Relying on rapid-fire micrographs: Inspection Efficiency

END USER: SGS Institut Fresenius GmbH, +49 6128-744-0, www.institut-fresenius.de.
CHALLENGE: Increase QC efficiency when inspecting composite auto parts.
SOLUTION: An automated opto-digital microscope.
SOLUTION PROVIDER: Olympus NDT Corp., (800) 225-8330, www.olympus-ims.com.

SGS Institut Fresenius GmbH performs detailed inspection of materials and parts for the automotive, aerospace and medical industries. To improve efficiency when inspecting carbon fiber-reinforced polymer parts for the new BMW i3 electric car, the SGS team in Dortmund, Germany, added a DSX500 opto-digital microscope from Tokyo-based optics manufacturer Olympus Corp. to its equipment portfolio. (Olympus NDT Corp. is located in Waltham, Mass.)

Courtesy of Lutz Ruminski, Bremen

According to a preselected grid pattern, the Olympus DSX500 opto-digital microscope automatically captures sample images.

As part of the QC process, SGS has to prepare and examine roughly 300 CFRP micrographs before an initial sample can be approved. Because a reliable assessment of the micrograph requires a complete image, this was previously accomplished at high magnifications by using a microscope to capture about 20 single frames and manually compile them to create the full image. This process was time-consuming, with each micrograph taking 15 to 20 minutes to compose. The DSX500 has reduced micrograph production time to about 5 minutes, according to the institute. This means SGS can handle jobs more quickly to meet tight deadlines and spend more time evaluating the images.

Courtesy of Lutz Ruminski, Bremen