Articles Tagged with ''coordinate measurement machine (CMM)''

When a shop begins the manufacture of rotating shafts, they frequently turn to their conventional CMM for part validation. However, this is often a case of using the tool that is at hand, rather than one designed for the job. 

The quality lab is a critical component to manufacturing companies, especially when preparing parts for production, routine inspection and also product development.

Mold and tool makers are under pressure to reduce their throughput times and unit costs in order to stay in business. How much of a competitive edge do companies enjoy with a zero-point clamping system and a measuring machine? The CEO of WESCHU GmbH ran the numbers.

The simple shaft is one of the ubiquitous items in every mechanical system. Shafts contain a number of key functional elements, such as splines, tapers, grooves, threads, cams and gears, which all have associated critical dimensions to allow these mechanical systems to perform the function for which they were designed.

While a high-performance measuring machine is a prerequisite for staying competitive, many quality managers are not achieving maximum efficiency and quality with their coordinate measuring machines (CMMs).

No one wants to spend time making scrap, and automation is one way to avoid or at least minimize quality issues. Rather than spending time making products that aren’t up to specification, operators will make good parts and catch quality issues earlier. 

Sensors are an essential part of a metrology system, and there are several key factors that inform a buyer’s choice. These include ease of use, accuracy, speed and cost. Comparing the options can involve both analysis of features and actual demonstration of capabilities, but to get meaningful information for either you have to ask the right questions.

If you’re looking for more data in less time, 3D scanning may be a good choice for your application.

Two years ago, Process Engineer Bill Roberts and his team at Minnesota-based Roberts Automatic Products, Inc., were looking to improve the company’s statistical process control (SPC) and its overall data collection processes.

Within a metrology inspection environment, fixturing is a three-step process of positioning, locating and securing a workpiece within a measuring volume for inspection.