Portable CMM moves and takes up less space

A large manufacturer of precision standardised components for use in injection moulding and die-casting tools finds portable CMM the most versatile and best choice.

DMS-Diemould is the UK's largest manufacturer and distributor of precision engineered standardised components for use in injection moulding and die-casting tools.

The group manufactures three quarters of its 12000-item product range, including plates, pillars and bushes, ejector pins, ejector sleeves and flat ejectors, as well as developing new products.

The production work is carried out by the group's engineering division, at its purpose built facility in Exmouth Devon, by a skilled staff of 90 people.

Operations manager, Gary Lomas, had a requirement to improve the company's measurement capability from traditional height gauges and hand tools.

"Whilst the existing measurement tools served their purpose we recognised that they were slow and results could be subject to operator variation.

Our need to use height gauges and move parts through ninety degrees compounded our concerns regarding these methods," Lomas commented.

"Our initial thoughts were to invest in a traditional coordinate measuring machine (CMM) as the standard solution to our three dimensional measurement requirements.

However, when we saw an article on the portable measuring device from Faro, we decided to take a more detailed look by having an on site demonstration.

"The demonstration proved to us that the portable CMM solution had a number of advantages; it could give us more flexibility as it could be moved around the factory and it also took up less space than conventional CMM equipment.

In addition, the software was very easy to use and the product was rugged enough to be used on the shop floor." Lomas added: "The machine also suited our production requirements as we manufacture a lot of "one off" custom machined mould bases and complete hot runner hot halves, which means that a traditional CMM offers no benefits in terms of speed.

We can also inspect parts whilst they were still set up in the machine tool, verifying they are correct before we move them and lose their positioning data".

Lomas concluded; "There were significant cost savings with the Faro Gauge without any compromise on accuracy - it suits our requirements perfectly and allows us to give our customers a simple inspection report verifying our parts are fit for purpose.".

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