Ametek Land, a manufacturer of monitors and analysers for industrial infrared non-contact temperature measurement, has continued innovating its popular Spot AL EQS aluminium applications pyrometer by introducing two new modes for forging and forming applications.

The new F and F Mg (magnesium) algorithms extend Ametek Land’s capabilities to provide accurate, repeatable temperature measurements to additional aluminium production and processing industries. These new algorithms are suitable for reheating and secondary processing applications with thicker alloy-dependent oxide layers.

Ametek Land says that the F and F Mg modes of Spot AL EQS are suited to billet temperature measurements at entry to the extrusion press or during other aluminium pre-heating processes. The modes provide accurate digital temperature readings of low and variable emissivity aluminium to ensure optimised process speed and efficiency, and help deliver high-quality products with minimal scrap.

Spot AL EQS pyrometers now offer five measurement modes, with dedicated pre-set algorithms that provide the accurate digital temperature readings of low and variable emissivity aluminium. Potential F and F Mg applications include: billet profile; ingot/sales (re)heat furnace; pre-heating and forging; induction heating/heat treatment; mounting/shrinking; and preheating for coating/bending.

The Spot AL EQS non-contact infrared pyrometer provides a single sensor solution for aluminium extrusion, strip mill, forming/forging and further processing. It uses Ametek Land’s Spot technology and proprietary data-processing algorithms to measure aluminium temperature at the exit of an extruder press; quench and billets; strip mill; forging/forming applications; and forging/forming applications with high-magnesium content alloys.
Offering measurements ranging from 200 to 700°C, the pyrometer integrates with control systems to optimise throughput at the press or mill.

For further information
www.ametek-land.com

To measure components reliably and efficiently, whether in an inspection room or on the shop floor, Nikon has developed a new CNC video measuring system. Also known as an optical CMM, the Nexiv VMZ-S3020 is suitable for automated quality-control applications in a production line, as its high speed allows real-time feedback of measured results to optimise a manufacturing process.

Applications include inspecting a variety of mechanical, moulded, cast and pressed components that fall within its 300 x 200 x 200 mm working volume. Nikon’s proprietary optical measuring, image processing and analysis technologies are employed to detect feature edges at high speed, capturing accurately and automatically the shape and dimensions of even the most complex components.

There are numerous enhancements to the robustness of the unit and its functionality over the instrument that it replaces, the VMZ-R3020. Additionally, the Nexiv VMZ-S series can achieve even faster movements and image capture steps via the dedicated CMOS camera than its predecessor. In-house-developed, high-resolution linear encoders feed the position of the stage axes back to the control, maintaining measurement precision and consistency. Image transfer and subsequent data processing are also quicker, making it possible to reduce measurement cycle times without compromising accuracy or reproducibility.

Fast laser scanning at 1000 points/sec can rapidly acquire the cross-sectional shape of a surface and evaluate the relative heights, meeting measurement needs across a wide variety of samples.

A fully featured measurement software environment, Nexiv AutoMeasure, enables high precision, high speed and easy measurement cycles using tools that are close to hand in a user-friendly GUI.

For further information
www.nikonmetrology.com

Williams Aerospace Engineering has invested in a Baty Venture XT CNC vision system to measure critical precision-machined components manufactured at its facility in Northam, Southampton, where tolerances in turning, milling, grinding, honing and gear/spline cutting are often 0.002 mm.
One of the biggest challenges facing Williams Aerospace Engineering was the amount of time it took to measure components and collate all the data for its customers. By way of example, for a client with particularly high measurement requirements, it would take the quality department 1-2 days to measure the positions of two holes on a batch of 100 cover plates, in addition to entering data on an Excel spreadsheet.

Since investing in the Baty Venture XT CNC vision system, this measurement process takes just 2 hours, which is a massive 96% increase in measurement efficiency. The inspection team at Williams Aerospace Engineering is able to load the fixture to the machine, insert a part, recall the program and teach the datum position, completing the same batch of 100 parts within this much shorter timeframe.

David Fripp, managing director at Williams Aerospace Engineering, says: “The Baty Venture XT helps to ensure our product quality by giving us a more consistent and repeatable measurement method. Once we have a new program, the Venture is far more accurate than our old manual CMM, which is reliant on the points taken by the operator moving the probe by hand, rather than the CNC control on the Baty system. It is very easy to use and the camera resolution is far more accurate than a standard projector using surface illumination.”

For further information
www.bowersgroup.co.uk