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49 April 2020 / www.theengineer.co.uk
such as aerospace and automotive.
The infi nite positioning allows access
to more features and surfaces using
fewer stylus set ups. These benefi ts to
our customers have now been further
increased through the capability for
multiple sensor types to be used with the
same infi nitely positioning head. Optical
measurements using the RVP camera
system, surface fi nish measurements at
any angle and 3D surface capture, using
our latest fringe projection probe (RFP),
allow multiple measurement types to be
carried out in the minimum time on a
single measurement platform.
Give us a specifi c example of how a
particular solution is helping a customer?
PM: Senior Aerospace Weston wanted to
become more effi cient in the inspection
of critical machined aerostructure
parts - some of the more complex
aerostructure parts were taking up to
ten minutes to inspect using existing
3-axis CMMs, causing bo lenecks and
capacity limitations. The company had
introduced various inspection methods
using traditional measuring equipment
and hard gauging, but to limited
eff ect. With build-rates increasing, the
company approached Renishaw for
a solution to improve measurement
effi ciency without compromising quality.
We proposed the Equator shopfl oor
gauge. This solution cut inspection
times per part by around 75 per cent
and introduced more comprehensive
traceability to components ranging from
small items measuring 50 mm, to large
engine pylon brackets and landing gear
fi ings used in Airbus A320 and A321
models.
MY: Recently we supplied a universal
testing machine to a company who
are not using the machine as a tensile/
compression testing machine, but
instead as precision press tool. For this
application Tinius Olsen was asked to
design and manufacture a special press
tool fi xture with three independent
load cells (force transducers) integrated
within the fi xture itself. The customer
also required the machine to be fi nished
in their own brand colours, providing a
truly bespoke solution. The force signals
from the three independent load cells
were integrated directly into the testing
machine with each sensor having its own
independent signal conditioner.
MH: During a recent installation of a
Sylvac Scan optical system, we were
able to add the collection data from a
range of Bowers Bore Gauges and Sylvac
Indicators fi ed with Bluetooth, to
overall measurement results from the
Scan machine. This overall connectivity
solution means that the customer can
fully inspect all the elements of the
component and store all the inspection
data against that part in one central
server location.
What interesting developments can we
expect in metrology in the coming years?
MY: A major trend is the growth in
robotic applications, in particular
cobots, where a machine and cobot
work together. Robotic applications
were once only considered for high
throughput volume testing, but now the
market is also opening to lower volume
batch production testing. This can be
as straightforward as using a robot to
integrate one or more testing machines
to create a full feature testing cell.
PM: We foresee a further transition of
metrology away from traditional QC
labs to the factory fl oor. This will lead
to more integrated metrology solutions
validating processes at source, with
real-time automatic compensation for
process variation. A minimum number
of discrete metrology systems will be
integrated, with an increasing range
of sensor technologies delivering the
fl exibility to meet increased product
mix, variable feature types and frequent
product design changes.
MH: We will see automation take a
bigger role with more machines able to
work with collaborative robots to load
and unload machine tools, but also
place these fi nished or semi-fi nished
components into inspection devices and
allow good parts to continue through
the process whilst re-working others.
With the need to drive up effi ciencies
these changes are essential for the UK to
maintain a competitive edge.
TECH
DETA I LS
Renishaw’s REVO
5-axis scanning
system for CMMs
a major trend is the growth in robotic
applications, in particular cobots Mark Youings
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