Technoset UK specializes in manufacturing highly complex, precision machined components for the aerospace market. The parts, which are made from both common and exotic metals, are produced using sophisticated multi-axis turning and milling centers.

Following the line of investments in machine tools, the company invested in quality control technology including an OGP probe system, and, more recently, a Vici laser-scanning machine from Vicivision, said Kevin Kane, managing director of Technoset.

"The beauty of this machine is that you're able to program the part very quickly," he said. "In a lot of cases, an operator can go to the machine, load a part, press a button, it scans the product, and it auto-recognizes that product and goes automatically to the program."

Kane said that it makes the job for easy for the operator. "Within 30 seconds, he has a report of maybe 30 to 35 different features and characteristics that are either hopefully conforming or need some attention to bring them back into the mean."

"The Vici machine and the OGP machines are robust pieces of kit and they can be used in the production environment, which is where they really need to be because you've got to keep your spindles and production running. We keep them in the workshop, on the front line, right where they belong."

Kane said the most important criteria the company had when choosing the system was reliability and repeatability. After that, the next important needs are service and support. "I have to say that they [Vicivision] are always on the end of the phone if we've got a problem or a query or relating to maybe a program or a part that's running through a program."

"For me, it [quality control] is an integral part of what we do," said Kane. "Without that measurement capability, you can't produce the sophisticated products we produce with any degree of confidence. If a customer challenges something, how can you prove a result if you can't measure it? We need this modern technology to keep evolving."

For more information on the Vici laser scanner, contact Vicivision America LLC at 480-212-5172 or visit www.vicivisionamerica.com.