Case Studies: Automotive Testing Achieves Shorter Downtimes
Volkswagen AS (Dresden, Germany) was looking for a calibration solution that would lead to shorter downtimes and transport times. The German automaker turned to Leica Geosystems' metrology division (Norcross, GA) and its LTD700 laser tracker for inspection and measurement applications at the Volkswagen plant in Dresden, Germany. Leica laser trackers are portable coordinate measuring machines used for industrial measurement applications such as part mating, alignment, calibration, build-and-inspect work, confirmation of close tolerance work and capturing 3-D coordinate data on-demand.
The calibration room at the Volkswagen facility is used for a variety of jobs associated with quality assurance in the production process, as well as testing the dimensional accuracy of various jigs for the automobile manufacturer's Phaeton model. A typical laser tracker application measures the skids, where car body parts are deposited and positioned accurately for specific production units. Additionally, the LTD700 is used for inspecting components on the bodywork and to control the correct positioning of components within the jig.
Because of the portability of the laser tracker, Volkswagen is able to achieve shorter downtimes and transport times, as well as faster reaction times in the case of unscheduled calibrations.
In comparison to the short range of traditional measuring arms, the Leica laser tracker can perform measurements from one strategic location. The LTD700 also collects single-point or surface measurements from objects in a measurement volume of up to an 80-meter diameter at a rate of up to 3,000 points per second in a single setup.
Volkswagen has other Leica laser trackers in service for prototype quality assurance at its Wolfsburg plant, in module assembly at its Braunschweig plant, and in the pilot hall and template shop at its Moselle plant. At its Moselle plant, the company uses the Leica T-Probe, a wireless, armless probing device, in tandem with the Leica laser tracker for precision measurements and testing in several fields and at any location.
sidebar: Benefits
• The handheld laser tracker achieves shorter downtimes and transport times and faster reaction times in the case of unscheduled calibrations.
• The tool can perform measurements from one location.
• The LTD700 collects single-point or surface measurements from objects in a measurement volume of up to an 80-meter diameter at a rate of up to 3,000 points per second in a single setup.
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