Aimed at multinational organisations with factories worldwide, but equally applicable to medium-size companies having several production facilities in one country, a web-based platform has been introduced by CMM manufacturer LK Metrology to help production departments monitor and control inspection activities around the clock.

Consistent with the aims of Industry 4.0, the new Metrology Gate portal provides remote access to information on the status and performance of all connected metrology devices. Available data includes measurement results and a summary of errors, a record of program changes, uptime of the CMMs and OEE. Historical logs assist troubleshooting and warn when routine maintenance is due, not only of the inspection machines, but of the machine tools or other equipment on which the components are
being made.
Delays in data searching are avoided, improving reporting procedures. Comprehensive daily reports include total output per shift and the number of parts measured, sudden changes in process averages, and comparisons between different machines producing the components. Graphical CAD reports, SPC analyses with Cp and Cpk results, and environmental logs including operating temperature are generated and communicated, alongside charts to aid interpretation and understanding.
In the case of critical dimensional discrepancies or hardware failure, the software shares the information with users immediately by sending alerts via email, SMS, WeChat or WhatsApp. Metrology jobs can be stopped and reset if performance is inadequate, maximising yield and minimising scrap.
Normally, data acquired is stored in the cloud but may be held on servers in different countries if preferred, or even on an individual computer. Either way, it is accessible over the internet instantly and globally in real time, on a PC in an office or using an app on handheld devices when on the move.
For further information www.lkmetrology.com

Manufacturing operations as Chelmsford-based Currock Engineering, a 91-employee supplier of total solution packages to the global aerospace sector, are underpinned by its collection of Mitutoyo CMMs, a resource that has recently been bolstered by the arrival of a Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex S CNC CMM with a large XYZ capacity of 1200 x 2000 x 1000 mm.

Now installed and fully operational, the Crysta-Apex S CMM brings Currock’s Mitutoyo CMM count up to four machines. Although purchased primarily to accurately inspect the company’s larger components, the size of the machine’s granite bed also allows multiple smaller parts to be loaded and fully automatic, mass measuring routines to be performed. Currock is both ISO9001 and BS EN 9100 accredited, and is a signatory to the SC21 Action Plan.
Operations manager Mark Burrows says: “The speed and accuracy of our large capacity Crysta-Apex S CNC CMM has already made a significant contribution to our inspection function. As well as easily handling the largest of our parts, its ability to inspect multiple smaller components in a single set-up, in a rapid, automatic CNC mode, has considerably accelerated the throughput of work in our quality department.”
Given the speed of today’s high-yield machine tools and the sheer volume of parts they produce, ensuring that component inspection systems keep pace has never been more important. Add to this the ever increasing complexity of components and tighter dimensional tolerances being applied, and it is easy to understand that the performance of CMMs is being challenged as never before.
For further information www.mitutoyo.co.uk