Case Studies: Portable Measurement Saves Time, Increases Accuracy
March 31, 2008
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One of A-Line Precision Tool 's precision-machined components is a tubular military reeling frame. As with many such parts, typical measurement tools simply could not provide the company with the means to inspect and verify to the customer’s demand.
A-Line Precision Tool (Toronto, Ontario) has more than 40 years of tooling and machining experience. They provide service to the aerospace and defense industries through a commitment to innovative solutions and quality control at every step. A-Line produces various components ranging from aerospace turbine engine parts to nuclear reactor components. One of the company’s precision-machined components is a tubular military reeling frame. As with many such parts, typical measurement tools simply could not provide A-Line the means to inspect and verify to the customer’s demand. Traditional tools were too slow and were unable to access all areas as needed.
The in-process and final inspection verification of structural frame components manufactured for markets such as aerospace and defense creates challenges that are difficult for traditional metrology methods to overcome. Many of these inspections include angular measurements and measurements of dimensions and sizes of prismatic features. Positional callouts of holes and machined features also are required. The overall size and complexity of the shape of these parts often do not fit traditional fixed coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). This typically forces the use of and reliance on combinations of hand tools such as calipers, height gages and bore gages.
Such tools have inherent inaccuracies and also may require reporting to be done by hand. Not only are these precision-machined components difficult to measure accurately and quickly with traditional metrology, but also the potentially flawed result can create slowdowns and added costs.
A-Line has achieved 34% timesavings using the Faro gage. Furthermore, measurements are 20 to 30% faster and more convenient than with a traditional CMM. In addition, the product’s ease of use allows anyone to be able to measure and inspect parts.
“The big plus for us is the set-up is faster,” says Rob Muro, president and owner of A-Line. “We can do in-process measurements right on the machine in 15 minutes. This could take 2 to 3 hours before when we had to take parts off-line, measure them and then set-up again.”
The Faro Gage-PLUS provides the benefits of portability and speed that allow A-Line to access hard-to-reach areas and inspect them quickly.
With the Faro gage, measurements are 20 to 30% faster and more convenient than with a traditional CMM.
A-Line has achieved 34% timesavings using the Faro gage.
Shown here is an operator inspecting a part with Faro’s Gage-Plus. Source: Faro
A-Line Precision Tool (Toronto, Ontario) has more than 40 years of tooling and machining experience. They provide service to the aerospace and defense industries through a commitment to innovative solutions and quality control at every step. A-Line produces various components ranging from aerospace turbine engine parts to nuclear reactor components. One of the company’s precision-machined components is a tubular military reeling frame. As with many such parts, typical measurement tools simply could not provide A-Line the means to inspect and verify to the customer’s demand. Traditional tools were too slow and were unable to access all areas as needed.
The in-process and final inspection verification of structural frame components manufactured for markets such as aerospace and defense creates challenges that are difficult for traditional metrology methods to overcome. Many of these inspections include angular measurements and measurements of dimensions and sizes of prismatic features. Positional callouts of holes and machined features also are required. The overall size and complexity of the shape of these parts often do not fit traditional fixed coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). This typically forces the use of and reliance on combinations of hand tools such as calipers, height gages and bore gages.
Such tools have inherent inaccuracies and also may require reporting to be done by hand. Not only are these precision-machined components difficult to measure accurately and quickly with traditional metrology, but also the potentially flawed result can create slowdowns and added costs.
Portable Measurement Solution
The Faro Gage-Plus eliminated these issues. A-Line decided to go with the Faro (Lake Mary, FL) solution for its cost, software and overall ease-of-use. The gage provides the benefits of portability and speed that allow A-Line to access hard-to-reach areas and inspect them quickly. The company measures each frame it produces and also generates a geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) report for its customers on every frame.A-Line has achieved 34% timesavings using the Faro gage. Furthermore, measurements are 20 to 30% faster and more convenient than with a traditional CMM. In addition, the product’s ease of use allows anyone to be able to measure and inspect parts.
“The big plus for us is the set-up is faster,” says Rob Muro, president and owner of A-Line. “We can do in-process measurements right on the machine in 15 minutes. This could take 2 to 3 hours before when we had to take parts off-line, measure them and then set-up again.”
- Faro
(800) 736-0234
www.faro.com
