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What would constitute a very strong challenge
to this trio of closely allied techniques? A likely
candidate might be the making of on-line corrections
to a machine imposing multiple and complex bends
in a tube intended for long, hard use in a hostile
environment.
Information supplied to the system would need to be
accurate not only about the bend points but as to the
entire complex tube contour. The workpiece would at
all times require direct comparison with a master tube
or a CAD model, with supersensitive alerts to any area
out of tolerance. Correlation, conformation, correction:
all would be instantaneous and to standards well
beyond the norm and very little short of absolute
ideal. In fact, to the professionals whose products and
services are reviewed here, this is not a counsel of
perfection. It is daily practice in an industry in which
inspection, testing and measuring are crucial but
standard fundamentals of production.
Inspection, testing
& quality control
Photo: Scan Systems Corp, USA