-colour,
multi-material J-Series 3D printing technology, as well as a large-scale Objet1000.
For further information www.stratasys.com