Compact and speedy inspection

Once in a while a custom development for one particular customer turns out to be just what many others also want – they just didn't know it until they saw it.

This is exactly what the Mitutoyo Gauging Technology (MGT) division found after development of a highly successful system for batch measurement of small parts for an orthopaedic equipment manufacturer. A combination of speed and accuracy in a self-contained, space saving package resonated with enough potential customers that MGT decided to promote the system to standard bespoke status.

MGT is the part of Mitutoyo UK responsible for providing a service to design, develop, test and install dedicated measuring solutions to meet specific customer requirements. Standard Mitutoyo products are combined with electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, optical and computing ancillaries as necessary. A common requirement is for automated fixturing to meet the need for manipulation of a part in ways that make the most of today's sophisticated measuring technology. This often involves rotation, tilting or even inversion to present the measurable features of the part to the measuring machine in the most efficient way.

At the heart of this now standard, batch measurement package is Mitutoyo's versatile Mach Ko-Ga-Me CMM. This compact device is designed for speed and accuracy – ideal for diverse measuring applications ranging from mounting on large structures such as machine tools for in-situ part measurement through to compact automatic measuring stations. Excellent 3D acceleration of better than two thirds G-force means that maximum traverse speed is reached within 10mm from a standing start, mainly due to the low mass of the moving elements. This means the probe reaches every measuring position significantly faster than is possible with a general purpose CMM.

The challenge in the orthopaedic application was to get the parts into, and out of, the Mach Ko-Ga-Me's modest 120 x 120 x 80mm (XYZ) measuring volume as quickly as possible to maximise the high throughput potential. The key component is a precision indexing table that mounts custom fixturing to hold the part during the measurement cycle. This enables each part to be successively rotated into position for running an automatic batch measuring cycle after loading.

MGT has prioritised the safety and cleanliness factors with this system so the Mach Ko-Ga-Me and indexing table are totally enclosed with interlocked access only permissible from the front for loading/unloading parts. The CMM's controller is mounted underneath the table together with a PC running Mitutoyo's widely-used M-Cosmos measurement and analysis software.

Offering cycle-time reductions of up to 50%, together with the absolute minimum footprint, the Mach Ko-Ga-Me CMM is described as an ideal small part automated measurement solution.

MITUTOYO
www.mitutoyo.co.uk