Tomography in a multisensor coordinate measuring machine

The future of metrology –

Tomography in a multisensor coordinate measuring machine

For the very first time, Werth Messtechnik has integrated x-ray computer tomography into a multisensor coordinate measuring machine.

The Werth TomoScope^® measuring machine uses x-ray tomography to perform rapid, non-destructive geometrical measurements of interiors and exteriors of complex components. The measured point clouds can be calibrated with extremely high precision by using the additional integrated tactile or optical sensors. First article inspection is performed in a few minutes. Therefore, the ROI will be realized in a very short period. The traceability of measurement results is provided by a calibration according to coordinate measuring machine standards (ref. ISO 10360), which is unique for this kind of instruments. The gathered data can be easily exported to STL files for direct machine tool communication or directly imported to the WinWerth 3D CAD module for a graphical nominal-actual comparison in a deviation color plot display or measurement of constructed geometrical elements.

CORE-DS: Optical Scan speeds up the Inspection of Turbine Blades

Clamp the turbine blade, push a button and start the non-contact measure-ment. That’s it. – The latest development CORE-DS of WENZEL ScanTec, a subsidiary of WENZEL Group makes it possible: A robust and compact desk-top version for the production environment. Contactless and with high dy-namics and integrated software. That is the result of years of experience in the field of optical measurements of turbine blades.

In recent years, the aerospace and energy industry sectors have recorded signifi-cant growth rates; this trend is expected to continue in the coming years, albeit with a slight delay due to the economic crisis. One of the main manufacturing objectives is to maintain high quality standards while time cycles for inspection and quality control have to be reduced due to growing production volumes.

Optical non-contact solutions have increasingly gained importance in this sector, as they have often a huge speed advantage compared to current tactile solutions. Many optical measurement techniques require however a matt and therefore opti-cally cooperative surface to allow accurate inspection. Shiny or reflective surfaces are therefore to be prepared with a fine chalk powder; an application, which is seen as an inconvenient but necessary process step. "Many of our customers have expressed the desire to eliminate this working step. We at WENZEL ScanTec have in the recent years incorporated this requirement into the development of our tech-nology and can now offer with our system a significant process optimisation” said Klaus Mühlberger, managing director of WENZEL ScanTec GmbH. The optical measurement of shiny surfaces without the described preliminary step is one of the greatest strength of our blade inspection solution.

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METROSOFT QUARTIS

WENZEL-Metromec Launch First 4th Generation CMM Software

At the Control 2010 Exhibition, Stuttgart May 4th-7th, WENZEL-Metromec will officially launch their 4th Generation Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) software as a full touch and scanning probe application. Metrosoft QUARTIS is a fully CAD immersed CMM software and builds upon the three previous software generations of Metrosoft software.

Metrosoft QUARTIS is a true synchronous software providing for both a real-time graphics interaction with the physical CMM and, through extensive kinematic mod-eling, a real-time preview of commands selected from in-depth galleries of availa-ble inspection routines options. The graphics rich environment of Metrosoft QUARTIS utilizes the ACIS modeling kernel.

Metrosoft QUARTIS has been engineered to incorporate the licensed Microsoft Fluent User Interface, first introduced in the 2007 Office products, and uses a dy-namic series of ‘Ribbons’ as the user’s principle interaction with the software’s functionality. Typically in complex application software, such as that needed to program and operate a CMM, too many program features are hidden and hard to locate making the software neither intuitive nor fluent. The goal of the Microsoft Fluent User Interface is to make it easier for users to locate and use the full range of feature rich capabilities today’s advanced software applications such as Metro-soft QUARTIS provide and eliminates multiple toolbars, menus and pop-up dialog boxes. In addition an uncluttered workspace is provided reducing user distraction and improving dramatically productivity while shortening considerable learning curves. Metrosoft QUARTIS is the first example of the highly successful Microsoft Fluent User Interface in the field of metrology making its operation by Microsoft proficient users a breeze.

Metrosoft QUARTIS imports all the standard CAD formats including native geome-try files from all of the major CAD suppliers. Metrosoft QUARTIS is both an On-Line and Off-Line product and uniquely allows the CMM programmer to use the software off-line at the CMM while the machine is performing automatic part inspection, increasing further the productivity benefits offered.

The generated inspection program has been iconized eliminating the need for the programmer to interact with high level languages such as DMIS. The database is built upon Microsoft Access structure providing a powerful yet simple to manage database solution with fully integrated Statistical Process Control (SPC).

Click’n’Measure functionality, measuring strategy dynamic libraries, live preview, CAD geometry extraction with automeasure, rapid part alignment routines, con-struction libraries for elements, path planning with crash prediction and avoidance are just some of the dynamic features incorporated into Metrosoft QUARTIS guid-ing and assisting the CMM programmer through his measuring tasks.

All CMM measured data must be reported in order for the up and down stream manufacturing operation to have the necessary knowledge to control and adjust their respective processes. The reporting function of Metrosoft QUARTIS provides the user with a powerful combination of graphics and authoring tools ensuring inspection results are presented in a graphically enhanced, intuitive format. Bal-looned Graphical Reports, Colored Whisker Deviation plots, Topographical colored charts can be brought together in a single report and can be output in Excel or PDF formats. Authoring a new report is quick and can either be based upon one of the suggested available templates or, using a clean-sheet approach, created with the tools presented on the dedicated Ribbon; all of which will be immediately recognized by proficient Microsoft users.

