The recent installation of a turnkey CMM solution at Tecomet Sheffield, illustrates the design and build capabilities of Mitutoyo Gauging Technology (MGT), a specialist division of Mitutoyo. Throughout the project, MGT worked closely with Mitutoyo’s dedicated subcontract measurement department – Measurement Services.

Based on a Mitutoyo MiStar shop-floor CMM, the resulting inspection system allows the rapid, accurate and automated dimensional inspection of a range of femoral knee joints. Using custom-built, multi-station fixtures to enable the loading of multiple part batches, the solution features a dedicated user interface for ease of use, while a tailored reporting output aids part sentencing and quality control.

Explaining the reasons behind the recently installed Mitutoyo inspection system, Tecomet Sheffield product engineer Nigel Smith says: “Having won a long-term contract to produce femoral knee joints, we took the opportunity to carefully consider all of our related production and inspection options, and develop a range of effective new methodologies that would further increase our efficiency levels.

“As we regard inspection as an integral and vital part of our femoral knee joint production processes, we investigated ways of gaining additional efficiencies in this important area, while also seeking to improve our precision standards,” he continues. “The answer to our search was found in a custom-designed, highly-efficient inspection system from MGT.”

The MiStar 555 boasts a maximum permissible length measurement error specification of (2.2 + 3.0L/1000) μm and an XYZ measuring range of 570 x 500 x 500 mm. Mitutoyo’s CMM benefits from the company’s recently developed smart factory functionality that allows real-time monitoring of machine performance data, as well as measurement data.

For further information
www.mitutoyo.co.uk