The world of machine vision imaging is largely performance driven. We’re looking for features on a part, finding edges, gaging, etc. 

If you subscribe to Quality, it seems safe to assume that quality is a priority for you. But even when it is a priority, achieving high levels of quality is an ongoing challenge that requires effort from every member of the organization every day.

There’s no question about this column. I accept the blame for what appears in this monthly effort for better or worse. This column is all about the standards I often refer to in my rants. I frequently encounter folks who question the information these standards contain and sometimes the question is valid but there are ways to challenge or change technical details within them. 

Machine vision systems consist of several component parts, including illumination, lenses, camera, image acquisition and data transfer, and image processing and measurement software.

Many manufacturers do not know what credentials are available or how they are relevant to their workplace.

Global standards developer ASTM International launched its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (www.amcoe.org) with Auburn University, NASA, manufacturing technology innovator EWI, and the UK-based Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). Auburn and NASA also formally launched the National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence (NCAME, eng.auburn.edu/ncame).

The aerospace industry is increasingly adopting metal additive manufacturing for both flight safety-critical aircraft parts and non-critical flight parts. The approach offers a shorter development cycle, which means products can be developed quicker and design changes easily incorporated. 

Nothing could be simpler than fixed limit gages which explains why they remain so popular. But nothing so simple can remain so when humans are involved. 

More than ever before, plastics are being used to manufacture consumer and commercial goods across the world. From medical devices to automotive fasteners, plastics have made their way into nearly every industry.

There is a popular logic puzzle often referred to as “The Doors to Heaven and Hell” or “The Two Gates” riddle. It goes something like this: