New digital pressure scanner suits testing in tiny spaces

Gas measurement and control solutions specialist Chell Instruments has launched its smallest digital pressure scanner to date, the picoDAQ. Measuring just 83.4 x 14.8 x 9.6 mm, the tiny dimensions of the picoDAQ make it suitable for high-accuracy pressure testing in applications where space is limited but precision remains critical.

“Even the slightest variation in pressure can impact performance – meaning every part, place and condition must be measured with absolute accuracy,” explains Jamie Shanahan, director of Chell Instruments. “To give our customers even greater versatility, we’re introducing our smallest pressure scanner yet, built to fit within even the most confined testing environment.”

Despite its ultra-compact size, the picoDAQ does not compromise on its measurement capabilities, delivering up to 0.03% FS accuracy output. As a fully configurable smart pressure scanner, the new device can output pressure data in engineering units over Ethernet and CAN, using both CAN-FD and ‘classic’ CAN.

The picoDAQ makes use of 17 absolute transducers which are thermally compensated and conditioned to provide 16 absolute or differential measurements relative to the one reference port. Due to its rugged outer casing and components sealed to IP67, the picoDAQ is especially valuable within automotive and aerospace testing.

“From wind tunnel to on-track or in-flight testing, our pressure scanners are vital tools in the design, development and validation of aerodynamics in vehicle and aircraft testing,” says Shanahan. “Given these sectors’ need for accuracy and continual improvements in speed and performance, we’re confident the picoDAQ will give our automotive and motorsport clients new ways of enhancing aerodynamics.”

More information www.chell.co.uk

OGP unveils large-capacity SmartScope M130

Optical Gaging Products (OGP), a global specialist in the manufacture of optical and precision multi-sensor metrology systems for industrial quality control, is releasing the latest addition to the next evolution of its SmartScope 3D range: the SmartScope M130.


For manufacturers producing large, heavy parts, SmartScope M130 ushers in the next generation of enhancements in image accuracy, optics and throughput in a new large format 3D multi-sensor video measurement platform.

Tim Fantauzzo, VP of sales in North America, says: “The SmartScope M-Series family has quickly been adopted by manufacturers seeking unrivalled confidence in repeatability and reliability. Larger parts can obviously contain many more detailed features. The M130 optical system is truly telecentric with no distortion, so manufacturers making large, heavy parts can achieve more accurate measurements, particularly at low magnification with far more part features in the field of view.”

At the core of SmartScope M130 is the patented IntelliCentric-M optical system, featuring fixed optics with a 20-megapixel camera and proprietary Virtual Zoom technology. Built from the ground up at OGP headquarters in Rochester, USA, the streamlined IntelliCentric-M optics employ a variety of exclusive technologies that allow for instant magnification changes over the same zoom range as a traditional mechanical zoom system. The result is faster run time and far less downtime for maintenance.
 

Providing a standard XYZ travel of 790 x 815 x 200 mm (optional 300 or 400 mm Z axis) and payload capacity of 75 kg, SmartScope M130 also sports a new base design that presents customers with a lower stage height. Users can now load and unload heavy parts or oversized fixtures with ease.
More information www.ogpnet.com/m-series

CMM range built for use in production environments

RUN is Ready Metrology’s answer to the evolving needs of modern manufacturing, a line of CMMs designed specifically for use in production. Combining precision, robustness and ease of use, RUN systems deliver metrology-grade results directly on the shop floor, enabling fast inspection, feedback and control at every stage of the manufacturing process.

Developed with a clear goal — to make measurements simple, fast, and reliable — RUN systems integrate seamlessly into production workflows. Linear motors guarantee maintenance-free operation, eliminating the need for air supply or lubrication, and ensuring long-term reliability even in challenging environments.


Ease of operation is at the heart of RUN’s design. The Easy Runner interface allows operators to load and execute inspection programs with a single touch, while the moving table and optional clamping kit ensure quick and ergonomic part handling.


Robot integration is facilitated by the moving table structure: both portal and measuring head are always out of the motion range, increasing safety during set-up procedures and allowing faster part loading.


