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Optical scanning probe will measure fighter airframe components
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Optical scanning probe will measure fighter airframe components Non-contact probing, and in particular optical triangulation techniques, have attractions in a broad range of applications. Such systems do not mark or damage critical surfaces, nor introduce measurement errors by deflecting highly compliant surfaces, while the lack of a probe ball eliminates the need for tedious offset calculations. The most attractive features of such systems, however, are that they allow measurements to be taken 'on-the-fly' and, because of probe stand off, larger overtravel can be accommodated than is usual on coordinate measuring machines, thus allowing the machine to operate at higher speeds. Optical triangulation techniques do have disadvantages; for example, they cannot be used to measure such features as holes and bores and the probe needs to be kept nearly normal to the surface. An
inspection system being built by L.K. Tool for General Dynamics will combine the advantages of traditional mechanical probes and emerging optical techniques, by mounting a Renishaw probe and the compact Ol~tocator on a two-axis manipulator mounted in the quill of the coordinate measuring machine. The system will be used to measure F16 airframe components at General Dynamics' Fort Worth, Texas, plant. The LK G80 Micro Vector inspection machine to be used has a measuring capacity of 60 x 44 x 32 inches and is a complete 3-axis cnc machine incorporating a granite and air bearing construction. Measuring accuracy bandwidths are 0.00001 inches per inch of travel on each axis with a squareness of 1.5 arc seconds. Machine resolution is 1 micron, 0.0001 inches. The Optocator probe to be used has a measuring range of 16 mm and a stand-off distance of 95 ram. In the second phase of the project, however, it is planned that the
vJ The Suss RA 120 GaAs Automatic Scriber is designed for diamond scribing of GaAs and other sensitive III-V or II-VI compound or semiconductor substrates. The hydraulically damped movement and Iow pressure scribing head provides vibration-free precise scribing even at extremely low scribing speeds, it is claimed. Independent selectability of all operation parameters ensures optimum treatment of fragile substrates. In addition to continuous scribing, the equipment is capable of scribing only the edge and/or intermittently on the surface of the substrate. This feature enables the production of chips with undamaged corners and high quality faces. Karl Suss hopes that the RA 120 GaAs will open a wide field of applications in solid state laser and other optoelectronic devices. Karl S(Jss KG GmbH & Co, Schleissheimer Strasse 90, D-8046 Garching bei Mbnchen, FRG
PRECISION
ENGINEERING
machine will be driven along a path defined by the nominal coordinates of the part and the probe output will then give surface normal errors directly in continuous 5-axis scanning mode. Initially the 2-axis manipulator will be used in a simple mode orientating the Optocator and touch probe as required to measure individual features, and so dramatically increasing speed while retaining flexibility. Two microprocessors, one controlling the machine movements and the other controlling the probe manipulator system, are interfaced with the system computer - - a Hewlett Packard 1000 A600 with 16M b winchester disc with tape stream. The LK system computer will be interfaced with General Dynamic's HP 1000 computer and data base. LK Tool Co Ltd, Building 22, East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Derby, DE7 2SA, UK
Monitoring system improves productivity in automated machining Substantial improvements in productivity of automated machining operations are promised by General Electric Company of the USA for an electronic monitoring system unveiled at the International Machine Tool Show in Chicago. At the show the system was operated in conjunction with an automated lathe equipped with a GE Mark Century 2000 numerical control. In a series of demonstrations, the specially equipped lathe displayed an ability to measure a workpiece automatically without separate measuring devices or operations. The monitoring system was developed by a scientific team from GE(USA)'s Research and Development Centre in Schenectady, New York and the company's Aircraft Engine Business Group (AEBG) in Evendale Ohio. The AEBG will be the first company to employ the machine tool monitoring system on a production basis. Specially outfitted nc lathes are now being prepared for use at AEBG's aircraft component manufacturing facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. GE claims that the machining cell at Wilmington will be 100% more productive than conventional operations. The monitoring system will
