Inspection & Quality

Using on-machine inspection to check part quality can reduce lead times.

Low-cost, portable, surface-roughness measurement gages help users perform quick inspections on the shop floor.

Carbon dioxide, YAG and fiber lasers all provide a viable method for marking most materials and parts.

Multisensor inspection machines can be an effective compromise between the accuracy of touch probes and the speed of video or laser inspection.

A look at permanently marking metal parts with electro-chemical, indent or laser systems.

One machine shop's strategy for achieving zero-defect production relies on making all shop floor staff responsible for quality.

The successful selectio of a parts inspection system depends on thorough research and a willingness to invest.

The author gives an overview of the most common hardness testing methods: Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers and Knoop.

One company instituted a comprehensive plan for reducing setup times and saw its average setup time drop from 252 minutes to 39 minutes. The plan involves everything from standardizing tooling to consolidating raw materials to creating families of parts. The author outlines a step-by-step program that readers can apply to their metalworking setup operations.

Most people know that using the right grade of insert can improve nproductivity dramatically. Few know that the proper grade is also important nwhen utilizing round tools. The author examines the different types of ncarbide grades available for round tools.n

A 10-question quiz tests the reader's knowledge of gage usage and maintenance. The answers, which are provided, help correct common misperceptions about gages and gaging.

This article describes how one aerospace manufacturer boosted production capacity by partnering with a supplier, which began machining parts formerly made in-house. The article tells how the manufacturer shared its processes and manufacturing expertise with the supplier in order to ensure that quality and productivity were maintained.n