Switching from one part to another takes only a few seconds — operators simply scan a barcode to load a new program, and the machine performs measurement and reporting automatically.

RUN systems include advanced features that enhance performance and longevity, such an automatic stylus cleaning unit and an active anti-vibration granite base with pneumatic dampers. These elements guarantee accuracy and repeatability, even under real shop-floor conditions.

Designed for both end-of-line control and in-process verification, RUN delivers immediate measurement data to help manufacturers prevent deviations, reduce scrap and shorten set-up times. Integrated CAD import and GD&T analysis provide complete insight into part geometry, ensuring compliance with specifications and accelerating process improvement.

More information www.readymetrology.com

Vaisala launches probe recalibration and reuse service

Vaisala, a global specialist in measurement technology, has launched a new instrumentation service, ‘Vaisala Circular’. Developed for applications where measurement accuracy and uptime are critically important, Vaisala Circular is a comprehensive service platform designed to ensure that measurements are as accurate, uninterrupted and reliable as possible over the long term.

Under Vaisala Circular, customers have a dedicated pool of measurement probes, securely stored and maintained at Vaisala’s service centres. When calibration is necessary, customers simply order replacement probes from Vaisala online and swap them in – thereby minimising measurement downtime. Batches of used probes then circle back to Vaisala for recalibration, storage and re-use. These refurbished probes retain warranty for the full term of the circular agreement.

Explaining the significance of the new service, Shan Gao, director of Vaisala’s global service line, says: “As the designer, developer and manufacturer of measurement probes, we’re in the best position to maintain them and deliver long-term value for customers. Our testing, maintenance and calibration capabilities are so rigorous that probes are returned to operation with appropriate certification, and in ‘as-new’ condition. When Vaisala probes are operated and maintained according to specifications, users can expect then to last for more than a decade.”

By assuming responsibility for probe management, Vaisala Circular delivers long-term peace of mind to customers, providing reliable, accurate measurements, and enabling process optimisation and waste reduction to improve sustainability. According to the company, the range of measurement parameters included in the circular service is the currently the widest available on the market, and includes humidity, dew point, temperature, carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide.

Summarising, Gao says: “Circular is a good example of Vaisala’s determination to develop life-long partnerships, offering customers increased operating uptime and reliable measurements, with predictable instrumentation and maintenance costs.”

More information www.vaisala.com

Mitutoyo technology ensures quality at Purso-Tools

In the manufacture of demanding machined components, maintaining precision requires advanced quality control strategies and technologies, and smooth collaboration with the equipment supplier. For Purso-Tools, Mitutoyo has for many years served as the company’s trusted partner in measurement devices.Purso-Tools Oy, located in Pori on the west coast of Finland, is the world’s largest producer of camshafts for heavy industry, supplying customers such as Wärtsilä, MAN, Bergen Engines (Rolls Royce), Bosch and Caterpillar. With such a prestigious client list, uncompromising quality management is an absolute prerequisite.

Says Mika Aerikkala, production manager at Purso-Tools: “In the production of connecting rods and camshafts, we deal with tolerances measured in thousandths of a millimetre. Not a single defective part can be sent to a customer.”


The collaboration with Mitutoyo begin in the early 2010s. At that time, Purso-Tools was seeking a new CMM and found the right solution in Mitutoyo.

“Previously, we used technology from several different suppliers. Now, we practically focus on one brand: Mitutoyo,” says Aerikkala.

Purso-Tools currently operates three large Mitutoyo CMMs: a Crysta Apex 163012, a Crysta Apex 122010 and the latest addition, a Crysta Apex 574.

Continues Aerikkala: “All machines use the same measurement head and probe options, making them easily interchangeable in our operations. The larger machines feature the motorised indexing probe head, which adds dynamic capability and speed to the measurement process.”

In addition to its three CMMs, Purso-Tools uses a range of other Mitutoyo equipment, including surface roughness testers and handheld measuring instruments. More demanding surface roughness measurements, such as waviness analysis, take place in the metrology room using a software-driven Mitutoyo Surftest SJ-500P. Mitutoyo’s MeasurLink software handles data management, collection and analysis.

More information www.mitutoyo.eu