Vibration-Immune 3D Measurements Enable Production Automation for Precision-Machined Parts

Automating optical instrumentation to increase inspection volume while maintaining accurate 3D measurements to meet the needs of the industries.

Dr. Erik Novak, General Manager at 4D Technology discusses Vibration-Immune 3D Measurements Enable Production Automation for Precision-Machined Parts. 

Precision-machined parts in aviation, automotive, and manufacturing industries have tightly controlled tolerances for the dozens of small geometries spread throughout a single part. Commonly referred to as edge break, chamfers and rounded edges can have specifications on the order of a few thousandths of an inch called out on every edge transition on the part. The sheer number of measurements needed on each part paired with the high volume of parts demands the ability to take not only one measurement quickly, but dozens in a rapid process. Quick, single-frame measurements of edge break geometries and defects can be done with a polarized structured light (PSL) method. The vibration immunity provided by single-frame measurements allows for PSL instruments to be mounted on collaborative robots. Robotic automation of such a device yields accurate measurements at volume in short amounts of time. This paper will discuss gage studies and the increased speed of inspection with automated optical measurements on stationary parts, parts moving on a production line, and rotationally symmetric parts on a rotary stage. The paper will also look at ongoing projects aiming to automate the inspection process itself, enabling one operator to inspect entire parts in minutes rather than days.