Whether you work in a quality control laboratory at a major automotive manufacturer or are performing research at a university, it is common to encounter a universal testing machine that was manufactured before the 21st century.

Thread classes for product threads, and by extension the gages used to inspect them, can become a bit of alphabet soup. Some find the requirements confusing.

The ASQ Inspection Division Conference brought quality professionals to Louisville this week to learn more about measurement in the digital age. Keynotes by Mahr and Google provided a closer look at today’s quality challenges.

Readers of this column will be familiar with the subject of measurement uncertainty since I comment on it from time to time, as I did last month. Those readers that have not been that interested in it will certainly run across it on reports from their calibration sources.

When it comes to building cost-effective 3D vision systems, is it better to use a component-based (i.e., camera, laser, lens, brackets, calibration targets) or all-in-one (i.e., smart) approach? 

Whether an imaging system measures dimensions, verifies colors, or determines shape, the purpose of machine vision is to distinguish an object from its background. 

The demand for machine vision has grown exponentially as manufacturing facilities turn to automated quality control solutions to remain competitive in fast-paced markets with decreasing tolerance for error. In fact, the rise of machine vision is directly correlated with the increase in automation and robotic use in factories.

As part quality has gone up, it has become essential to provide not only the most complete dimensional data on a given part, but also other detectable data like simple contamination, porosities, scratches, discolorations, cracks, and other types of potential surface defects… especially in automotive powertrains.

In this article we outline the procedure for quantifying device repeatability of a 3D 15μm stereo imaging camera.

Phillips Precision, Inc. continues to improve manufacturing processes worldwide with its latest M5 Edge Finder™. Like the Pitbull® Clamp, Inspection Arsenal®, and Laser Arsenal® work holding solutions, inventor and owner Steve Phillips has the gift of designing simple, effective, low-cost and industry changing products.