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

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has released a new multi-sensor CMM that facilitates smart manufacturing by providing a cost-effective entry point into automated measurement.

Fully compatible with a range of Hexagon smart technologies, the Optiv Lite 3.2.2 is a benchtop CMM designed to deliver a smooth transition from manual to automatic quality methods for greater inspection accuracy, reliability and efficiency. In addition, the CMM offers connectivity to end-to-end manufacturing solutions for process and product improvements traditionally beyond the scope of entry-level machines.

Optiv Lite 3.2.2 is purpose-built for the quick and precise non-contact and tactile measurement of small parts across a range of industries, including e-mobility, precision engineering and medical. Offering complete traceability of measurement results and a simplified interface for ease-of-use, Optiv Lite 3.2.2 is suitable for manufacturers looking to adopt automated inspection procedures or meet expanding production demands.

The Optiv Lite 3.2.2 can offer inspection close to production environments, with its rugged mechanical design, high machine dynamics and capabilities for precise measurement in a wide temperature range. This lightweight machine offers a small factory footprint and high accuracy with its 6x motorised zoom lens and high-resolution digital colour camera. An optional touch-trigger probe (HP-TM) is available, as well as the HR-MP probe changer rack that can hold up to three probe modules. Further options include a laser triangulation sensor and a rotary indexing table.
PC-DMIS metrology software comes as standard with Optiv Lite 3.2.2, and users can increase operational simplicity with ‘Inspect’, a stand-alone app that allows production-level operators to easily execute measurement routines using a user-friendly interface.

For further information
www.hexagonmi.com

Newcastle-based ExplantLab is an independent research organisation that aims to improve the performance of medical implants such as hip and knee replacements. The company combines extensive surgical, bioengineering and medical knowledge to understand the performance of medical implants following their removal from a patient’s body (explants).

When ExplantLab receives an explant, the company’s team employs a range of advanced technologies to reverse engineer them and accurately determine their ‘as-new’ shape. For several years ExplantLab has used a Mitutoyo Legex 322 CMM for this purpose, the success of which – alongside and an ever-increasing volume of explants – recently prompted the purchase of a second Mitutoyo CMM.

ExplantLab director David Langton says: “In consultation with Mitutoyo’s experts we decided that a Strato Apex 574 CNC CMM with an XYZ capacity of 500 x 700 x 400 mm was the ideal solution to our accuracy and scanning speed requirements.”

As ExplantLab’s recently installed Strato Apex 574 CNC CMM has a large component support, the company’s employees are now able to load multiple explants on to the machine and perform rapid, fully automated reverse-engineering routines.

A typical use for the Strato Apex 574 CMM is the scanning of explant bearing surfaces to establish multiple data points for in-depth analysis. Automated programs allow the Mitutoyo CMM to distinguish between the unworn parts of bearing surfaces and determine their precise as-new geometries. From the unworn areas, it is possible to reverse-engineer the original component geometries. By comparing the actual surface (the post revision geometry) of a component with the original (as manufactured) surface, the magnitude of wear can be calculated and accurately mapped. The machine generates comprehensive reports relating to the precise status of each explant.

For further information
www.mitutoyo.co.uk