Inspection & Quality

Slater Tools has expanded its accessory line to include GO/NO-GO inspection gages. In addition to standard sizes, inspection gages can be manufactured to custom specifications to help aid customers with manufacturing quality assurance.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence has released its new HP-S-X1 series of compact probes for 3D coordinate measuring machine (CMM) tactile scanning. The HP-S-X1 product line features a new bearing system for better joint repeatability and accepts longer horizontal styli for improved flexibility.

The Hansco-Mark micro percussion marking machine MP150i from C.H. Hanson is a reliable and production-ready, standalone marking machine. No extra PC computer is needed for operation, and the built-in computer has memory too store more than 30,000 marking files.

Titan Tool Supply Inc. announces the introduction of its second optical measuring device. Also developed in Germany by Schneider Messtechnik, the V-CAD 1 is capable of providing precise and fast measurements of parts up to 76mm X 63mm in size.

Keyence offers an all-in-one 3D measurement and inspection package featuring laser profiling technology and image processing algorithms. The new XG-X vision system makes 3D setup and programming easier than ever with a new user interface and programmable encoder, according to the company.

A fully portable platform scale for drum and barrel weighing that has live side rails and features a new wall or desk mount digital weigh indicator is being introduced by Alliance Scale Inc. The Alliance/CAS R-series drum scale is a heavy-duty portable platform scale with two handles and two rubber wheels that is designed for weighing drums, barrels, containers, skids, pallets and other industrial containers.

Spectroline's QUADRAN 365 Series multi-LED, dual-intensity, broad-beam UV-A (365 nm) inspection lamps are for a wide variety of NDT applications. All QUADRAN 365 lamps feature four ultra-high-flux UV-A LEDs for fluorescent inspection, plus a white light LED for flaw location.

As the plans for more and more machined metal parts include numerical surface finish specifications, the need diminishes to visually qualify that a part has, for example, "a mirror finish with no burrs" or to have the machinist with the finest touch scratch the surface with his fingernail to make sure it's "matte and rough."

Mahr Federal wireless data transmission capability is now integrated within its families of MarCal digital calipers and MarCator digital indicators using proven wireless technology. Both MarCal digital calipers and MarCator digital indicators send data to a small i-stick receiver, resembling a common USB flash drive.

Automator gets the grip with hand-held marking requirements by introducing the VIS-P portable laser marker. The VIS-P joins the Automator family of laser marking solutions, and is an extremely light and solid unit. Ease of use makes this a product of choice when marking, according to the company.

Keyence Corp. has released a new model of its VR-3000 Series. The new VR-3000 Series allows an instant, noncontact 3D scan of a wide area, which has been difficult to achieve with conventional methods. The new model can easily measure rough surfaces, flatness, warpness and planarity.

Doug Wetzel, managing director at contract manufacturer Protomatic, Dexter, Mich., is finding business to be slower than he wishes. Like many other U.S. job shops, the 45-year-old company is experiencing a slowdown caused by tumbling oil prices and worldwide political and economic uncertainty. The difference is Wetzel isn't too worried. His advice to fellow manufacturers is to not let market uncertainty paralyze them from seeing a slowdown's silver lining— namely, time to prepare for the inevitable upturn.