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

With the launch of the PCE-TC 24 infrared thermometer, PCE Instruments is introducing an interesting maintenance tool on to the market that measures temperatures within a range of -20 to 380°C. The temperatures are displayed as real images with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and IR images (infrared images) with a resolution of 33 x 33 pixels. In addition, the presence of a backlit LCD supports measurements in dark environments.

Non-contact infrared thermometers enable users to detect thermal bridges or hot parts, for example, which allows them to discover thermal problems in electrical systems, to locate mechanical failures, and thus to arrange the necessary maintenance work and save energy.
The thermal imager continuously measures the maximum and minimum temperatures of the object and shows their exact locations. Emissivity (value that defines how easily a material or an object exchanges thermal radiation with its environment) can be set in the menu of the PCE-TC 24 to a value within the range of 0.1 to 1. Additionally, the integrated memory function allows documentation and archiving. BMP files can then be read out via microSD card or USB.
An IR thermometer quickly shows results, and errors caused by a lack of thermal contact can be ruled out. Another advantage infrared thermometers have over common thermometers is that moving objects can be measured. The light weight of only 295 g, the compact dimensions of 195 x 100 x 55 mm and the included belt bag, make the meter very easy to carry.
For further information www.pce-instruments.com