Inspection on a large scale

As a provider of CNC machining, precision engineering and specialist solutions, Express Engineering operates across a number of industries but is a premier supplier to the oil and gas, aerospace, defence and power generation sectors. Having recently invested in three large capacity machining centres and associated ancillary equipment, to enable the company to undertake new contracts within the burgeoning, renewable energy sector, Express Engineering is now able to machine a range of parts of up to 2m in diameter, weighing up to 8 tonnes.

Express Engineering's managing director, Nigel Davison, elaborates: “In the medium to long term, we expect that our planned increase in business will largely depend on our ability to manufacture large complex parts from difficult to machine materials and in our capacity to strengthening our position in industry specific supply chains – such as oil and gas, renewable energy and aerospace. To realise these company objectives and help maintain our current competitive advantage, we have recently made a number of significant changes to our business.”

He continues: “Having previously been operating at full capacity, the first phase of our expansion programme – an 18,000ft² factory extension – means that we now have room to grow. To ensure the quality of the output from our large capacity horizontal machining centre, having examined the alternatives, we purchased a Hexagon, Romer Sigma Measuring Arm and Aberlink 3D software.

“Mindful of the size of the components to be measured, and their demanding tolerances, we consulted Northern Metrology and owner Tony Smith suggested employing a combination of two complementary technologies – 2.5m Romer Sigma Measuring Arm, linked to Aberlink 3D measuring software. Now fully employed, the new combination is proving both easy to use and able to meet our stringent geometric part accuracy specifications.”

One of the lightest measuring arms in its class, the Romer Sigma offers total flexibility through the use of the wireless communications, optimum rigidity and its infinite rotation ability. The Sigma series provides total compatibility with all Romer accessories and equipment, including both contact and non-contact sensors and laser digitalisation equipment.

Aberlink's 3D measurement software is able to be used with almost any measuring arm. Featuring automatic shape recognition, a welcome bi-product of an Aberlink 3D inspection routine is that a picture of the measured component is created simultaneously on the system's computer screen. Dimensions between the measured features, mirroring those that appear on the component drawing, are then picked off as required. In essence the ‘smart' software package represents an intelligent measuring system that is able to automatically recognise and define the various features being measured. Aberlink 3D is simple to use and intuitive – so much so that a complete novice is usually able to perform relatively involved measurement routines after just five minutes product training, the company claims.

Northern Metrology
www.northernmetrology.co.uk