FEATURE ON METROLOGY

Mitutoyo CMM ticks all boxes for AML

Advanced Manufacturing (Sheffield) Limited (AML) manufactures high-quality precision parts including complex gas turbine components such as blades, shafts, discs, blisks and bearings. Given the nature of the industries it serves, AML’s customers require work that complies with the most stringent quality standards. For this reason, the company recently purchased a second Crysta-Apex V122010 CMM from Mitutoyo UK.

Mark Hands, AML operations director, says: “The Mitutoyo CMM ticks important boxes such as speed of use, accuracy and aftersales support.”

Mitutoyo’s recently launched Crysta-Apex V1200, 1600 and 2000 series CMMs were developed for supporting the quality evaluation of volumetric parts, offering users up to 12.8 m³ of measuring volume. The robust and flexible range is able to accept touch-trigger probes, scanning probes, and both laser and scanning probes.

Crysta-Apex CMMs make use of a proven, lightweight bridge-type construction with high rigidity air-bearings on every axis, helping to deliver accuracy alongside both high speed and high acceleration rates. ABS linear scales provide high environmental resistance and save time at start-up as, unlike some other CMMs, homing is not necessary.

The Crysta-Apex V122010 variant, as purchased by AML, provides XYZ capacity of 1200 x 2000 x 1000 mm. Therefore, in addition to handling large individual components, users are able to load large batches of smaller parts on to the machine’s bed and perform fully automated mass inspection routines.

“As previously, the staff of Mitutoyo UK carried out a very efficient CMM installation,” says Hands. “In fact, the team not only installed the new CMM, but also relocated other inspection machines at the same time. The limited the amount of downtime and disruption within our facility ensured that we maintained our operational performance to our customer base.”

More information www.mitutoyo.co.uk

£3.5m Investment Drive Pays Off At Europlaz

A fast-growing contract manufacturing specialist for the healthcare sector has completed a
three-year, £3.5m investment drive as it targets new opportunities. Europlaz, which is
currently witnessing 20% year-on-year growth, has recently spent £750,000 on the
installation of three additional all-electric injection moulding machines to cope with an
increase in orders. Notably, this equipment complements a new CMM.

Boosted by an increase in capacity at its Southminster, Essex facility, the company is focused
on both UK and international medical device manufacturers and engineering design houses
seeking a strategic partner that can take projects from proof of concept to large-scale
commercial manufacturing.
“There’s been a massive surge in demand for our services, which support the development
and commercialisation of devices used in diagnostics, drug delivery, biotech and pharma,”
explains Katy O’Keeffe, marketing and strategy director. “We know there’s a massive
opportunity and have responded by continuing to invest. It takes our total spend to £3.5m
over the past three years and we’ve got more technology on order. This is the perfect time
to press the ‘growth’ button.”
Europlaz, which is ISO13485-certified, operates from a state-of-the-art production facility.
From here, the family-run business offers injection moulding, assembly, product validation
and access to modern cleanrooms, all certified to ISO Class 7 for the manufacture of Class I,
Class II and Class III medical devices.
“Sales have increased by 20% to £12.5m for this financial year and we’ve got contracts in
place to achieve over £14m in 2025,” says Rory O’Keeffe, commercial director at Europlaz.
“Investment has flowed into the latest equipment, which we’ve matched with a major
recruitment drive – taking on 25 new workers. A good proportion of these now form part of
our industry-leading technical team.”
More information www.europlaz.co.uk

Robot Tending Compatibility For Quality Tasks

Flexxbotics is offering robotic machine tending for quality inspection connectivity with the
complete range of 3D scanning and inspection products from LMI Technologies. Now,
companies can enable robot-driven manufacturing with Flexxbotics using LMI Technologies
to achieve closed-loop quality and Six Sigma consistency in unattended operations.
 
Flexxbotics’ FlexxCORE technology enables robots to connect and communicate with
equipment from LMI Technologies. With Flexxbotics, robots receive direct feedback based
on automated inspection results, enabling real-time adjustments to CNC machine programs
for autonomous process control. For inspection tasks, Flexxbotics orchestrates fleets of
production robots to achieve continuous operations, driving defect reductions while
improving throughput and increasing profit per part. 
 
