The recent installation of a turnkey CMM solution at Tecomet Sheffield, illustrates the design and build capabilities of Mitutoyo Gauging Technology (MGT), a specialist division of Mitutoyo. Throughout the project, MGT worked closely with Mitutoyo’s dedicated subcontract measurement department – Measurement Services.

Based on a Mitutoyo MiStar shop-floor CMM, the resulting inspection system allows the rapid, accurate and automated dimensional inspection of a range of femoral knee joints. Using custom-built, multi-station fixtures to enable the loading of multiple part batches, the solution features a dedicated user interface for ease of use, while a tailored reporting output aids part sentencing and quality control.

Explaining the reasons behind the recently installed Mitutoyo inspection system, Tecomet Sheffield product engineer Nigel Smith says: “Having won a long-term contract to produce femoral knee joints, we took the opportunity to carefully consider all of our related production and inspection options, and develop a range of effective new methodologies that would further increase our efficiency levels.

“As we regard inspection as an integral and vital part of our femoral knee joint production processes, we investigated ways of gaining additional efficiencies in this important area, while also seeking to improve our precision standards,” he continues. “The answer to our search was found in a custom-designed, highly-efficient inspection system from MGT.”

The MiStar 555 boasts a maximum permissible length measurement error specification of (2.2 + 3.0L/1000) μm and an XYZ measuring range of 570 x 500 x 500 mm. Mitutoyo’s CMM benefits from the company’s recently developed smart factory functionality that allows real-time monitoring of machine performance data, as well as measurement data.

For further information
www.mitutoyo.co.uk

Durability and reliability expert HBK is running a series of online training courses that will enable engineers to address work challenges utilising nCode and ReliaSoft software. The courses – created around the needs of engineers from a range of industries such as automotive, aerospace and energy – can develop skills in the areas of reliability, maintainability, durability and fatigue analysis, through a deeper understanding of background theory, hands-on examples and real-world case studies.

Upcoming reliability and maintainability courses include ‘Fundamentals of Reliability’, where attendees will learn how to analyse and model reliability data using ReliaSoft Weibull++ and BlockSim. The course provides a solid foundation of the methods, analyses, applications and associated tools in reliability engineering mathematics – from basic data analysis and modelling to advanced methods and concepts.

Delegates on the ‘System Reliability and Maintainability Analysis’ course will learn system reliability, maintainability and related analyses using the ReliaSoft BlockSim tool. The instructor will show how to build reliability models, explore advanced concepts and applications – and provide optimisation using a reliability block diagram or fault tree analysis approach.

Upcoming durability and fatigue courses include ‘nCode GlyphWorks: Signal Processing and Test Data Analysis’, where attendees can learn how to apply techniques for signal processing, statistical analysis and durability assessment with nCode GlyphWorks. CAE engineers can learn how to make accurate fatigue life estimations from finite element results at ‘nCode DesignLife: Fatigue Analysis using FEA Results’.

Advanced courses covering more in-depth concepts like the fatigue of welds and predicting the fatigue life of products that experience dynamic stresses, are also available.

Courses are delivered over a series of three-hour sessions presented by Prenscia application engineers, who provide real-time instruction in a virtual meeting environment.

For further information
https://is.gd/jupuvi

A new high-speed, non-contact sensor for use with CMMs from Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division addresses growing demand from the consumer electronics and medical industries to rapidly inspect delicate parts with a range of surface finishes, including those produced via additive manufacturing, without applying damaging pressure.

Manufacturers of components with vulnerable surface finishes struggle to achieve optimal efficiency because traditional tactile inspection can be time consuming, and parts often end up incurring damage during measurement. In cases requiring 100% component inspection, the deformation of delicate surfaces impairs productivity and, ultimately, the bottom line.

The new HP-OW chromatic white light sensor provides increased measurement speed and flexibility for OEMs, says Hexagon, and offers contract manufacturers the opportunity to employ new technologies and materials in production.

The sensor’s ability to measure components with transparent, polished, rough and matt finishes makes it easy to quickly and accurately measure parts made with delicate materials, including components such as LED vehicle lights and solar panels. Non-contact capabilities also offer high throughput inspection of medical devices, such as surgical implants, where the high-accuracy inspection of every part is essential.

Additive manufacturing processes pose unique challenges because parts often require measurement throughout production to ensure quality, but the cycle time needed to perform the precision inspection of rough unfinished parts can be prohibitive. As a new option in a line of specialised sensors extending the range of measurement technologies for use with a single CMM, the chromatic white-light scanning sensor offers an efficient way of scanning parts with high accuracy throughout production.

The new chromatc white light sensor is compatible with Hexagon’s Global S and Optiv M CMM lines.

For further information
www.hexagonmi.com

LK Metrology has released the latest version of its measurement, programming, analysis and reporting CMM software. Now called CAMIO 2021, numerous improvements help to increase inspection productivity, enhance the quality of data collected and gain better insight into the measurement of components.
For instance, CAMIO 2021 Geometry Validation reduces the time taken when preparing new inspection programs by automatically detecting which surfaces of the CAD model should be used to measure the feature. It ensures that all measurements are taken on suitable surfaces automatically, at the same time providing the programmer with the option to modify default settings and selections.

During programming of the feature, the CAD simulation highlights the geometry used for the validation and previews the measurement sequence. This preview combines with the teach path view to provide full visual and numerical evaluation of the programming sequence prior to executing the touch points or scanning sequence, enabling the programmer to get the inspection sequence right first time when programming online or offline.
Other improvements have been made to the programming workflow by extending the picking function to touch points and scan paths on a CAD model, and to indicate the selection of existing measured features.

New for CAMIO 2021, probe self-centring allows the centre point of a V-groove to be automatically located and measured using a scanning probe. This capability replicates hard gauging and measurement with gauge balls, typically used for gear tooth inspection and measuring countersink depth. Probe self-centring responds to the continuous deflections of an analogue probe in real time to locate the mid-point between two surfaces.

For further information
www.lkmetrology.com

A new 3D vision system makes inspecting parts in 3D as easy as using a 2D smart camera. While optical inspection in 3D previously required a great deal of programming and offered relatively few benefits, Cognex says that its new technology brings better image quality, simplified application development and a range of true 3D inspection tools – significantly expanding the range of applications in industrial automation.

Cognex states that its In-Sight 3D-L4000 vision system enables engineers to solve a range of inline inspection, guidance and measurement applications on automated production lines quickly, accurately and cost-effectively. The smart camera offers a suite of true 3D vision tools that are as easy to use as Cognex’s 2D vision tools thanks to the familiar and robust In-Sight spreadsheet environment. In addition, the patented speckle-free blue laser optics are an industry-first, enabling the capture of high-quality 3D images.

The type of laser used in the In-Sight 3D-L4000 is a significant technical advance in laser-based imaging: the vision system eliminates speckle by using a special laser in the blue light range. As a result, the imager sees a clear laser line, resulting in higher accuracy 3D images. In addition, the laser provides its own illumination for both 3D and 2D images – the system does not require any external light.

As a further advantage, the In-Sight 3D-L4000 has its processing power built right in, allowing the vision tools to perform true 3D point cloud inspections without the need for an external controller or third-party PC-based software. A nice side benefit is that, with on-board processing, it is possible to complete image analysis in a very short time.

For further information
www.cognex.com