In 2021, cylindrical grinding machine manufacturer Grindex, based in northern Serbia, installed its first CMM, an Altera M 20.12.10 manufactured in the UK by LK Metrology. The ex-demo machine is in daily use checking tolerances mainly to below ±0.05 mm and sometimes half that value. When the company was looking to invest, a CMM was chosen in preference to an optical scanning metrology solution, which was not regarded as being sufficiently accurate, probably by a factor of 10.

Having a nominal inspection volume of 2000 x 1200 x 1000 mm, the CMM is installed in a dedicated inspection room in the user’s Kikinda factory. The machine was supplied with a touch-trigger probe for general inspection and complex stylus builds, and an analogue scanning probe for rapid capture of dimensional and surface data from castings, engine housings, machined components, moulded parts, fabrications, additively manufactured components and assemblies. Training and initial programming assistance formed part of the LK package, as well as ongoing consultancy.

The LK machine was selected in preference to alternative brands of CMM based on recommendations from other manufacturing companies. Notably, the equipment has considerably upgraded the metrology capability of Grindex, whose quality control toolbox was previously limited to a profile projector, micrometers, height gauges, callipers and a combined machine for roughness testing and checking the roundness of smaller parts.

With the CMM, more comprehensive and earlier detection of out-of-tolerance features provide the ability to spot errors in a metal-cutting program earlier, lowering costs both through more efficient production and a reduction in scrapped parts.

Nikola Biresev, quality manager at Grindex, says: “The LK CMM is used not only for quality control activities and problem-solving, but also to support R&D.”

More information www.lkmetrology.com