Inspection & Quality

Machine Technology: Companies partner to create an extremely fast-acting process monitoring system.

Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division launched DPA Industrial, featuring the new C1 Camera in combination with the AICON DPA series photogrammetry measurement system. Designed to make photogrammetric measurement simple and rugged enough to allow inexpert operation in inhospitable workshop conditions, DPA Industrial is set to establish itself as one of the most accessible high-speed/high-accuracy measurement tools on the market.

Exact Metrology announces the availability of its Artec LEO 3D scanner, which offers onboard automatic processing with an integrated touch panel viewer. This frees users from being tied to a computer for data capture.

Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division launched a new laser tracker line, the Leica Absolute Tracker ATS600. This new product introduces a new concept in metrology-grade laser trackers, with targetless 3D scanning possible for the first time directly from the laser tracker. The ATS600 can scan a surface with metrological accuracy from a distance of up to 40 meters with no need for targets, sprays, reflectors or probes.

Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division launched the APODIUS Vision System 2D, a standalone solution for advanced carbon-fiber part inspection. Designed for fast results within both production-integrated inspection or offline quality assurance contexts, the APODIUS Vision System 2D delivers 2D fiber orientation analysis. The system's data output options allow for specific actual-to-target value comparison – a key tool for ensuring high-quality results during composite production.

Non-contact laser tool setting systems use a beam of laser light passing between a transmitter and a receiver. Positioned correctly these systems can also be used to measure geometry and detect broken tools.

The XL Box marking laser has been improved to meet new users' requirements. It keeps all the advantages that have made it a best seller and a key reference for integrators.

Manager's Desk: Although stressful, auditing for quality, health and safety can make a company better

Providence Texture LLC, Smithfield, Rhode Island, is a shop leading the way and showing how much femtosecond lasers can do. Femtosecond laser technology represents a new frontier in moldmaking.

Aerotech's AGV-SPO single pivot-point galvanometer scanner enables a larger field of view and reduced spot distortion for critical laser micromachining applications. A unique optical design effectively controls the beam entrance pupil to be coincident for the X and Y scanner motion, increasing the effective numerical aperture of the scanner system.

Columbia Marking Tools Inc. pioneered the development of the double-acting air-operated impact marker and for many years the patented 8-ton Model 751 and high-powered 12-ton Model 851 Slide-A-Mark units have been the preferred choice for applying impact marks into a wide variety of materials.

BIG KAISER has developed Dyna Force, a device for measuring the retention force of machine tool spindles. Insufficient retention force of the spindle clamping mechanism could lead to reduced rigidity and vibrations, loss of machining quality, poor surface finish and shortened tool life. By ensuring that the retention force is at the correct level, cutting performance remains consistent, providing high-quality machining results.