InfiniAM Sonic acoustic process monitoring software has been launched by Renishaw to complement the company’s existing InfiniAM suite of additive manufacturing (AM) monitoring tools. The software enables engineers to detect acoustic events within the AM build chamber and turn this data into useful information about build quality. The software is said to be the first of its kind in the AM industry.

Renishaw’s InfiniAM Sonic is installed into the RenAM 500Q system as a factory-fit option and includes four acoustic energy sensors to detect vibration in the build. These sensors detect minute vibrations and collect sound waves so that they can be heard, viewed and analysed. Using four high-frequency sensors in different locations results in a slight time difference, due to the speed of sound. The software uses this time difference to triangulate the position of noise on the build plate. In addition, the software presents a level of certainty regarding where the noise occurred, and the magnitude. This data can then be combined graphically with other sensor data to build a comprehensive view of the part and the conditions at time of build.
The software works alongside InfiniAM Central and InfiniAM Spectral, which provide improved understanding of build quality, increased confidence in the build process and accelerated process development, reports Renishaw. A mobile app, InfiniAM Central, is also available, so that users can receive notifications on their build process in near real-time.
David Ewing, AM product manager at Renishaw, says: “The rapid heating and cooling that takes place during an AM build leads to residual stress in the part. While each laser weld results in a small amount of stress, residual stress can build up within the part, and if it increases past the strength of the metal it may lead to a fracture in the support material or part itself.”
For further information www.renishaw.com

Based in Glenrothes, subcontractor Euro Precision has been eager to minimise the number of failures that might occur in large batches by taking action against faults at final inspection.

To achieve this goal, the company created a team of specialists that looked at the issues, with the task of clearly identifying any problems and coming up with corrective actions. As a result, Euro Precision has recently invested heavily in equipment such as CNC milling centres, a Mitutoyo CMM, a laser marker and an IM-7500 image dimension measurement system from Keyence. Within a short timeframe, final inspection failures were reduced to just 0.8%.
The IM-7500 enabled Euro Precision to check parts much quicker and with greater accuracy. This capability has saved the company a substantial amount of money by cutting inspection times, while improving quality levels on all components. Time savings have also been achieved through the machine being straightforward to operate and program, enabling inspectors to check a higher volume of projects within much shorter timescales.
Mark Ramsay, production manager at Euro Precision, explains: “The Keyence IM-7500 machine has proved to be excellent for our operators because it is easy to use, extremely precise and can check parts very quickly. For these reasons, we’ve been able to program the machine to minimise the risk of batch failures by checking more parts at a much faster pace and far more accurately.
“Selecting Keyence equipment was a new venture for us, but as soon as we had the demonstration and tested a few of our parts on the IM-7500, it was a no brainer; we had to have that machine,” he adds. “The unit has more than paid for itself in just 10 months, and if we could have many more of these around the workplace we would do so in a heartbeat.”
For further information www.keyence.co.uk

Blackburn-based Apeks, a specialist in the manufacture of diving regulators, uses an assortment of Mitutoyo profile projectors that are strategically situated throughout the company’s production and QC departments.

As ever-growing global demand for Apeks’ regulators had resulted in increased levels of output, the need for an additional profile projector recently led to the purchase of a Mitutoyo PJA3010F-200.
The latest profile projector has a 200 x 100 mm X-Y range and a 380 x 250 mm table with built-in linear scales. Easy-to-read digital counters are located near the device’s 315 mm diameter projection screen, while a digital angle display facility eliminates the need to perform complex calculations.
Inspection data gathered by Apeks’ assortment of Mitutoyo profile projectors is downloaded to Mitutoyo’s MeasurLink software via RS 232C outputs. MeasurLink links and manages the measuring results generated by Apeks’ profile projectors into a common database of component information and statistical data. This data is shared across Apeks’ entire manufacturing facility and is used to prompt corrective actions, for analysis purposes and for various reporting functions.
Apeks’ quality manager Simon Mercer says: “Although we use a range of advanced material testing and inspection aids, we regard our collection of Mitutoyo profile projectors as our inspection workhorses. Quality control staff use the profile projectors for tasks such as making regular in-process quality checks, and for final inspection routines. In addition, our machine setters use them for duties such as checking the accuracy of first-off components before our machine operators continue a production run.”
For further information www.mitutoyo.co.uk

With the launch of the PCE-TC 24 infrared thermometer, PCE Instruments is introducing an interesting maintenance tool on to the market that measures temperatures within a range of -20 to 380°C. The temperatures are displayed as real images with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and IR images (infrared images) with a resolution of 33 x 33 pixels. In addition, the presence of a backlit LCD supports measurements in dark environments.

Non-contact infrared thermometers enable users to detect thermal bridges or hot parts, for example, which allows them to discover thermal problems in electrical systems, to locate mechanical failures, and thus to arrange the necessary maintenance work and save energy.
The thermal imager continuously measures the maximum and minimum temperatures of the object and shows their exact locations. Emissivity (value that defines how easily a material or an object exchanges thermal radiation with its environment) can be set in the menu of the PCE-TC 24 to a value within the range of 0.1 to 1. Additionally, the integrated memory function allows documentation and archiving. BMP files can then be read out via microSD card or USB.
An IR thermometer quickly shows results, and errors caused by a lack of thermal contact can be ruled out. Another advantage infrared thermometers have over common thermometers is that moving objects can be measured. The light weight of only 295 g, the compact dimensions of 195 x 100 x 55 mm and the included belt bag, make the meter very easy to carry.
For further information www.pce-instruments.com

NEMA Ltd, a manufacturer of motors, actuators and electromechanical assemblies, has invested in the latest Keyence IM series measurement system.
Andy Wilding, managing director at NEMA Ltd, says: “Aiming for, and indeed maintaining, the highest possible standards is an absolute necessity for us. We were committed to investing heavily in our inspection facilities, and had already identified areas where we felt improvements could be made.”

Companies involved in the aerospace industry face very stringent inspection requirements. These needs can be time consuming, putting a bottleneck on production, reducing productivity and, ultimately, costing money. In some cases, they may even provide a barrier to dealing with some of the larger tier-one companies.
With the IM series, more accurate measurements can be made and, in a short space of time, bottlenecks can be eliminated and costs reduced, says the company.
“With new equipment and a controlled environment, we felt the IM series was a key device for us to acquire,” continues Wilding. “In a nutshell: it matched our needs perfectly.”
The IM series image dimension measurement system was selected because of its range of specialist measurement tools, its built-in dimensional reporting feature and its speed of operation, among other criteria. These features all play a role in NEMA’s design, development and repair of electric motors and electro-mechanical assemblies. In addition, the image-measurement system allows NEMA personnel to measure more accurately than before.
“This Keyence device has proved essential to satisfy the needs of our varied customer base, which includes a number of tier-one aerospace companies,” concludes Wilding.
For further information www.keyence.co.uk