Softening hard gage costs: CMM Inspection

Billed as a “radical” new alternative to traditional hard gages that are dedicated to in-process measurement of specific parts, the Equator gaging system from Renishaw Inc. is based on a scalable and adaptable “parallel kinematic” structure that enables high-speed scanning, rapid moves between features and a high level of point-to-point repeatability, the company reports.

In a product-prelaunch application, Meyer Tool Inc., a manufacturer of hot-section jet engine components, was able to eliminate at least four hard gages in a work cell, according to Beau Easton, the company’s quality manager. He noted that each hard gage can cost up to $20,000 to design, build and maintain, and Meyer Tool has more than 100 such gages.

Courtesy of Renishaw

A Renishaw Equator gaging system has eliminated at least four hard gages in a work cell at Meyer Tool. Below: An example of a hard gage at Meyer Tool.

The parts manufacturer primarily uses a work cell-based, comparator-type system with pneumatic digital probes for in-process dimensional measurement of parts on fixed nests. “The Equator allows us more flexibility in the cells because we don’t need as many probes or as many different individual nests,” Easton said, adding that each probe costs from $500 to $600.

Meyer’s internal Orion SPC (statistical process control) data management system works in conjunction with Renishaw’s Modus software, which drives the gaging system. Equator systems are available with two levels of software: a shop-floor version, which allows DMIS (dimensional measurement interface specification) programs to be executed but prevents operators from making modifications, and a programmable version that enables creating DMIS programs. Meyer has the latter version because the majority of its programming is done offline, with coordinate measuring machine programmers using Unigraphics 3-D part models, Easton explained. “We like to work most of the program out that way and then go in and do the physical simulation.”