Role defined access control provides for scaleable functionality, based upon user authorization level, including a standard Program Launch Panel providing for a single click launch of inspection part programs at the CMM by production opera-tors.

Metrosoft QUARTIS is available on the full range of new WENZEL CMMs, as an upgrade to existing WENZEL CMM users, or as a retrofit to all other CMM brands.

WENZEL Metromec, based in Chur, Switzerland, are experienced pioneers in the CMM software field having developed the very first PC based CMM software back in the mid-eighties. Quality, Reliability and Precision are the hallmarks of Swiss products; this could not be more important than in the field of Metrology where the software driving the CMM is benchmarking global manufacturing conformance against international metrology standards. Metrosoft QUARTIS accelerates per-sonal workflow tremendously and guarantees more efficiency and higher productivity.

A 15 minute video presentation of Metrosoft QUARTIS is available on-line or a free flash video CD can be requested.

About WENZEL Group

The WENZEL Group GmbH & Co. KG is one of the leading manufacturers of me-trology solutions. The wide range of WENZEL products include solutions in the fields of coordinate measuring machines, gear metrology, computed tomography, high speed measuring- and digitizing-systems and reverse engineering. The com-pany serves customers in various industries mainly in the automotive and aero-space industries, mechanical engineering, and electrical motor manufacturing, as well as subcontractors operating in those sectors. The company has subsidiaries worldwide and sales and service partners in more than 50 countries. The WENZEL Group is employing about 600 people.

Contact for further information

Dr. Evelin Arnold | phone: +49 6020 201-6110 | fax + 49 6020 201-66 6110

evelin.arnold@wenzel-cmm.com | www.wenzel-group.com

New from Carl Zeiss: CALYPSO 5.0

Increase measuring efficiency—from the generation of measuring plans to data analysis and documentation

OBERKOCHEN, Germany—May 04, 2010.

With the latest version of its standard measuring software CALYPSO®, Carl Zeiss offers additional functions with outstanding properties for users of measuring technology. CALYPSO 5.0 further improves measuring efficiency—be it the generation of measuring plans for contact or optical measurements, or the documentation and preparation of the measuring results.

With CALYPSO 5.0, the function for importing metadata as a feature directly from 3D CAD systems has been improved. It is now possible to generate measurement plans from the 3D models up to 60 percent faster. CAD metadata (PMI) in the form of dimensions and tolerances, comments in text form and data on surface quality and material specifications can be accepted with very high accuracy by CALYPSO 5.0. The Siemens NX (UG), CATIA V5 and ProE CAD systems, as well as the new open CAD format JT Open are supported. A 3D computer mouse increases the efficiency of offline programming.

An important feature has been added to the function of integrating a live camera image into the CAD model for optical measurements: CALYPSO 5.0 uses an interactive selection in the live image of the camera sensor to automatically navigate the coordinate measuring machine to the desired location. Extensive searching for a feature and the time-consuming positioning with the joysticks on the control panel are no longer necessary.

Optimized probing cycles make single-point measurements considerably faster. With the VAST® XT and VAST XXT probes, the time needed for a measurement is reduced by up to six percent. There is now a special option for the measurement of tubes. Entire tubes and segments can be inspected and specific values for tube production can be ascertained. The results are then available as correctional values for tube bending machines.

New features are also available for the METROTOM® computer tomographs from Carl Zeiss: they allow the definition of customized tolerance classes and visualization of the results in informative colored displays.

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Delta Air Lines uses the MAXOS non-contact measurement system from NVision

Delta Air Lines uses the MAXOS non-contact measurement system from NVision in its contract maintenance operations to achieve the highest possible accuracy in overhauling turbine blades and vanes. The traditional method of measuring blades and vanes to determine the level of repair required and to inspect subsequent repairs involves a series of manual measurements. “We have substantially improved on the traditional approach by using the MAXOS to provide consistent and repeatable measurements on parts with complex geometries and shiny finishes,” said Cameron Leonard, Special Projects Coordinator for Delta Air Lines.

Delta’s contract maintenance operation performs work on Delta planes as well as planes owned by other airlines and leasing groups. One of the most important maintenance operations is repairing blades and vanes at the heart of jet engines. Manuals provide numbers for critical dimensions on these parts such as the chord, axial chord and root. Maintenance staff measure parts and determine whether or not they meet the specifications. If they don’t, the part is repaired by building up the geometry with a welder, then machining it back to the original specifications and measuring it again.

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New 5-axis head for touch-trigger inspection on CMMs gives up to three-fold increase in throughput

Renishaw is introducing another innovative measurement product that is expected to transform inspection performance on a wide range of co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs). Utilising technology developed for the multi-award winning REVO® measurement system, the new PH20 probe head offers unique ‘head touches’ for rapid touch-trigger measurement, and fast infinite 5-axis positioning to guarantee optimal feature access. Its compact design makes it suitable for new CMM purchases and as a retrofit to the vast majority of existing CMM touch-trigger installations.

Proven probe performance

The new PH20 probe head also benefits CMM users with adaptive positioning to accommodate part misalignment, fast calibration routines, and an integral TP20 probe mount that optimises the working volume of the CMM, bringing 5-axis capability to smaller machines for the first time.

By incorporating the industry standard TP20 touch-trigger probe, users of the PH20 probe head will immediately have access to a range of proven probe modules, providing a wide selection of trigger forces, directional sensing options and extensions to meet application requirements. The detachable modules provide crash protection and can be automatically changed using the MCR20 change rack. Companies with existing TP20 systems will be able to upgrade to PH20 and utilise their existing modules*.

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