Inspection & Quality

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.

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.

Advancements in marking technology can lead to lower integration costs and more benefits for the end user.

Nikon Metrology Inc. announces the release of its ShuttlePix P-400R Digital Microscope, made for inspection, observation, simple measurement and recording of high-resolution images.

The requirements for quality assurance have increased with 3D technologies. Previously all major dimensions could be taken from a 2D drawing for tactile measurement which is no longer the case today. Modern 3D drawings include little in the way of explicit dimensions. The curves of the free-form surfaces are almost impossible to verify, using traditional tactile measurement techniques.

Shop math remains essential because feeds, speeds, angles, and setups still have to make sense on the floor. This guide explains why stronger math skills improve machining decisions.

Behringer Saws has introduced a laser-based measuring system for use on the company's full range of sawing and turnkey pre- and post-cut material handling productivity-enhancing products.

Pinpoint Laser Systems offers a laser-based Microgage 2D system for measuring the flatness of machinery and production equipment.

END USER: Delta TechOps, (866) 676-3358, www.deltatechops.com. CHALLENGE: Maximize accuracy and efficiency in inspecting complex turbine engine blades and vanes. SOLUTION: Measurement system utilizing concentrated light.

Kistler Instrument Corp. has announced the North American debut of Type 5697-DAQ, a powerful piezoelectric force measurement data acquisition system controlled by Kistler's own proprietary DynoWare software.

Bonal Technologies Inc. offers its new Meta-Lax 2000 Semi-Automatic Touch-Screen System.

The MK-21 vibration meter from RWC Testing & Lab Supplies measures machine vibration to alert the user when to provide maintenance to avoid downtime.