Inspection & Quality

Slewing rings from igus are used in applications that handle high cycle speeds and loads, including control desks, welding equipment, indexing tables and chainsaws. Therefore, the slewing rings need to be extremely durable and reliable.

The L.S. Starrett Co. has announced the introduction of the HVR100-FLIP, a new large field-of-vision (FOV) benchtop vision measurement system that is capable of being used in either a vertical or horizontal orientation, features a high-resolution digital video camera and minimal optical distortion for accurate FOV measurements of up to 90mm (3.65").

Slater Tools introduces its new and comprehensive product line of GO/NO-GO gage sets for customer-specific applications. The full range of gages are designed and engineered precisely to inspect parts for machining process variations, such as form size, twist and tool wear.

A survey designed to assess manufacturers' preparedness for Industry 4.0 changes polled 537 manufacturing executives across eight industry segments. The vast majority of manufacturers surveyed have recognized the need for industrial transformation, with most already taking action. Those that have done so say they are already seeing benefits as a result.

Checking perpendicularity is a recurring theme on the shop floor—one that deserves detailed discussion and special tools, according to the Shop Operations column in the October 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

In 5-axis machining, accurate rotary axis centerlines are critical, so regularly measuring and verifying these values is also critical. While the best course of action is to measure the machine using a high-tech system intended for this purpose, in a pinch you can use a manual process.

Measuring machined parts on a surface plate has long been a tedious job, one that requires mastery of dial indicators, a pocket calculator and an adjustable height gage that most in the industry refer to as a "Cadillac gage." But several metrology providers offer a more sophisticated way to quickly and accurately check hole diameters, the distance between part features, centerlines and more. The tool is called an electronic height gage, and it has made Cadillac gages about as popular as whitewall tires.

Most inspection-in-manufacturing features these days are about precision metrology equipment. This one is about people. More frequent rotation of (human) plant inspectors at medical device manufacturing facilities could benefit consumers and lead to fewer product recalls. That's the finding of a seven-year review of Food and Drug Administration inspections of and subsequent recalls at such facilities.

Easy, accurate tracking of items through the manufacturing process is becoming more and more important in the quality-conscious 'Smart-Factory' era. RFID tagging has distinct advantages as a tracking method, but barcode scanning has its adherents too.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence announced improvements to the operating temperature range of its TIGO SF shop floor coordinate measurement machine. The CMM, which has an operational range of between 15° C (59° F) and 30° C (86° F) as standard, now offers the XT option to extend this range up to 40° C (104° F). The XT option can be applied to all new machine orders and is available as an in-field upgrade for installed TIGO SF CMMs.

HEIDENHAIN offers the new HEIDENHAIN-SPECTO ST 3087 RC-length gage, optimally designed for measurement applications in harsh environments, e.g., in metalcutting production areas. It has an IP 67 level ingress protection to allow parts to be measured directly at the grinding, cutting or forming location, instead of removing them to quality islands or laboratories.

Radix Inc. announces the release of its advanced vision inspection technology, InspectTracker. Support for Industry 4.0 with digitization of data for manufacturers was the impetus behind the development of InspectTracker. In particular, the requirements for detailed inspection procedures for complex part surfaces, currently hand inspected in fluorescent penetrant inspection booths, or FPI booths, was an opportunity for digitization that InspectTracker addresses.