METROLOGY: INSPECTION AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT

Industry leaders frustrated with high cost of inspection: Push for speed in the quality department without sacrificing accuracy or adding complexity.

These days, equipment is only as good as the software that runs it. According to Erik Adams, of George Products Company, “Customers don’t want a collection of parts; they want a turn-key solution to their inspection problems that includes powerful software to drive the system.”

The OASIS Inspection System is driven by its own proprietary software that powers the system to operate at very high inspection speeds. New to the system is a strobe light source that creates the part shadow to be measured, and is controlled by the OASIS software to pulse light in micro-second bursts that effectively stops action. Couple that with a strobe rate of 6 bursts per second, synchronized with the shutter on the digital camera, and the result is the OASIS’ ability to measure all external dimensions in under a second - all without the part every needing to stop.

In yet another newly released feature geared toward speed, one-click reporting now instantly takes all measurements and exports them to SPC programs or the OASIS report spreadsheet.

"The speed of the Oasis has reduced our inspection time to seconds per component; reducing the need for a dedicated inspector doing audits and allowing the operator to inspect each component 100%. This has resulted in real-time data acquisition that helps manage tool wear and keeps the process stable during operation. The Oasis is the perfect inspection system to reduce inspection labor and is a great tool to monitor process operations."

Daniel Proveaux, Quality Assurance Manager
Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, COQE Certified Quality Manager
Goodrich Corporation - Bamberg, South Carolina

Founded in 1951 and located in Middletown, Delaware, George Products Company is the manufacturer of the OASIS Inspection System. The OASIS is a full-featured machine vision inspection system designed to measure multiple profile dimensions on parts, accurate to +/- 0.0001”, with all the measurements done in less than a second.

For more information, contact Erik Adams at (302) 449-0199, email info@georgeproducts.com, or visit our web site at www.georgeproducts.com

Metrology: Inspection at the Speed of Light

Industry leaders frustrated with high cost of inspection: push for speed in the quality department without sacrificing accuracy or adding complexity. These days, equipment is only as good as the software that runs it. According to Erik Adams, of George Products Company, "Customers don't want a collection of parts; they want a turn-key solution to their inspection problems that includes powerful software to drive the system."

The OASIS Inspection System is driven by its own proprietary software that powers the system to operate at very high inspection speeds. New to the system is a strobe light source that creates the part shadow to be measured, and is controlled by the OASIS software to pulse light in micro-second bursts that effectively stops action.

Couple that with a strobe rate of 6 bursts per second, synchronized with the shutter on the digital camera, and the result is the OASIS' ability to measure all external dimensions in under a second -- all without the part ever needing to stop.

In yet another newly released feature geared toward speed, one-click reporting now instantly takes all measurements and exports them to SPC programs or the OASIS report spreadsheet.

"The speed of the Oasis has reduced our inspection time to seconds per component; reducing the need for a dedicated inspector doing audits and allowing the operator to inspect each component 100 percent. This has resulted in real-time data acquisition that helps manage tool wear and keeps the process stable during operation. The Oasis is the perfect inspection system to reduce inspection labor and is a great tool to monitor process operations," said Daniel Proveaux, Quality Assurance Manager, Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, COQE Certified Quality Manager, Goodrich Corporation - Bamberg, South Carolina.

About George Products Company, Inc.:

Founded in 1951 and located in Middletown, Delaware, George Products Company is the manufacturer of the OASIS Inspection System. The OASIS is a full-featured machine vision inspection system designed to measure multiple profile dimensions on parts, accurate to +/- 0.0001-inches, with all the measurements done in less than a second.

For more information, visit: www.GeorgeProducts.com.

Hexagon Metrology Introduces New Motorized Probe Heads for CMMs

New versions of the popular TESASTAR-m and TESASTAR-sm series motorized probe heads adds greater compatibility with legacy products

North Kingstown, RI – March 17, 2010 – Hexagon Metrology, Inc. today announced the immediate availability of new versions of the TESASTAR-m and TESASTAR-sm motorized probe heads for Brown & Sharpe and Sheffield branded Coordinate Measuring Machines shipped from the North Kingstown, Rhode Island factory. These new variants of the popular motorized probe heads offer a 7.5 degree indexing increment for maximum compatibility with legacy products.

The new TESASTAR-m and TESASTAR-sm versions deliver -180 to +180 degrees of revolution, and 0 to 105 degrees of pitch for a total of 720 indexable positions. The TESASTAR-sm has the added benefit of an “in the quill” mount, thus increasing the effective measuring range along the CMM’s Z axis. With equivalent positioning compatibility with other legacy products on the market, the new probes also offer a distinct advantage by offering indexing speeds up to twice as fast.

