Measurement specialist Keyence has further enhanced its dimensional measurement system range with the introduction of the IM-8000, which delivers all the benefits of the previous IM-7000 series, but with even greater speed, accuracy and ease-of-use.

Boasting a rotary unit allowing 360° multi-surface measurement capability for both turned and milled parts, the IM-8000 is fitted with a 20-megapixel CMOS – more than three times that of conventional systems – as well as a new algorithm for stable edge detection. In addition to the new CMOS, the screen is now larger and features enhanced resolution.

As well as standard metrics, the IM-8000 can perform a range of new measurements, including symmetry, plane, flatness, cylindricity, coaxiality and run-out, delivering new data visualisations such as roundness graphs. Keyence says this capability makes the IM-8000 suitable for parts with even the most complex geometries.

Able to measure more than 300 dimensions per component, the system starts to measure automatically as soon as the object is placed on the stage, which now moves at up to 80 mm/s – twice as fast as the IM-7000 series. It is possible to attain precise dimensional measurements in as little as 1 second. The wide field camera now boasts single field of view accuracy of ±3.9 µm, compared with ±5 µm previously.

There is no need for positioning or datum set-up, meaning even inexperienced operators can get the most out of the system. Measurements can be rapidly set up with just a few clicks, and it is equally simple to set up virtual lines and points. The user can measure all of the specified dimensions at the touch of a button, with focus adjusted automatically.

For further information
www.keyence.co.uk

The mainstays of Aberdeen-based L&N Scotland’s inspection regime are its three recently-purchased Faro QuantumS ScanArms, where they help maintain the quality of products that include subsea production flow spools, chemical injection lines and control systems equipment.

Quality engineer at L&N Scotland, Robert Knowles, says: “The technical advancements in Faro’s latest generation of ScanArms have enhanced our precision capabilities and accelerated inspection throughput.”

Although L&N Scotland’s new QuantumS ScanArms have delivered significant benefits to several company departments, it is in the area of subsea control system manufacturing that they have provided the biggest advantages, as QC inspector Adrian Chalmers points out: “We produce complex, pre-manufactured subsea control system kits that feature a large number of very long pipes. These pipes feature intricate compound 3D shapes with challenging dimensional tolerances. Further complicating matters, the pipes are located in close proximity to each other.”

He adds: “As it was the ideal combination for our requirements, we specified our three new ScanArms with Faro Prizm laser probes. Importantly, as the pipes in our kits can spring and flex under physical inspection, the accurate non-contact scanning capabilities of our QuantumS ScanArms have provided a major advantage. We can now precisely scan the most complex-shaped tubes and compare our findings to their CAD models. Then, if needed, we’re able to instantly send any required bending correction information back to our CNC bending machine. Also, when required, we can reverse engineer existing pipes and create precise models for use at any point in the future.”

The accuracy specifications for the Quantum ScanArm product line-up is certified according to ISO 10360-8 for non-contact CMMs. Faro says it is the first portable measurement arm manufacturer to publish its non-contact accuracy specifications according to this standard.

For further information
www.faro.com

Now in its 40th year of operation, Mitutoyo UK supports its customer base not only with the supply of precision metrology products, but with the provision of subcontract measuring services. Among the latest companies taking advantage of Mitutoyo’s inspection offer is Elland-based FeTu Ltd.

FeTu is an innovation-driven enterprise which has developed a revolutionary ‘green’ energy device that targets carbon reductions across a broad range of systems and industries. Given the demanding dimensional tolerances and the critical geometries of the device’s two moving parts, FeTu founder and CEO Jon Fenton recently searched for a source of independent, high-precision inspection. The answer to FeTu’s precision inspection needs was found in Mitutoyo’s measurement services.

Mitutoyo’s staff use one of the company’s Crysta-Apex S series CNC CMMs to perform a range of in-depth, high-accuracy measurement routines on FeTu’s components.

“The high-precision CMM inspection work undertaken by Mitutoyo and the comprehensive inspection reports supplied to us, related to the accuracy of the moving parts and other critical aspects of our designs, has been invaluable,” says Fenton. “In addition, the speed and in-depth nature of the feedback received from Mitutoyo has helped to truncate our developments times.”

Andrew Fifield, manager of Mitutoyo’s measurement services department, adds: “Our team uses a range of state-of-the-art metrology equipment that enables the most demanding of components to be measured, profiled, analysed, scanned, programmed or compared with CAD. In addition, we’re able to accommodate all QC, QA production or SPC requirements. Having liaised with Jon at FeTu, we concluded that the use of a Crysta-Apex S Series CMM was the ideal means of achieving the necessary levels of precision and the speed of feedback required.”

For further information
www.mitutoyo.co.uk

Inspekto has launched the Inspekto S70 Gen.2 autonomous machine vision (AMV) system, a new and improved version of its established solution for industrial quality inspection. Powered by AMV-AI, S70 Gen.2 supports an even higher number of use cases and facilitates reliable quality inspection in challenging applications, such as highly reflective materials, moving parts and vibrating platforms.

Unlike traditional machine vision solutions, the S70 Gen.2 is an off-the-shelf edge device that users can install in as little as 45 minutes, without any expertise in machine vision or AI. The simple set-up procedure only requires an average of 20 to 30 OK (good) sample items and no NOK (defective) ones, meaning that no training, data labelling or annotation is required to create immediate proof of concept.

While retaining its user-friendly characteristics, the latest version of Inspekto’s flagship edge device offers new and improved attributes. The first is the possibility to deploy the system in an even higher number of use cases. As opposed to traditional machine-vision solutions, which are set to inspect only a specific use case, AMV systems are universal, which means they include both the required hardware and software, and can inspect a wide variety of parts. This feature now extends to the reliable inspection of highly reflective materials like metals and plastics.

The built-in 5000K LEDs of the S70 Gen.2, controlled by pulse-width modularisation and arranged in several distinct regions, allow the system to control the direction of illumination autonomously and take several images with varying light direction and intensity. S70 Gen.2 then fuses these images to create a single HDR image without any reflection.

For further information
www.inspekto.com

After detailed research into the effects of stylus-tip contamination when using a CMM, Dr Simon Lawes, Manufacturing Metrology Team at the University of Nottingham, said: “A stylus tip contaminated with tiny particles can lead to measurement errors 10 times greater than expected.” The problem in inspection rooms and on the shop floor is that stylus cleaning is a tedious and time-consuming job that reduces the amount of time the CMM is available for measuring.

To alleviate the problem, UK-based CMM manufacturer LK Metrology has introduced an automated stylus-tip cleaning system, LK StyliCleaner. It takes just 30 seconds to remove debris from a stylus tip, eliminating the tendency to delay cleaning and reducing the risk of taking inaccurate measurements.

LK says that the cleaning system is an inexpensive solution and works with all brands of CMM and software. No software integration is needed, just a simple part program for controlling the cycle. For LK CAMIO customers, the StyliCleaner is bundled with free-of-charge part programs for automated stylus-tip cleaning.

Controlled by the CMM’s axis movements, the automated cleansing cycle activates when a dirty stylus is programmed to move in front of the StyliCleaner motion sensor.

LK’s compact StyliCleaner, which has a 70 x 100 mm footprint, is available in two sizes, StyliCleaner8 and StyliCleaner16, to decontaminate styli from 0 to 8 mm, and from 6 to 16 mm in diameter. The separate control unit may sit on the CMM table or, if space is limited, can attach to the CMM stand via an optional mounting plate.

For further information
www.lkmetrology.com