Quality assurance through automated component testing

By Staff Report August 9, 2024 6:06 pm IST

ZEISS ScanBox systems support LINDE + WIEMANN throughout the entire production process of automotive assembly. Integrating cutting-edge 3D measurement technology, they meet rising industry demands and ensure top-tier component quality with swift, precise analysis.

Combining profiling, stamping, joining, and glueing technology, LINDE + WIEMANN drives innovations in structural assemblies for the automotive industry. These products aim to increase vehicle safety and reduce weight. The German site in Hagenbach produces readyto-install assemblies of high-strength steel for this purpose and supplies them to global vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers.

Production processes must be monitored constantly to keep the quality of the complex parts at a consistently high level. Automated 3D measurement technology solutions from ZEISS support the tier-1 supplier throughout manufacturing: Three integrated ScanBox systems scan measuring data and submit it directly to upstream production using ZEISS PiWeb. Deviations are thus detected quickly, and appropriate corrective measures are initiated.

Growing quality requirements and high monitoring rates

As a close automotive industry partner, LINDE + WIEMANN has faced increasing customer demands and complex geometries for many years. This development requires constant adaptation of production and quality assurance processes.

The automotive supplier regularly shares its measuring data with customers. The parallel operation of the ScanBox systems significantly accelerates the measuring procedures. Quality management already receives valid information on part quality during ongoing production. “We pass on our measuring results to the manufacturing department so that decisive measures can be taken directly. This way, unnecessary quality costs can be avoided,” explains Peter Kluge, Head of Quality Management of LINDE + WIEMANN.

Flexibility during the inspection and change processes

ZEISS optical measuring machines offer significant advantages for automotive suppliers regarding accuracy. ATOS sensors digitise the entire surface of the structural components to be inspected within seconds via fringe projection.

Every measurement identifies possible deviations between the actual 3D coordinates and the CAD data, displayed through a colour comparison in the ZEISS INSPECT software. “Our parts are very complex. However, with optical 3D metrology from ZEISS, measuring the parts as required is easy and efficient,” explains Michael Kray, Quality Manager at LINDE + WIEMANN.

Furthermore, the company benefits from the flexibility of the automated systems. In everyday production, the low set-up time of the ScanBox system enables the inspection of other structurally relevant components within just a few minutes.

Verification of surfaces and sharp-edged features

using a gauge. However, in practice, this method proved to be workintensive and inefficient in terms of time. Moreover, the measuring results could have been more conclusive.

With the technology from ZEISS, hole positions or edge points are measured accurately and in great detail in the shortest possible time. “On the one hand, by accelerating the measuring procedures, we can eliminate human interference to a certain extent and further advance the topic of automation. On the other hand, we guarantee that the identical measurement positions are always measured in a process-safe manner. This cannot be done manually,” says Peter Kluge, summing up his decision to invest in automated, optical 3D measuring technology from ZEISS.