WCA March 2016

Technology news

❍ Laser topography can provide a detailed 3D image of the part, detecting dents, flatness, chips and dimensional characteristics

Eliminating defective fasteners

AS manufacturers look to lightweight materials for improved fuel economy, the associated fastening problems necessitate zero defects through 100 per cent inspection. Manufacturers looking to reduce weight (or for cost savings) have turned to lightweight materials like aluminium, plastics, zinc and magnesium. The associated fastening issues require zero defects as production speed and quality depends on them. The fastener industry is increasingly relying on higher resolution 3D inspection of billions of fasteners. Gauging, sorting and cylindrical part inspection systems incorporating laser, vision and eddy current for dimensional measurement and determining metallurgical defects are now used for high-speed inspection of many fasteners. The introduction of lightweight materials has made zero defects a particular challenge when the fasteners are still steel. Quality control is critical because even small defects can cause big problems in working with lightweight materials, such as having to rework engine blocks if male threaded fasteners strip out of threaded holes. To address these production and quality issues, the increasing use of lightweight materials is requiring high-speed 100 per cent fastener sorting as well as more inspection capability from fastener sorting machines. Laser and vision-based machines can provide 100 per cent high-speed 3D fastener inspection. General Inspection, for example, uses 3D information from multiple laser beams to detect defects that may only be on one side of the part, such as damaged threads. Laser topography can provide a detailed 3D image of the part, detecting dents, flatness, chips and

dimensional characteristics. General Inspection – USA Website : www.generalinspection.com

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Wire & Cable ASIA – March/April 2016

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