Product category:
Non-contact, Optical and Laser
News Release from: AICON 3D Systems | Subject: TubeInspect HD optical measuring system, at Bosch
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 March 2008
Optical system measures free-form
geometries
Producer of automotive starters and electric steering drives is now relying on an optical measurement system using free-form measurement to check formed copper pins.
Robert Bosch produces vehicle equipment components, especially starters and electric steering drives, at its Hildesheim Germany, factory Since January 2008, Robert Bosch has applied AICON's TubeInspect HD optical measuring system for the inspection of formed copper pins that are part of the starter engines
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Nov 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Mobile unit inspects components on site
A photogrammetric measuring system conducts mobile and non-contact inspections of shape and positional tolerances and makes CAD comparisons.
Tube measured optically in series production
Optical 3D tube inspection system allows for high-precision measurement of tube geometries, determines set-up and correction data and transmits them to bending machines.
After extensive research, Robert Bosch concluded that only TubeInspect HD is able to measure the filigreed geometries of these parts.
The Hildesheim plant produces 8.5 million starter armatures/year on seven production lines.
A winding with 25 formed copper pins is part of each starter engine.
Further reading
Dynamic 3D measurements with high speed camera
AICON 3D Systems has developed TraceCam F, a high-speed camera that allows for 3D recording of highly dynamic processes with a practically infinite recording time.
System inspects tube bending 100%
Automatic 100% inspection of bent tube components can be carried out in high volume production and the system transmits set-up and correction data to the tube bending machines.
The pins are made from continuous copper wire, cut in the right length, and finally moulded.
So far, it has not been possible to measure the geometries of these small pins.
Even a manual gauge check had proven non-applicable, said AICON.
This task is now performed by AICON's TubeInspect HD, which is specially designed for the measurement of small tubes and wires.
Thanks to the integrated function for the measurement of free-formed geometries, the system measures the pins precisely within only 10s.
Already one month after delivery, it is used in all three shifts in serial production for sample checks.
The results of the measurement are displayed in a colour-coded way so that the worker will immediately see if production runs correctly.
If the result shows any deviation, the user can arrange for adaptations to be done instantly.
Daniel Gremmel, responsible planner of the production process at Robert Bosch, said: "We produce about 200 million pins a year.
Therefore, we urgently needed an appropriate measuring system.
With TubeInspect HD, we are now in the position to identify the slightest deviation of the pin to its nominal data and correct it.
Thus, we can drastically reduce the number of deficient pins, and minimize the distortions in following processes.
Additionally, the portable system is used for Reverse Engineering to measure sample parts.
Cooperating with our construction department, we are able to optimize the production process even more".
* About AICON - AICON 3D Systems is one of the world leading providers of optical camera based 3D measurement systems.
AICON develops and distributes systems for the business areas of inspection and testing as well as car safety and tube inspection.
With AICON's latest products for automated test and process control, the company enters new worldwide market fields.
The majority of AICON's clients operate in the automotive and aerospace market.
* AICON will show the measuring system at the TUBE show in Dusseldorf, Germany, Hall 7a, Stand B01.
• AICON 3D Systems: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
