System measures product as it’s developed & manufactured
CONFORMANCE to size and shape tolerances is critical in technical extrusion profiles used in many different areas of industry. Process stability and capability play an absolutely essential role as the requirement of accurate product measurement to guarantee customer satisfaction is crucial.
And that’s where laser measurement solutions become vital.
WD Hearn, one of the largest CNC machine tool suppliers in South Africa, can provide local customers with a system which measures the product as it’s developed and manufactured, providing the assurance that every profile delivered is dimensionally correct. Process improvements can be visualised in real time and statistical reports generated at the touch of a button.
Non-contact measurement and data capture of continuous process
The Profile360™ measurement sytem – from WD Hearn principal, Starrett-Bytewise, headquartered in Georgia, USA, a manufacturer of precision tools and measuring instruments – allows non-contact measurement and data capture of the continuous process. The user-friendly and visually pleasing software also allows the system to be versatile.
Profile360 is an in-line, real-time measurement system for continuously monitoring key profile dimensions in complex shapes such as rubber, plastic, ceramic and wood-plastic composite extrusions, roll-formed metal profiles, and profiled wire.
Profile360 employs CrossCheck laser line sensors to acquire thousands of data points around the profile and match them tp a CAD template where key measurement parameters such as width, thickness, radius and angle are extracted. Measurement parameters are compared to allowable control limits and displayed on the operator’s terminal with a green/yellow/red (pass/caution/fail) status indicator. Profile360 runs at rates up to 14 profiles per second. Profile360 is available in sizes of 10mm, 25mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm, all with circular field-of-view. Custom systems can be built up to 500mm.
Development engineers can now understand process behaviour in real time
Since Profile360 monitors continuously, it will alarm anytime the process goes out of specification so the operator can remedy the problem immediately. Any defective product can be sequestered before being sent to downstream assembly operations. Since Profile360 acquires such large amounts of measurement data, it can produce data histories that can be used to compare any run with historical performance. Development engineers can now understand process behaviour in real time, reducing development times and cutting costs.
Benefits include the fact that measurement records of production batches are stored automatically and can be accessed immediately. The versatile software allows statistical reports to be generated and supplied with the product. During onsite visits, customers are able to witness the automated measurement of the product at the point of manufacture. The software’s remote access also provides the opportunity for the sales team to login from a customer site and view the profiles as they are manufacturing. Other advantages include:
- Extremely high dimensional accuracy
- User-friendly software
- Automated measurement and data storage
- Simple and easy to operate
- Measures 100% of the manufactured product
- Real time measurement to reduce set up times
- Start-up time and scrap reduced
- Assists with design and development of new products
About Starrett
The L.S. Starrett Company, founded in 1880, manufactures more than 5 000 variations of precision tools, gages, measuring instruments and saw blades for industrial, professional and consumer markets worldwide.
The broad Starrett product line includes precision measuring tools (micrometers, calipers, rules, etc), levels, electronic gages, dial indicators, gage blocks and granite surface plates and custom engineered products. The precision group also includes M1 lubricant, and precision ground flat stock. The company also produces metrology equipment, including optical comparators, video measurement and inspection systems and multi-sensor measuring systems, and force measurement and material testing systems. These Starrett products are used by manufacturing companies of many types and sizes to ensure the quality of their products.
