subject: Using Portable CMM Systems to Eliminate Quality Analysis Bottlenecks [print this page] When it comes to parts measurement in fabrication plants, the actual inspection facilities normally tend to be located in an area separate from the main production facility. Manufactured parts have to be brought into this special measuring facility to be scanned and analyzed by coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). This creates a bottleneck in the quality control process since the manufactured parts have to be transported from the assembly line to the measuring area and then, depending on the measurement results, they are either shipped out or scrapped due to not matching proper manufacturing specifications.
This bottleneck can, over time, amount to a great reduction In the efficiency of the manufacturing plant. Aside from the time needed to transport the parts between separate factory areas there is also the time cost of actually placing the parts on the measuring surface. While seemingly insignificant in situations where only one or two parts need to be measured, in an assembly line operation where thousands of parts may need to be measured each day the inefficiencies soon add up. This, coupled with the increased risk of part loss and/or damage during handling make this a significant problem for manufacturing operations.
Lately, however, there has been a movement towards the utilization of portable CMMs. These are CMM systems that are specifically designed to be both lightweight and mobile. Typically shaped like arms these CMMs make a perfect addition to assembly line operations.
A portable CMM consists of a measuring arm consisting of various segments connected by joints and terminating in a sensory head. The sensory head, like most CMMs, consists of a highly sensitive sensory probe that is protected from both damage and outside interference. The portable CMM comes equipped with its own computing unit for both recording and analysis purposes. This makes the portable CMM an attractive alternative to regular stationary CMMs.
By utilizing a portable CMM significant cost and time savings can be achieved by most manufacturing operations. This is why portable CMM systems are now a popular choice for most manufacturing operations worldwide.
Using Portable CMM Systems to Eliminate Quality Analysis Bottlenecks
