QUALITY & METROLOGY FAST & PRECISE
measurement programmes onto the new
scan centre with ease, essentially allowing
us to pick up where we left off, and the
support from Bowers Group was excellent
during this process.”
An unnamed senior inspector at the
company is quoted as saying: “In my
opinion, the Sylvac Scan F60T is 90% better
than the previous solution we had. The
biggest bene ts are down to its speed, how
easy it is to program and the increase in
quality as a result.
“It’s also very easy to calibrate;
calibration programs are set into the system,
so that the machine calibrates itself. It’s
just much quicker, far more versatile, easier
to use, and makes the job easier -– a really
good bit of kit.”
VOLUME INCREASE CHALLENGE
At Hertford-based Fluorocarbon Company,
a boost to measurement capacity was
required. After market analysis, the company
opted for Mitutoyo (https://is.gd/ibeliy)
technology in the form of a Quick Vision
Active CNC vision measuring system.
Operating from three manufacturing sites,
two in the UK and one in Europe,
Fluorocarbon is one of the UK’s largest
uoropolymer processor companies,
producing PTFE- and polymer-related
components and engineering plastics in
stock shapes.
For some time, Fluorocarbon’s Hertford
manufacturing facility has been engaged in
the production of complex PTFE components
for a prestigious global customer. These
parts have 50 slots along their length. In
addition to the accuracy of the size and pitch
of the slots being crucial to the components’
performance, every slot has four dif cult-toaccess,
critical features, each with
tolerances measured in microns. In the past,
the relatively low numbers produced meant
that Fluorocarbon’s quality department was
able to keep pace with production. That
situation changed when the demand for the
components rocketed. After considering
several alternatives, Mitutoyo’s Quick Vision
Active CNC vision measuring system was
selected and installed.
Now, rather than tie up a skilled
operator’s time performing the slow,
repetitive tasks to inspecting each individual
Smooth & effi cient operator
Paul Hodgkinson, technical sales engineer at Blum-Novotest, takes a look at the
hidden benefi ts of Digilog roughness gauges and why getting surface fi nish right fi rst
time can help send productivity through the roof
When CNC machining, it is all about being
able to measure and control the three
main variables in the machining process,
which are the cutting tools, temperature
and the workpiece itself. By applying
Adaptive Machining, you no longer have to
spend time resetting the workpiece on the
machine after identifying errors after postprocess
measurements. Instead,
corrective changes can be made during
the actual process.
Dimensional accuracy of the
workpiece is, of course, vitally
important, but
manufacturers also need
to ensure they are
monitoring surface
quality. A failure to do so
can cause a multitude of
issues. A few years ago,
Blum-Novotest (https://
is.gd/yeceri) hit on the
concept of adding an
analogue aspect to its range of
digital probes, so that not
only was it possible to detect
when the probe was
triggered, but also how much
it was triggered. The Digilog
family of products was born.
Using Blum’s TC64 RG probe
is, on average, saving fi rms
in the region of 40% in
machining time
Initially, the bene t of this was the
capture of far more data from the part in
the machine, so that full inspection was
possible and manufacturers were able
use this data to update tool offsets. The
rst probe in the world to offer this was
the TC64-Digilog and, following further
developments and client feedback, new
probe TC64 RG (Roughness Gauge) that
could measure the surface nish of the
workpiece was launched.
Designed to be robust enough to
handle harsh environments, as well as
guarantee accurate results with swarf and
coolant present, it was also imperative
that it could measure parts quickly to
ensure maximum productivity.
Subsequently, the TC64 RG has become
a market leader and a proven weapon in
helping manufacturers deliver more parts
that are ‘right rst time’.
Customers supplying the aerospace,
automotive, medical and renewables
sectors have been among the rst
adopters and are already bene tting from
poor surfaces being identi ed faster and
processes being corrected through
changes to tools, speeds and/or feeds.
The TC64’s performance complies with
ISO 4287 and ASME B46.1, incidentally.
On average, this approach is saving
rms in the region of 40% in machining
time, as they are not having to
scrap/rework parts or transfer
measurement to other
operations, whilst tool life
can also be prolonged
through eliminating
unnecessary machining
activities.
The automated
measurement, which is
accurate and repeatable,
means users can take
away a worker and retrain
them in other areas of the
business, offering greater
exibility on the shop oor
and the opportunity to
scale up quickly for new
projects.
Data generated can be evaluated in Ra
(roughness average), Rz (average
roughness depth), Rq (square average
roughness), Rt (total height of the pro le)
and Rmax (maximum roughness depth),
providing engineers with the complete
picture of the surface condition and the
most up to date real-time information.
The roughness values de ned by the
Blum TC64-RG are comparable with those
of a conventional, external surface
roughness gauge.
The TC64 RG can also check
waviness, which is the measurement of
the more widely spaced component of
surface texture. It is a broader view of
roughness, because it is more strictly
de ned as ‘the irregularities who’s
spacing is greater than the roughness
sampling length’. Waviness can occur
from machine or work de ections,
chatter, residual stress, vibrations or heat
treatment.
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