FEATURE ON METROLOGY

ViciVision drives quality control forward

At the annual Control 2025 exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany earlier this month, Italy-based ViciVision showcased the potential to combine confocal and touch probes in a single machine with its new Techno 914 series. This combination allows for dual non-contact and tactile measurement capabilities to meet a wide range of complex measurement demands.

The confocal system can perform fast, accurate, non-contact measurements of complex surfaces and hard-to-reach areas for splined shafts, while the touch probe supports shaped-defect measurements needs such as axial run-out, flatness, perpendicularity and keyway dimensions.

According to ViciVision, the result for users is efficiency, precision and seamless integration by providing multiple measurement modes within a single device. In turn, this enhanced efficiency and reliability optimises production workflows.

Through the strong combination of non-contact and contact measurement technologies, ViciVision says its Techno 914 series “redefines the possibilities of precision measurement”. Its multifunctional design not only enhances production efficiency but also significantly optimises quality control processes, making it an indispensable tool in modern industrial environments striving for excellence.

Notably, the machine is designed for use directly on the shop floor, allowing for immediate inspection and feedback on the production line. By enabling on-site measurements, the Techno 914 reduces downtime, eliminates bottlenecks and helps operators make adjustments before parts go out of tolerance, leading to fewer rejects. 

ViciVision’s Techno 914 is well-suited to measuring a variety of turned parts, including those used in the automotive, aerospace and medical industries. The machine features an ergonomic workpiece clamping lever for easy handling and a large open front for convenient loading and unloading.

More information www.vicivision.com

Testing specialist measures up £1m sales target

A Black Country testing specialist is celebrating its fifth birthday in style by committing to reaching £1m+ sales over the next 12 months. Staht, which was created by former 3M global product manager Rob Hirst, says it is transforming the way companies complete pull-testing and proof loading testing for fixings and safety eye bolts.

The company’s growing range of products have been designed to deliver optimal measuring performance and “boasts the best digital app in the marketplace”, giving a ‘connected’ solution that provides a GPS location, videos/photos and data in real time.

The Lye-based company has also tapped into support from Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM) to help it build brand awareness and access capital funding to buy a 3D printer. BGWM’s package of support includes advice from local business growth advisers, grant programmes to improve productivity and expedite the businesses’ journey towards net zero, innovation support, and assistance for entrepreneurship and start-up businesses.

“We’ve come a long way since we started in my kitchen during Covid-19 and sometimes you have to take a step back and realise how far you have come as a business,” says Hirst. “I knew there was a gap in the market for a new pull-testing and proof loading product and, five years on, we now have an industry-leading ‘connected’ solution.”

He adds: “Our first year saw us achieve about £250,000 in turnover, but that was all about laying the foundations, with 2026 set to generate £1m+ in revenues. To cope with this expansion, we’ve invested heavily in our warehouse and workshops on Hayes Lane Trading Estate and have recently added a new training centre to educate existing and new clients on how our products work.”

More information www.staht.com

Tailor-made modernisation of an LH gantry

With increasing market demand and growing technological innovation, Jintongling Technology Group Co Ltd is facing new challenges: the wind turbine components it manufactures are becoming increasingly larger, and measurement requirements are becoming more complex. Existing measurement devices can no longer meet the demands for high precision and efficiency. A new measurement solution was therefore necessary to meet both current requirements and provide future expansion options.

For this reason, Jintongling decided to collaborate with Wenzel to upgrade its existing Wenzel LH Gantry CMM (built in 2015). The goal was to future-proof the existing system and meet increasing demand for precision and flexibility. Wenzel’s professional team conducted a comprehensive inspection of the original measuring system.

“We not only inspected the core components but also conducted a detailed performance evaluation to find the optimal solution for Jintongling,” reports a Wenzel engineer. After intensive technical co-ordination, a custom modernisation plan was developed. The main modification consisted of converting the original bridge-type CMM into a gantry-type CMM to ensure greater measurement accuracy and stability. Furthermore, the measuring range was expanded from the original 2 m to 2.5 m in the X axis, and from 1.5 m to 2.8 m in height. Thanks to underground construction, the load-bearing capacity also saw a significant increase – a decisive advantage for the large-format measurement requirements in the fluid power and wind power industries.

