FEATURE ON METROLOGY

Zeiss presents smart measuring lab

At last month’s MACH 2018 exhibition, Zeiss presented an extensive range of measurement and inspection technology, connected by the Zeiss Quality Network solutions.

On the road to Industry 4.0, measuring and inspection technology is increasingly being used as a control tool in manufacturing. However, as part of this new role, the technology needs to capture quality data more flexibly and quickly at different sites: in the measuring room, at-line and in-line. The technology must merge and evaluate this data and make it available to persons and/or machines for control input. That is where the Zeiss Quality Network comes in.
The Zeiss Quality Network offers a partner network for generating, networking and interpreting quality data, whether at supplier facilities, in the measuring lab or in a highly automated manufacturing environment. Software solutions such as Zeiss PiWeb combine the quality data of multiple measuring systems to create graphic measurement reports. This capability enables measuring technology, production and quality management to access all measurement reports anytime and anywhere.
At MACH, the machines on display included the DuraMax shop floor CMM and Prismo bridge-type CMM. Optical systems on the stand included the O-Select digital measuring projector, Comet fringe projection system and O-Inspect 543 multi-sensor measuring machine, along with a Virtual CT system. There was also a number of microscopes available to try, including the LSM 800 particle analyser and Smartzoom 5 automated digital microscope.
For further information www.zeiss.co.uk/metrology

Next generation of digital microscopes

Vision Engineering unveiled the next generation of its Evo Cam digital microscope at the MACH exhibition in Birmingham last month. Suited to close inspection and the recording of high-resolution images, the latest Evo Cam II benefits from the addition of user-customisable overlays, on-board measurement and Wi-Fi image transfer – all supported by a 30:1 optical zoom and a maximum magnification in excess of 3600x.

Evo Cam II replaces the original Evo Cam, which is already used for the inspection of automotive and aerospace components, medical devices, precision engineering, plastic mouldings and more. High-definition images can be captured and stored directly to a USB memory stick. When connected to a PC, images and video can be easily captured, stored and shared. A Wi-Fi dongle even allows direct sharing with PCs, laptops, tablet computers and smartphones.
Simple on-screen measurement can be performed with the aid of virtual callipers and scalable grids, while live images can also be compared to user customisable overlays, increasing efficiency of use.
A completely new graphical user interface and intuitive controls with 10 presets, allow for rapid swapping out of subjects under inspection, making Evo Cam II suitable for multiple users in high-speed production environments. A remote control option is available to maximise the ergonomic operation of the microscope when used over prolonged periods.
Evo Cam II features an LED ring light and sub-stage lighting for viewing translucent samples. High-contrast subjects, such as reflective metals used in automotive manufacturing, can be viewed in more detail using Evo Cam II’s Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) mode.
For further information www.visioneng.com

Aberlink provides shop-floor accuracy

Pinxton-based Nasmyth Bulwell, which specialises in the manufacture of precision parts, kits, airframe assemblies and sub-assemblies for the global aerospace and allied industries, has installed an Xtreme CNC CMM from Aberlink.

“Having evaluated several shop-floor CMMs against our list of requirements, a demonstration of Aberlink’s Xtreme CNC CMM, together with Aberlink’s market reputation, convinced me that the Xtreme was the ideal machine for our needs,” says quality manager Jonathan Walsh. “The accuracy, CNC nature and speed of our new Aberlink CMM means that it is able to perform comprehensive inspection routines on manufactured components within the cycle time of the machine tool it is located next to. Now, rather than our skilled machine operators taking a first-off part to our busy inspection department and experiencing delays waiting for a CMM to complete its current task, they are able to quickly confirm component dimensions before commencing full production.
“In the cell, as a machined part is now fully inspected before the next component is produced, the speed of feedback achieved through in-cycle measurement allows adjustments to be made quickly when a feature is drifting from its nominal size,” he adds. “Our new inspection method has increased efficiency and further reduced our already low scrap rates.
“In addition to taking the strain off our busy inspection department, the efficiencies we have realised through the use of our new shop-floor CMM mean that we plan to purchase further Aberlink Xtreme models in the future.”
For further information www.aberlink.com

Torque, speed and angle measurement

HBM Test and Measurement (HBM) has introduced its T21WN torque transducer. Based on strain-gauge technology, the T21WN uses contactless energy and measurement signal transmission to take measurements. The torque transducer enables the static and dynamic measurement of torque, rotational speed and angle of rotation to be performed on non-rotating as well as rotating components. HBM says that laboratory, test shop and testing applications will benefit, as well as performing production and process monitoring, and quality assurance.
Apart from the torque output signal of ±10 V at nominal (rated) torque, the transducer also provides a standard frequency output signal of 10 kHz ±5 kHz.

The T21WN torque transducer is available with nominal (rated) torques ranging between 0.1 and 200 Nm, while the maximum permissible rotational speed of the torque measuring system is up to 20,000 rpm, depending on the measurement range. An integrated rotational speed/angle of rotation measuring system with 360 pulses per revolution completes the transducer and can be used up to the specified maximum nominal (rated) rotational speed without restrictions.
HBM’s new torque transducer is supplied with a direct voltage of 24 V that is common in test benches. The T21WN is suitable for use in substantially more dynamic applications than the preceding model, the T20WN, thanks to its measurement bandwidth of 1 kHz. In addition, users benefit from a significantly broader range of functions than with
the preceding model – at the same price.
For further information www.hbm.com

Driving innovation at Portsmouth University

Ranked as one of the world’s top 100 new universities in the ‘Times Higher Education Rankings 2017’, Portsmouth University has rapidly ascended the UK’s academic pecking order. This is credit to a £150m+ investment over the past 10 years in buildings and resources. Part of this strategy has seen the university procure the latest metrology equipment from Mitutoyo for its School of Engineering.

Commenting upon the recent purchase of four Mitutoyo metrology instruments, William Keeble, lead technician at Portsmouth University’s School of Engineering, says: “We’ve been using Mitutoyo equipment for decades. It has always been consistently precise, reliable and robust, which is a pre-requisite when equipment is frequently operated by inexperienced undergraduates. Furthermore, the Mitutoyo brand is well supported with excellent training and technical support. The software is user friendly, intuitive and gives detailed reporting, which is another critical factor for staff and researchers alike.”
To cater for its diverse demands, Portsmouth University specified the Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex S776 CMM, a Roundtest RA-1600, a Formtracer SV-C3200 and a QuickVision Apex non-contact measuring system.
“The CMM bed is considerably larger than its predecessor at 700 x 700 x 600 mm,” says Keeble. “It allows us to effectively measure more projects than our old CMM. For undergraduates to learn the basics of metrology, we have a cylinder head from an old 1960s Austin, and students will measure the diameter and concentricity of the port holes, as well as the distances between reference points. More experienced students will use the Crysta-Apex S776 CMM to reverse-engineer components.
For further information www.mitutoyo.co.uk