New Michigan Facility Showcases Latest Automotive Metrology and Inspection Technology

ZEISS Car Body and Automation Center teaches customers about inspection tech in the process chain.

The ZEISS Car Body and Automated Inspection Center in Wixom, Michigan. (Image courtesy of ZEISS).

The ZEISS Car Body and Automated Inspection Center in Wixom, Michigan. (Image courtesy of ZEISS).

ZEISS Industrial Metrology has opened a new facility to show off the company’s offerings in automotive metrology and automated inspection.

The ZEISS Car Body and Automation Center in Wixom, Michigan, will give customers the opportunity to see ZEISS’s technology firsthand, with ZEISS engineers on site to provide consulting, training, and customization.

 

AIBox and AIMax

The ZEISS AIBox, a main draw for the facility, is a fully enclosed measuring cell for car body construction. The AIBox “brings traceable coordinate measuring technology close to production,” using robot-guided optical sensors to quickly provide 3D measurements.

The measurements are unaffected by extraneous light and contamination, thanks to the full enclosure, ZEISS states.

Visitors will also get to see the ZEISS AIMax Digital-optical 3D sensor and the AIMax Cloud optical 3D sensor. ZEISS considers these technologies “the new benchmark in robot-based 3D inline metrology for sheet metal processing and car body construction,” boasting advantages including quick and exact measurements of tiny or difficult features.

The ZEISS AIMax cloud optical 3D sensor is, according to ZEISS, a new benchmark in in-line metrology. (Image courtesy of ZEISS).

The ZEISS AIMax cloud optical 3D sensor is, according to ZEISS, a new benchmark in in-line metrology. (Image courtesy of ZEISS).

The new facility will also showcase ZEISS’s portable 3D metrology technology, the ZEISS COMET L3D 2, a compact 3D measurement option. The tool features interchangeable lenses to suit a variety of measurement applications and offers a measuring time of around one second.

The ZEISS COMET L3D 2. (Image courtesy of ZEISS).

The ZEISS COMET L3D 2. (Image courtesy of ZEISS).

ZEISS believes the new Car Body and Automation Center will prove valuable to customers looking to learn about metrology solutions.

“This facility provides a one-stop shop for customers to come in and see the full range of ZEISS automated inspection solutions first hand,” said ZEISS Industrial Metrology’s Bob Wasilesky.

“The design focuses on learning, with dedicated stations highlighting the interaction of ZEISS technologies in the process chain. This center helps us illustrate how to make production more efficient in line, in the measuring room, and in-between.”

To learn more about metrology in the automotive industry, read Mystery US Automaker Invests in Automated Metrology or visit the ZEISS website.

Written by

Michael Alba

Michael is a senior editor at engineering.com. He covers computer hardware, design software, electronics, and more. Michael holds a degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Alberta.