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In addition to the improved workpiece holding capacity and load capacity, the expanded inspection function is particularly noteworthy. The modernised CMM now also enables gear inspection, enabling Jintongling to measure large gearboxes for wind turbines with high precision.

“With this solution, we can not only meet the increasing demands of the market but also gain a competitive advantage,” says a Jintongling representative.

More information www.wenzel-group.com

Mitutoyo unveils Formtracer Avant FTA-H3000

Mitutoyo’s Formtracer Avant series now welcomes the FTA-H3000, a model that seamlessly integrates surface roughness and contour measurement into a single drive unit. This addition completes a robust line-up, which includes the FTA-S3000 for surface roughness, the FTA-C3000 and FTA-C4000 for contour analysis, and the FTA-D3000 and FTA-D4000 featuring dual drive units. With the Formtracer Avant series, Mitutoyo says it offers a versatile and comprehensive range to meet the demands of precision measurement. 

Traditionally, measuring surface roughness and contour required two separate devices or drive units. The FTA-H3000 enables both measurements in just one operation, reducing user error while maximising productivity.

One of the defining features of the FTA-H3000 is its Z1-axis measuring range of 16 mm, a 3.2-fold increase compared with the previous model. This enhancement allows the device to measure workpieces with large height differences effortlessly, offering versatility for diverse applications. Whether dealing with intricate components or larger structures, Mitutoyo says the FTA-H3000 enables precise, high-quality results.

Precision lies at the heart of the FTA-H3000. With a Z1 accuracy of (0.5+0.02H) µm and low straightness noise, users can have confidence in their measurement data, reports the company. The system is compliant with ISO21920 and other industry standards, ensuring reliable and consistent performance. Additionally, its stylus attachment and removal mechanism allows for interchangeability, offering a range of styli with different geometries to meet various measurement needs.

A key advantage of the FTA-H3000 is its retrofit capability, providing existing Avant customers with a simple and cost-effective upgrade path. The ‘hot-swap’ function enables users to replace their drive units quickly and easily using a tool-free rotary clamp system, ensuring minimal downtime and uninterrupted workflow.

More information www.mitutoyo.eu

First open-access rotor spin testing capability

New equipment at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) will put the UK at the forefront of future hybrid and electric propulsion. The AMRC is now home to an open-access rotor spin test capability, the first of its kind in the UK, for high-performance electrical machines and rotating machinery. 

The equipment’s arrival has been made possible by funding from UKRI’s Driving the Electric Revolution (DER) challenge, delivered by Innovate UK and secured by UK-based Driving the Electric Revolution Industrial Centres (DER-IC) manufacturing innovation network, to support the industry in developing the technology needed to reach net zero. 

Some £1.2m of this funding has been allocated to help establish a world-class spin testing capability to support the design, manufacture and validation of electrical machine rotors and other rotating components. The Schenck Centrio 100 test system, installed at the AMRC’s flagship Factory 2050 facility, part of the DER-IC network, will allow component-level testing at speed and elevated temperatures to simulate in-service conditions. 

Together with the other capabilities at the AMRC, it will enable the ability to manufacture, test and iterate design and processes for high-performance electrical machines and rotating machinery. Professor Mike Capaldi, chair of DER-IC says: “Due to the lack of a UK-based open-access facility for high-speed rotor spin testing and certification, UK manufacturers are often compelled to offshore essential testing such as product certification – facing long lead-times and limited availability. This reduces the overall access to testing during process and product development making advanced rotor testing rare despite the benefits and cost savings it could yield. The installation of this equipment is a significant milestone in our mission to grow UK manufacturing in PEMD to power net zero.”

More information www.der-ic.org.uk