As with the original 5 degree increment TESASTAR motorized probe heads, all are available in both M8 and TESA Kinematic Joint (TKJ) versions. The M8 versions provide a mechanical interface suitable for connection to standard M8 touch trigger probes like the TESASTAR-mp. The TKJ versions are for contact and non-contact scanning probes like the LSP-X1, ScanShark laser line probe, and CMM-V and -Ve video probes. Furthermore, the new probe heads are fully compatible with existing TESASTAR-e and TESASTAR-ae probe head controllers, TESASTAR probe extensions, and the TESASTAR-r probe rack.

Hexagon Metrology

Hexagon Metrology is part of the Hexagon AB Group and includes leading metrology brands such as Brown & Sharpe, CogniTens, DEA, Leica Geosystems (Metrology Division), Leitz, m&h, PC-DMIS, QUINDOS, ROMER, Sheffield and TESA. Hexagon Metrology brands represent an unrivaled global installed base of millions of CMMs, portable measuring systems and handheld instruments, and tens of thousands of metrology software licenses. Hexagon Metrology empowers its customers to fully control manufacturing processes that rely on dimensional precision, ensuring that products manufactured precisely conform to the original product design. The company offering of machines, systems and software is complemented by a wide range of product support, aftermarket and value-added services. More information can be found at www.HexagonMetrology.us

Carl Zeiss Announces Crescent Gage and Tool Sales as New Distributor for ZEISS metrology Equipment in US

For Central and Northern Texas, Northern Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas

MAPLE GROVE/Minnesota/USA – March 17, 2010.

Carl Zeiss today announced Crescent Gage and Tool Sales as a new distributor of ZEISS metrology equipment for Central and Northern Texas, Northern Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Crescent Gage and Tool Sales, with Precision Measurement Centers in the Dallas / Ft. Worth Metroplex (Rowlett) and Austin, Texas, will represent the full line of ZEISS coordinate measuring machines (CMMs).

“With Crescent Gage and Tool Sales, we have selected a competent and knowledgeable partner. A full staff of employees who are trained and focused on metrology, coupled with state-of-the-art facilities, allow Crescent Gage and Tool Sales to provide our customers with excellent sales and applications support throughout the region,” said John Grzybowski, National Sales Manager-West, Carl Zeiss IMT Corporation.

Crescent Gage and Tool Sales, established in 1971, has over 38 years of experience in selling, supporting, training, and servicing dimensional inspection and measuring equipment. “The ZEISS product line will significantly enhance our overall product offering and we are proud to be a part of the Carl Zeiss team,” adds Mike Freauf, President of Crescent Gage and Tool Sales. Their Dallas-area office is equipped with a demo showroom to promote Carl Zeiss metrology solutions.

Crescent Gage and Tool Sales
3809 Melcer Drive
Rowlett, TX 75088
Phone: 972-475-4265
Fax: 972-412-3601
Mike Freauf - President
Detailed territory information and office locations can be found at www.zeiss.com/imt or http://www.crescentgage.com/

Hexagon Metrology and Ellison Technologies Inc. Announce West Coast Partnership

Ellison will become Authorized Distributor of Hexagon Metrology Products in CA, NV

North Kingstown, RI – March 16, 2010 – Ellison Technologies, Inc., the largest distributor of Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machine tools and metal cutting solutions on the US west coast, and Hexagon Metrology, Inc. of North Kingstown, RI, the world’s largest supplier of metrology equipment and software, today announced a strategic distribution partnership at Ellison’s “Technology Days” event.

The Santa Fe Springs and Berkley, CA regional offices of Ellison Technologies will become authorized distributors of Hexagon Metrology’s dimensional measurement products across California and Nevada. Hexagon Metrology products are used in quality control applications for manufacturing and include programmable coordinate measuring machines, portable articulated arms, and software solutions under brand names like Brown & Sharpe, ROMER, PC-DMIS, Sheffield and more.

“This new partnership represents a tremendous opportunity for our California customer base,” said Graham Hooper, president of Ellison Technologies, Western Region. “Our focus is to provide our customers with the latest technological advances needed to stay competitive. Hexagon’s broad line of superior measurement products reconfirms that commitment.”

“We are extremely pleased to have a distributor of Ellison’s caliber onboard on the west coast,” said Angus Taylor, president and CEO of Hexagon Metrology, Inc. “The western United States has long been an important market for Hexagon Metrology products, particularly in the aerospace and medical markets. With the addition of Ellison’s extensive coverage and unrivaled expertise in applying manufacturing solutions to technologically sophisticated applications, we will be able to bring our unique lineup of metrology products to more customers than ever.”

The partnership allows both companies to more effectively serve the increasingly sophisticated requirements of the manufacturing community throughout the western United States, particularly in the aerospace, defense, automotive, energy, wind power, and heavy machinery markets.

