Measurement

END USER: Neenah Foundry Co., (920) 725-7000, www.nfco.com. CHALLENGE: Increase productivity and worker safety when measuring castings on a coordinate measuring machine. SOLUTION: A system that enables a CMM operator to load and unload castings in fixtures with minimal lifting, bending or twisting and easily move parts into the CMM's measurement zone on plates supported by air. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Mod Tech Industries Inc., (715) 524-4510, www.modtechindustries.com

END USER: Flint Tool & Die, General Motors Co., (313) 556-5000, www.gm.com. CHALLENGE: Verify machine tool accuracy when producing large automotive dies. SOLUTION: A PC-based verification system. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Inora Technologies Inc., (734) 302-7488, www.inora.com

A look at portable measurement technologies and their applications.

The May 2011 Look Ahead column looks at a gaging system that offers an alternative to traditional dedicated gaging.

END USER: Milwaukee Machine Works Inc., (414) 476-3285, www.milwaukeemachineworks.com. CHALLENGE: More accurately measure and document extremely large parts. SOLUTION: An ultraprecise coordinate measuring machine with a capacity for large parts. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Hexagon Metrology Inc., (401) 886-2000, www.hexagonmetrology.com

How microscopes and vision systems are used in machine shops for noncontact inspection and measurement.

Alan Richter takes a Look Ahead at an automated part-to-CAD verification system for a digital optical comparator.

END USER: Southwest Greene International Inc., (760) 639-4960, www.greenegroup.com. CHALLENGE: Effectively measure small, complex medical parts.SOLUTION: A measurement system that combines vision and touch-probe inspection. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Hexagon Metrology Inc., (800) 274-9433, www.hexagonmetrology.us.

END USER: Mitchel & Scott Machine Co., (317) 684-8247, www.mitchelgroup.com. CHALLENGE: Provide 100 percent inspection of internal thread pitch and depth and numerous external dimensions for two high-volume automotive parts. SOLUTION: Automated vision inspection and thread verification systems. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Compass Automation, (847) 426-6696, www.compass-automation.com

END USER: Rohde & Schwarz, (888) 837-8772, www.rohde-schwarz.us. CHALLENGE: Simplify and speed up measurement of micro parts and features. SOLUTION: Optical 3-D measurement system that employs focus-variation technology. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Alicona Imaging GmbH, (630) 372-9900, www.alicona.com