New products from HEIDENHAIN, Hexagon, Nikon and Renishaw.
Heidenhain Quality Inspection System
HEIDENHAIN recently announced the launch of the new QUADRA-CHEK 3000 evaluation electronics system. Displayed and demonstrated at IMTS 2016, the system is designed to complement high-precision measuring machines, whether on the shop floor or in clean room environments.
The QUADRA-CHEK 3000 is operated via a capacitive touch screen that is suitable for multi-touch and gesturing. The sensitivity can be adjusted so that the unit can be operated while wearing laboratory gloves. The front glass is chemically hardened and resistant to scratches.
Utilizing modern video tools that have, up to this point, only been available in a PC format, the QUADRA-CHEK 3000 allows operators to capture and analyze images through the camera on measuring microscopes and video measuring machines (VMMs). It can also be used in crosshair based optical comparators.
The QUADRA-CHEK 3000 has video tools that are designed to measure part features quickly and objectively. The options available for customizing operation are intended to make the QUADRA-CHEK 3000 user-friendly. These range from the language setting for the user interface to the output of measuring results. The measuring results can be printed out conventionally on paper or alternatively stored locally or centrally on a server as a PDF file.
For more information, visit the HEIDENHAIN website.
Hexagon Flexible Measurement Cell
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence has announced its new automated measurement work cell, the 360º Flexible Measurement Cell (360º FMC). Developed by Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Integrated Solutions Business Unit, Hexagon describes the 360º FMC as the first automated measurement work cell to deliver all four pillars of automation in one solution: flexibility, footprint, throughput and performance.
The 360º FMC is well-suited for automotive and aero structure applications, including powertrain and closure panel fabrication.
The 360º FMC solution is built on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) work cell systems integrated with Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence measurement solutions. This synergy of external devices, products, processes and systems packaged in a COTS format is intended to make these work cells easily customizable and quick to install.
According to the company, the power of the 360º Flexible Measurement Cell is that intelligence measurement systems rapidly return operational data to organizations, enabling fabricators to benefit from a truly data-driven manufacturing process.
“The 360º FMC automated measurement solution represents a complete synergy of the core strengths of Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, and it is leading the way toward the Smart Factory,” said Jeff Perry, director of integrated solutions for Hexagon. “As manufacturers advance toward Industry 4.0, intelligent, data-driven solutions like the 360º FMC are making the transition easy. The shop-hardened, innovative COTS systems will serve the needs of forward-thinking customers transitioning to smart production for greater productivity and the compelling cost savings derived from using real-time data.”
The 360º FMC is intended to be scalable, portable and modular. The solution is offered in three configurations: ready for in line, near line or off line applications.
For more information, visit the Hexagon website.
Nikon CMM Software
The traditional problem with inspection is that it takes time. Inspecting a first-off product can take hours on its own and hold up the entire production process. Inspection technology such as coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and vision inspection systems continue to add sophisticated features, but at times system software has not been the most user-friendly.
One modern development has been inspecting a component’s 3D CAD model to save time and improve efficiency. “Inspecting CAD and 3D is definitely a “checklist item,” said Mike Provenzano, applications engineer for vision products at Nikon Metrology. “If you don’t have it, you’re off a customer’s checklist.”
Nikon Metrology recently announced CMM-Manager 3.5 for Nikon’s iNexiv vision measuring equipment. CMM-Manager 3.5 integrates vision measuring, autofocus laser scanning, rotary indexing, and touch probing to provide a true 3D multi-sensor system for inspecting physical products based on 3D CAD models.
“Interfacing with the CAD model is today an integrated part of measuring and inspection with the iNexiv video measurement systems,” said Nate Frost, Nikon Metrology product manager. “This allows to take programming and inspection offline and drastically facilitates the programming work. As such it saves significant time to bring new products to market.”