Flexxbotics compatibility includes the full line of LMI Technologies’ Gocator sensors – such as
3D point profilers, 3D line profilers, 3D snapshot sensors and 3D line confocal sensors – as
well as Chroma+Scan multipoint scanners and FocalSpec 3D line confocal sensors. 
 
“We understand the important role that inspection technologies play in enabling smart
factory autonomy by providing the closed-loop feedback needed for autonomous process
control,” says Tyler Modelski, CTO and co-founder of Flexxbotics. “That’s why we’ve
developed a solution that is compatible with all types of inspection equipment, such as
probes, sensors, vision systems, lasers and gauges, CMMs and more.” 
 
Flexxbotics’ solution digitalises robotic production with autonomous process control for
next-generation smart factory environments. It runs both online and offline so production
continues with or without internet access. Flexxbotics works with existing business systems
like CADCAM, DNC, SCADA, IIoT, MES, ERP, PLM and others for comprehensive process
integration.
 
A full set of bi-directional communications, transforms and routing capabilities are available
in Flexxbotics for connected inspection tools, robots and machinery.
More information www.flexxbotics.com

Milestone Wenzel CMM Goes To ZF Group

Wenzel Metrology has delivered its 10,000 th CMM to the ZF Group. It marks another
important milestone for the company and underlines Wenzel’s close partnership with ZF, a
global specialist in driveline and chassis technology, as well as active and passive safety
solutions.
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‍The LH 1210  is the first machine of its size with the ‘Premium Select’ accuracy of 1.2 µm
+L/450 µm. This specification makes it the most accurate CMM that Wenzel has ever
produced in this size.
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Another highlight is the integrated new roughness sensor system, which can be used on
both the Wenzel LH series and the GT series (gear measuring machines). This technology
enables ZF to measure a wide variety of components flexibly and precisely, whether cubic or
rotationally symmetrical. The standard rotary table, integrated into the granite plate,
further expands the machine’s application possibilities and makes it a genuine multi-
coordinate measuring system.
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Wenzel has developed the LH 1210 in such a way that it is ready for future sensors and
technologies. As a result, ZF can invest in the latest technologies in the long term without
having to replace any hardware.
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A further decisive factor for ZF was compatibility of the measuring programs. The programs
of the GT series gear measuring machines can be easily used on the LH series and exchanged
between different locations worldwide. This gives ZF maximum flexibility and enables
optimal use of the machines in its global production networks.
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‍The 10,000 th CMM was ceremoniously handed over by senior management, Dr Heike
Wenzel and Dr Heiko Wenzel-Schinzer, as well as the key account management team led
by Björn Urland and Thomas Pfeiffer in Wenzel’s final assembly department.
More information www.wenzel-group.com

Wenzel expands LH series of small CMMs

The requirements for precision and efficiency are becoming increasingly specific. For this reason,Wenzel is expanding the standard sizes of its small CMMs in the LH series. With the introduction of the new sizes LH 67, 85, 105 and 107, the company now offers a wider range of machine variants that cover different measuring ranges. In turn, the expansion enables Wenzel to respond even more specifically to the individual needs of customers.

Wenzel has not only expanded the range of variants that make up its small LH machines, but also significantly increased the productivity and dynamics of these CMMs. From the smallest size, the LH 65, it is now possible to integrate the Revofive-axis measuring system from Renishaw. Revo offers a fast and accurate measuring process that improves measuring throughput and even includes the option of roughness measurement.

Notably, Wenzel attaches great importance to sustainability. The new LH machines feature a design that minimisespower and air consumption. With an environmentally friendly concept that focuses on durability and minimal wear and tear, Wenzel says the LH series actively contributes to lower CO2 footprint. This environmentally conscious approach ensures that the machines are not only efficient, but also sustainable.

With the expansion of the LH series, the companysays it is taking a significant step towards the future. With precise, economical and environmentally friendly solutions, Wenzel’s aim is to continue offering advanced machines and providing customers with the best solutions for their individual needs.

More information www.wenzel-group.com