AUTOMOTIVE : DIMENSIONAL CONTROL OF MECHANICAL PARTS AND ASSEMBLIES
INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
The requirements of the Automotive industry are unique with large volumes of parts and a standard of quality control that cannot tolerate errors.
The control of mechanical parts firstly verifies compliance with the product’s specifications during production, and secondly, proves high manufacturing conformity to the end customer.
For Automotive manufacturers, product control also delivers added value. If it is well conducted manufacturing processes are optimized, defective parts avoided, and future defects anticipated. A real asset that makes it possible to secure and improve subsequent productions.
OUR EXPERTISE IN DIMENSIONAL CONTROL
Our long-standing experience in industrial control allows us to ensure the reliable control of complex mechanical engine or transmission parts for example.
Setsmart offers a complete line of manual and automated solutions for dimension measurement.
We work closely with our customers to provide standard or bespoke solutions according to their precise needs and whether quality control occurs on or off-line.
- Manual measuring devices
- Semi-automated measurements
- Automated measurements
PNEUMATIC CONTROL IS A FAST, EASY AND RELIABLE METHOD
Pneumatic measurement is recognized as the best method to control diameters with tight tolerances. Indeed, measurement by air jet or air leak (according to the term used), is a well-established technique proven to measure diverse dimensions, on critical mechanical parts, with very high accuracy and precision.
In line with our innovation on the Setsmart brand, with the METRIX ONE, KEP Technologies has modernized the pneumatic technology of SOLEX Metrology, to make it even more efficient, accessible, and usable in all environments.
Setsmart pneumatic measurement systems can therefore be used in diverse environments from the shopfloor to the cleanest labs, as they are not sensitive to the cleanliness of parts. This is a key advantage for example over optical measurement which requires neat parts during measurement.
A key application of pneumatic technology is the measurement of external diameters or internal diameters, but by using various air gauges or pneumatic sensors, the METRIX range is equally well-adapted to the measurement of diverse defects and aspects: straightness, coaxiliaty, flatness , etc.
Pneumatic measurement is ideal for controlling series of precise mechanical parts as is relevant in the Automotive industry. They are also applied for complex and key parts in other demanding sectors such as Defense, Aeronautics or even Medical.
Examples of air gauges
HOW DOES THE PNEUMATIC TECHNOLOGY WORK?
The control is based on the precise detection of air pressure variations when the gauge is placed close to the surface of the part to be checked.
It uses a perfect mechanical part as the standard. This part provides a reference during the calibration phase. The parts produced are then compared to the reference dimensions to assess their conformity.
This is a comparative measurement, suitable both for variable inspection (measurement of dimensions) and attribute inspection (conform / non-conform).
TACTILE CONTROL IS AN ACCURATE, PRECISE AND EASILY AUTOMATED METHOD
Tactile sensors have excellent performances with accuracies and precisions that can reach sub-micron levels. Their small size and measurement versatility make them easy to network to measure multiple dimensions and check geometries. They are also ideally suited for integration into automated machines. We work closely with our customers to select, assemble and integrate tactile technologies to best meet their cost and performance needs. The selection is mainly based on:
- The tolerance on the measured dimension, which determines the measuring range of the probes,
- The mechanical resistance of the part’s material, which has an impact on the strength of the probe tip and on its material (tungsten carbide, ruby, nylon, silicon nitride, etc)
- The control spot’s reachability on the part, which influences the size of the probe and the shape of the probe tip (knife, blade, pin, roller, point, flat and other shapes)
AUTOMATED SYSTEMS FOR HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY
Whilst manual measurement systems are very simple to use and generate operator-independent measurements, we also provide automated systems integrated into your production line. Depending on your needs and the parts to be controlled, we can combine non-contact and/or tactile inspection.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR
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Automated control of external diameter of transmission shafts
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Automatic dimensional control of thermo-formed and metallic parts
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Manual internal diameter control of complex assemblies
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Automated dimensional control of injection actuators