Historically, vision measurements assumed users were working in a 2D template on an X-Y workplane and 3D CAD-based measurements were not allowed. The latest CMM-Manager software imports a broad range of 3D CAD models and enables users to pick features to create automatic probe paths for both vision and tactile measuring. Simulations can be run and inspection results can be verified in real time.
“The combination of vision, autofocus laser, rotary indexer, and tactile input allows to even measure features and geometry you can’t see,” Frost said. Measurement can be expressed as 3D reports in the forms of charts and models as opposed to long tables of X-Y data. According to the company, this makes reporting and decision making much faster and easier.
CMM-Manager 3.5 is not only available for iNexiv equipment; it can be retrofitted onto existing CMMs and articulated arms from Nikon Metrology and other technology providers.
For more information, visit the Nikon Metrology website.
Renishaw Multi-Axis Calibrator
Renishaw has unveiled its new XM-60 multi-axis calibrator. The XM-60 is capable of measuring all six degrees of freedom from a single set-up in any orientation for linear axes.
As demands on component tolerances increase, manufacturers are now required to consider all error sources from the machines producing parts—angular errors as well as linear and straightness errors. XM-60 captures all these errors in a single set-up.
Designed for the machine tool market, the XM-60 uses the XC-80 environmental compensator to correct for environmental conditions.
The XM-60 multi-axis calibrator provides an accurate laser system that incorporates a patented optical roll measurement and fibre optic launch system. The compact launch unit is remote from the laser unit, reducing heat effects at the point of measurement. It can be mounted directly to the machine on its side, upside down and even on its back, which is particularly useful in areas with difficult machine access.
The Renishaw XM-60 has been designed to measure machine errors directly, reducing the inaccuracies which can result from complex mathematics used in some alternative measurement techniques. Direct measurement enables comparison before and after machine adjustments with users’ existing part programs for XL-80 measurement. The receiver is wireless and powered by rechargeable batteries, avoiding trailing cables during machine moves which could cause inaccuracies or break the laser beam during measurement.
Renishaw states that the performance of each XM-60 multi-axis calibrator is traceable to international standards and every unit is also certified before shipment.
To support the release of the XM-60 multi-axis calibrator, a new version of Renishaw’s CARTO software suite will be released to guide users through the workflow of the measurement process. CARTO 2.0 includes Capture and Explore applications which already provide data capture and analysis for the XL-80 laser interferometer system.
The CARTO user interface can be configured to suit user preferences, with the ability to change themes and customise displays. It is tablet friendly and has expandable menu sections for ease of use on compact screens. Test methods are automatically saved, so for repeat testing users can recall an earlier test.
Capture 2.0 features a new part program generator, supporting Fanuc 30, Heidenhain 530, Mazak Matrix and Siemens 840D controllers, with more to follow in later releases. It can automatically set the dwell time in the program, based on the averaging period selected by the user, and ‘matched time’ mode to assist time based capture when using the XL-80 system. In XM-60 mode, Capture 2.0 uses the calibrator’s straightness measurement functionality to improve its ease of use.
XM-60 provides users with machine diagnostic capability through the measurement of all degrees of freedom from a ‘single shot’. By capturing three linear and three rotational error sources during measurement, users can discover the source of their errors, rather than the effect which is often seen when only performing linear measurement.
Handling all of this data is performed by the Explore 2.0 application which provides a summary view of all the six channels of data, each of which can be displayed against a range of international standards. The management of high volumes of data is also handled within Explore 2.0. A user-defined tag can be assigned to any test, or group of tests saved in the database, and data can then be filtered by these tags.
Renishaw’s XM-60 multi-axis calibrator is supplied in a Peli system case, with space for accessories and XC-80 compensator kit. The case has been designed to provide safe storage and transportation of the laser system, and in many applications the laser unit can remain in the case during measurement, simplifying the set-up. An optional fixturing kit is available to help with mounting the XM-60 to machines, which is supplied in a carry case for ease of transportation.
For more information, visit the Renishaw website.
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