Traditional flexible fixtures used on coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) can hold most parts, but some complex, geometric parts with multiple levels and steps, cannot be held by standard CMM fixtures.
In the inspection workplace today, hundreds of different metrology applications and software tools exist that, at best, can only marginally work together and share inspection data.
Progressive Tool & Manufacturing Inc. (Greensboro, NC), a precision tool maker, is finding that customers are increasingly demanding shorter lead times.
"The goal at Ford is to present customers with vehicles that have a 'factory fresh look,' no matter where in the world those customers are located," declares Farzin Ghodsi, Consumer Driven Six Sigma Black Belt at Ford Motor Co.'s Worldwide Direct Market Operations.
While a number of concerns must be addressed, many manufacturers have successfully moved coordinate measuring machines from the lab to the factory floor.