TPT September 2007

D esign, P roduction & M anagement S oftware

Popularity of measuring software leads to launch of new machine

ITP Group Ltd, UK, has launched a new measuring centre specifically for the inspection of manipulated or bent tubing. This introduction follows the popularity of the company’s software package for the measurement of manipulated tube, mostly used on standard coordinate measuring machines. The new machine has been specially created for tube applications. Available as a manually operated system, the machine can be upgraded to full CNC control if required, predominantly for the measurement of fixtured tube. It is constructed of high quality black granite in sizes that range up to 4,000mm x 1,000mm x 1,000mm, specifically to accommodate entire automotive exhaust systems and tube-based aircraft industry assemblies. The accompanying software package has also advanced tremendously. Added to the standard XYZ (Cartesian) dimensioning method, the new ITP Group machine offers full measurement capability for YBC dimensioning (Y = length between bends, B = rotation between bends, C = angle of

bend), as well as bracket/flange orientation. The software can also perform a ‘best fit’ of the tube measurements and graphically depict the point being measured. However, rather than being a coordinate measuring machine for tube applications alone, the new machine can also measure standard components, featuring a full geometric 3D measuring software package. This is important for tube manufacturers who want to measure items such as flanges and brackets as well as tubes. The new machine makes use of a touch- sensitive trigger probe, which generates an electronic signal each time the probe contacts a point on the workpiece. This eliminates the influence of operator touch on measurement results. Many different types of styli tips and attachments can be accommodated.

Instead, a 3D line laser is used to provide numerous points – better known as ‘point clouds’. These points are straightened out from their undefined chaos by a complex computing algorithm, to produce a satisfying result. This method is flexible and versatile, to allow for the merging and diverging bends of a freeform bent tube. Parallel to the measuring procedure, the graphical image formation of the measured tube on the monitor is fast because of the real-time calculation of tube data. TeZet Technik AG – Switzerland Fax : +41 56 2492878 Email : tezet_leistritz@compuserve.com Website : www.tezet.com › Laser measured bent hose, providing parallel visualisation for correction against CAD-data and bender

ITP Group Ltd – UK Fax : +44 1788 567 991 Email : marketing@itpgroup.co.uk Website : www.itpgroup.co.uk

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S eptember /O ctober 2007