Designing softwares and sensors to achieve system efficiency

By OEM Update Editorial January 3, 2022 4:50 pm IST

We will be introducing our latest shaft measurement machine “TurnCheck” at IMTEX 2022. VMMs enable customers to increase their productivity. 

Views and expectations from IMTEX 2022 

Imtex is the biggest machine tools show in India. This edition is being held in the aftermath of corona pandemic. We have seen loss of many lives, in some cases the diseased was the sole bread winner of the family. We have also seen loss of many jobs during this pandemic. Overall, there has been lot of negative sentiments in the personal as well as professional lives. However, IMTEX can be seen as a dawn showing us the ray of hope, by helping companies getting more business, generating more jobs, thereby sending positive vibes to people across all sections of society. 

Products and manufacturing technologies to be displayed 

IMTEX has always been a great platform to showcase new products and technologies. This will also continue in this show as well. We might see many state-of-the-art automation solutions, particularly involving CNC machines, robots & inspection machines by the side running in loop, thereby increasing the efficiencies manifold. Personally, speaking of QVI, we will be introducing our latest shaft measurement machine “TurnCheck” at the show. It is a non-contact system that can measure various shaft features really fast in a single set-up. 

QVI range of multi sensor measurement systems 

Advanced video measuring systems, have the capability to use multi sensors, thereby enhancing the speed of inspection resulting in higher productivity. 

QVI offers wide range of multi sensor video measuring systems, which consists of camera, laser & touch probes, offering the capability of several different measuring machines in one. This added utility provides complete first-article inspection capability, without the added measurement uncertainty inherent in measuring parts with several different tools or machines. 

A high-resolution metrology camera is the heart of any video measuring system – whether it is a single or multi-sensor system. Video is used for high-speed, non-contact measurement of a wide range of part features. As long as a feature can be “seen” by the imaging optics and camera, it can be measured. 

Certain features, such as curved surfaces, can be measured using the optical sensor, but may be measured faster and with greater precision using a different sensor such as a laser. Integrated laser probes can rapidly collect vast amounts of data points to characterize complex shapes, contours and profiles. These laser probes may also be suitable for transparent, or translucent, surfaces and difficult geometries, such as deep narrow slots or small blind holes. 

Other types of features, such as vertical surfaces, blind holes and cavities may not be easily accessible to the optics or a laser. A multisensor measuring system with a touch probe or scanning probe can measure contours, vertical surfaces, bores, cavities and under hangs, and combine those measurements with video and laser measurement results in the same automatic routine. 

Noncontact (video and laser) and contact (touch probe) technologies allow for the measurement of a myriad of parts and features, on a single measurement machine. One multisensor metrology machine will most likely be less expensive than several individual machines, and will occupy less valuable facility space. Additionally, personnel training costs will be minimized, as operators will only need to master one measurement system, rather than several. The greatest efficiency will be attained with systems and software that have been designed with multiple sensors in mind, rather than as an afterthought. 

Varied metrology solutions are available for different industry applications 

QVI is in the field of optics based inspection for the last 75 years. Initially the product range consisted mainly of Optical comparators. In the late 70’s QVI introduced its first video measuring machine. Since then we have supplied thousands of VMMs across the globe to various industries. Some of the prominent industries that we have supplied to include automotive, electronics, aerospace, medical, defence etc. We have different product solutions to suit different applications. We have supplied camera only VMM for small parts in electronics industry, sheet metal applications etc. For bigger parts in Automotive, Aerospace & Defence industries, we have supplied multi-sensor VMMs enabling customers to increase their productivity without compromising on the quality. 

Is metrology necessary for semiconductor manufacturing! 

Semi-conductor manufacturing is a high accuracy manufacturing process. As a result of which the inspection systems required should be of very high quality. Also the parts in semiconductors like vapours and IC chips have very small features which are difficult to measure on conventional measuring systems like CMM. A non-contact system like VMM is ideally suitable for measuring these features. The greatest challenge in semiconductor industry is the speed of inspection. Semi-conductor industry is volume driven; thousands of ICs are produced daily, so you require very high speed machines to measure so many parts with so small features. QVI has special systems that are ideally suited for semi-conductor industry. These machines have high speeds and are very accurate. We have supplied many such machines across the globe to semi-conductor industries. 

Your vision about 2022 

Manufacturing activity in 2022 is going to be strong. We are already seeing signs of that, as people are discussing various projects. Many MNCs are investing & setting up their plants in India. We are seeing lot of activities in the EV car segment which will be later followed up by EV commercial vehicle segment. Government has announced production linked incentive schemes for various schemes. All these are indicating that 2022 is going to be very good year for the manufacturing sector. We just hope there is no major outbreak of the 3rd wave.