Renishaw Measurement System Provides Flexible, High-Volume Gaging

Source: Renishaw Inc.

Renishaw Inc. showcases its Equator gaging systems, which are designed to deliver high-speed comparative gaging for the inspection of medium to high-volume manufactured parts. Key applications transmission components for automotive and landing gear for aerospace, among others. It is said to be a fast, highly repeatable and versatile gage designed for shopfloor use.

According to Renishaw, the Equator system can operate at a temperature range of 5-50°C and up to 80% humidity, and has been optimized for part loading via a robot or shuttle system. Configured for easy communication between the system and a variety of automated work cell equipment, integration into an automated cell is simplified. The result is reduced cycle times, improved productivity and increased throughput.

Introducing flexible gaging close to the point of manufacture also enables the validation of discrete machining operations, enabling automated process control and tool offset management.

Process control is significantly improved with the move from sample inspection to 100% inspection, whilst the Equator system’s Process Monitor function displays real-time gaging data bar graphs and charts, enabling process corrections and scrap prevention.

Renishaw’s Intelligent Process Control software (IPC) can record actionable data and provide automated real-time solutions, applying offset updates for common causes of instability such as tool wear and thermal drift.

Equator gaging systems have been designed to handle a wide range of parts and design changes, and the system’s automatic stylus changing rack enables the inspection of multiple parts in quick succession. Equator gaging systems are optimized for enhanced machine connectivity. Automation software and hardware have been developed to improve integration in automated cells.

The REN-IO interface unit, coupled with the EZ-IO automation software, allows the Equator gage to connect to a variety of external equipment in an automated cell with up to 32 digital IO connections. EZ-IO software simplifies the setup of automated manufacturing cells to configure communications between Equator systems and the cell controller.