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Optical scanning probe will measure fighter airframe components Non-contact probing, and in particular optical triangulation techniques, have attractions in a broad range of applications. Such systems do not mark or damage critical surfaces, nor introduce measurement errors by deflecting highly compliant surfaces, while the lack of a probe ball eliminates the need for tedious offset calculations. The most attractive features of such systems, however, are that they allow measurements to be taken 'on-the-fly' and, because of probe stand off, larger overtravel can be accommodated than is usual on coordinate measuring machines, thus allowing the machine to operate at higher speeds. Optical triangulation techniques do have disadvantages; for example, they cannot be used to measure such features as holes and bores and the probe needs to be kept nearly normal to the surface. An
inspection system being built by L.K. Tool for General Dynamics will combine the advantages of traditional mechanical probes and emerging optical techniques, by mounting a Renishaw probe and the compact Ol~tocator on a two-axis manipulator mounted in the quill of the coordinate measuring machine. The system will be used to measure F16 airframe components at General Dynamics' Fort Worth, Texas, plant. The LK G80 Micro Vector inspection machine to be used has a measuring capacity of 60 x 44 x 32 inches and is a complete 3-axis cnc machine incorporating a granite and air bearing construction. Measuring accuracy bandwidths are 0.00001 inches per inch of travel on each axis with a squareness of 1.5 arc seconds. Machine resolution is 1 micron, 0.0001 inches. The Optocator probe to be used has a measuring range of 16 mm and a stand-off distance of 95 ram. In the second phase of the project, however, it is planned that the
vJ The Suss RA 120 GaAs Automatic Scriber is designed for diamond scribing of GaAs and other sensitive III-V or II-VI compound or semiconductor substrates. The hydraulically damped movement and Iow pressure scribing head provides vibration-free precise scribing even at extremely low scribing speeds, it is claimed. Independent selectability of all operation parameters ensures optimum treatment of fragile substrates. In addition to continuous scribing, the equipment is capable of scribing only the edge and/or intermittently on the surface of the substrate. This feature enables the production of chips with undamaged corners and high quality faces. Karl Suss hopes that the RA 120 GaAs will open a wide field of applications in solid state laser and other optoelectronic devices. Karl S(Jss KG GmbH & Co, Schleissheimer Strasse 90, D-8046 Garching bei Mbnchen, FRG
PRECISION
ENGINEERING
machine will be driven along a path defined by the nominal coordinates of the part and the probe output will then give surface normal errors directly in continuous 5-axis scanning mode. Initially the 2-axis manipulator will be used in a simple mode orientating the Optocator and touch probe as required to measure individual features, and so dramatically increasing speed while retaining flexibility. Two microprocessors, one controlling the machine movements and the other controlling the probe manipulator system, are interfaced with the system computer - - a Hewlett Packard 1000 A600 with 16M b winchester disc with tape stream. The LK system computer will be interfaced with General Dynamic's HP 1000 computer and data base. LK Tool Co Ltd, Building 22, East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Derby, DE7 2SA, UK
Monitoring system improves productivity in automated machining Substantial improvements in productivity of automated machining operations are promised by General Electric Company of the USA for an electronic monitoring system unveiled at the International Machine Tool Show in Chicago. At the show the system was operated in conjunction with an automated lathe equipped with a GE Mark Century 2000 numerical control. In a series of demonstrations, the specially equipped lathe displayed an ability to measure a workpiece automatically without separate measuring devices or operations. The monitoring system was developed by a scientific team from GE(USA)'s Research and Development Centre in Schenectady, New York and the company's Aircraft Engine Business Group (AEBG) in Evendale Ohio. The AEBG will be the first company to employ the machine tool monitoring system on a production basis. Specially outfitted nc lathes are now being prepared for use at AEBG's aircraft component manufacturing facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. GE claims that the machining cell at Wilmington will be 100% more productive than conventional operations. The monitoring system will
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