The first formal event where both companies will participate together will be Ellison’s “Technology Days” event on March 16 and 17th, at Mori Seiki’s Cypress, CA showroom, where ROMER portable metrology products will be on display. Ellison Technologies will also join Hexagon Metrology at Westec 2010, Los Angeles Convention Center, March 23-25, in Booth 2601 as part of Hexagon Metrology’s “Shop Floor Zone” theme.

About Hexagon Metrology

Hexagon Metrology is part of the Hexagon AB Group and includes leading metrology brands such as Brown & Sharpe, CogniTens, DEA, Leica Geosystems (Metrology Division), Leitz, m&h, PC-DMIS, QUINDOS, ROMER, Sheffield and TESA. Hexagon Metrology brands represent an unrivaled global installed base of millions of CMMs, portable measuring systems and handheld instruments, and tens of thousands of metrology software licenses. Hexagon Metrology empowers its customers to fully control manufacturing processes that rely on dimensional precision, ensuring that products manufactured precisely conform to the original product design. The company offering of machines, systems and software is complemented by a wide range of product support, aftermarket and value-added services. More information can be found at www.HexagonMetrology.us

The company is a business unit of Hexagon AB (Nacka Strand, Sweden), a publicly-traded company (OMX Nordic: HEXA B).

About Ellison Technologies

Ellison Technologies is the largest machine tool distributor in North America, representing 80% of the metal cutting market. With 20 locations across the U.S., Ellison is committed to the survival and growth of the American manufacturing industry. In addition to distributing the latest CNC machine tool technology, Ellison provides engineering service support, turn-key solutions, robotic automation and machine financing. For more information visit: www.ellisontechnologies.com.

The First Scanner That “Actually” Measures

Werth Messtechnik GmbH presents its new scanner, the Werth FlatScope, for fast, precise, and reliable inspection of flat work pieces and extrusion profiles in a production environment. The main area of application is in the measurement of complex profiles (e.g. rubber, plastic, or aluminium profiles) as well as stamped parts, laser cut profiles, and circuit boards.

The exceptional features of the scanner, currently the most exact in the world, are based upon proven designs in its mechanical construction. This enables workpieces to be measured with the smallest uncertainty. The measuring range of this reasonably priced series of machines is up to 650 mm. Larger measuring ranges can be supplied upon request.

The Werth FlatScope is equipped with an Image Processing Sensor with telecentric or zoom optics as required. By using the unique Werth Zoom, constructed with linear guideways, an accuracy can be achieved which is unprecedented within the scope of the scanner. The magnification can be set via CNC controls. Powerful image processing, which goes far beyond the capabilities of common edge detector systems, makes the previous, time-consuming preparation of test pieces superfluous. The versatility of numerous available filters eliminates the need for extensive deburring. Even parts with profiles of 100 mm thickness can be measured with ease.

Completely automatic measurement of complicated, extremely low-contrast work pieces in Backlight and Surface Illumination can also be easily achieved. In Grid Scanning mode, the entire measuring area can be scanned quickly and all geometrical characteristics recorded and evaluated.

The WinWerth Measuring Software combines modern, intuitive user operation with exceptional features, making measuring with the Werth FlatScope particularly simple, thus enabling the machine to be used by untrained operators.

Wenzel introduces new grind burn gear surface quality control and testing capability for geartec gear measuring machines and wenzel lh gear measuring machines

By using the measuring features of Wenzel gear measuring machines combined with Barkhausen noise analyzer sensors and controls, gear surface defects like grind burn can now be detected.

In a continuing effort to enhance the capabilities of Wenzel gear measuring equipment, Wenzel has introduced a new feature that detects any presence of grind burn or pits on gears that are being measured on any Wenzel GearTec gear measurement machine.

The integration of this new grind burn detection capability was developed in association with Stresstech GmbH, a leading German producer of non-destructive process control equipment. The sensor technology being applied here utilizes the Magnetic Barkhausen Noise Method. This method is based on inductively detecting a noise-like signal generated when a magnetic field is applied to a ferromagnetic material. Barkhausen Noise can be used to analyze the micro-structure of a materials’ surface in terms of hardness and its microstructural condition.

Chris Pomm, Wenzel technical director explains, “Because gear measuring machines utilize very sophisticated programming software to inspect all geometrical features of gears and gear teeth, it’s logical that a sensor adapted to the same measuring arm, making many of the same inspection movements, should be able to inspect for grind burn and pits that can occur on the flanks of ground gear teeth. Typically chemical acid baths and optical methods are used to check for grind burn. With our new method, grind burn on gear flanks can be analyzed at the same time inspection occurs, eliminating the need for additional processing.”

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