Automated measurement technology

In quality assurance, the "time" factor is an essentially important criterion. From data acquisition and evaluation to the presentation of results, everything must be done quickly and efficiently. Downtimes cost money and can be reduced to a minimum with an automated solution. The automated solution is particularly suitable for recurring measurement tasks and is already standard in the production-related quality inspection process in many companies. Geometry and surface data are recorded quickly and areally.

The automated solutions from Steinbichler CONZEPT Solutions GmbH (Steinbichler CS) open up new perspectives in automated metrology, especially in applications such as the automotive, aerospace, mechanical engineering and foundry industries.

Individual overall concepts

Steinbichler CS offers the customer a comprehensive complete solution from a single source. This can be based on a

Production-related quality inspection

Steinbichler CS has many years of experience in optical measurement technology and services as well as expertise in design. Steinbichler CS creates an overall concept for an automated solution that is specifically tailored to the customer's individual requirements.

In terms of basic design, the systems are always very similar thanks to standard components. All relevant components such as sensors, software, robots (incl. gantry systems), safety fences and safety technology are combined and offer a customer-oriented adaptation to the existing components - with electronic as well as mechanical interfaces.

For the system configuration, standard components are used which can be freely adapted with regard to the degree of automation, the software interface, the connection to a parts feed system, etc., as well as to customer-specific environments.

By acting as a general contractor (GU), the customer can draw on our full expertise and places the entire coordination of suppliers in experienced hands:

• Use for recurring measurement tasks in quality assurance
• Flexible, customer-specific plant concepts from a single source
• Robot combination with all available sensor types
• Open interface to sensor technology, robotics and evaluation software 3D digitization with new sensor 3D digitization opens up a wide range of new possibilities. A full-surface recording of the entire component surface brings new dimensions of informative value to your processes. With the sensor guidance by the robot, a fully automatic component acquisition is achieved and can thus be adapted to the most varied component sizes. Whether the customer wants to carry out measurements during series production, first sample a component or check the quality of a casting, many different applications can be realized. A 100 percent inspection of components, for example in inline measurement technology, must be coordinated with the cycle time and the evaluation (what is to be inspected?).

The 3D digitizing sensor "COMET® Automated", which was specially developed for automated systems, achieves maximum performance. Thanks to the compact design, the short working distance and the large measuring field, even regions on the component that are difficult to access can be detected, such as in the interior (entire body). The projection technology is based on the proven LED technology, which provides excellent measurement results even under difficult environmental conditions. 3D data acquisition with the sensor is particularly fast thanks to the dual network capability. The robot flange can be adapted to two different positions on the sensor and thus offers a high degree of flexibility.

For automated measurement technology, it is important that the ambient conditions remain constant. Fluctuating ambient conditions such as changes in light, vibrations or temperature fluctuations have a negative effect on measurement data acquisition. When designing an automated measuring cell, particular emphasis is placed on ensuring that it can be used in difficult ambient conditions.

Surface inspection systems with "ABIS II

The surface quality of a product is what the customer perceives first. Therefore, the early and complete detection of surface defects has become an essential feature in quality control.

The use of a surface inspection system significantly reduces scrap, as the surface quality is checked before the components are machined. Thanks to the very short measuring time, a 100 percent check is almost always possible, depending on the cycle time, component size and the expected result.

Due to the constantly increasing competitive and cost pressure, an early and objective detection of surface defects during the production process is indispensable. With the result, the corresponding tool or production processes can be optimized immediately, which in turn increases the efficiency of quality assurance. This also has a positive effect on the improvement of the surface as well as on the economical use of working time and raw materials.

User-friendly software

With the "Steinbichler VISIO 7" automation software, the entire process from programming to executing a measuring program is covered under one software interface. From project management to programming, simulation incl. collision control and evaluation, right up to logging, the processes can be integrated in a single software interface.

Offline programming

continuous and closed workflow. The focus is always on the user-friendliness of the software, which reduces the support and training effort enormously.

Offline programming can take place on a separate programming station (decentralized, not on the robot system). By means of a global database, this information is immediately available on the real robot system. This saves downtime and reduces errors when transferring data via data media. An integrated user management offers the customer the possibility to choose between the user and the programmer. The user can trigger the measurements of the components and the programmer is authorized to create robot programs (offline / online).

The design of the software is completely modular and thus offers open interfaces in every direction. A wide variety of robot types, sensors and evaluation software packages can be connected, offering flexibility and independence. The integrated collision check during programming (especially in offline operation) increases your operational safety and reduces the system occupancy time at the same time.

During offline programming, it is possible to simulate the measurement data, which provides an enormous time advantage during offline programming, since one can immediately evaluate the quality of the simulated scan visually. And: Due to the active data management and the history management, independent archiving plans can be created individually for each component and measurements can also be recalculated at later points in time, for example with changed evaluation parameters.

Versatile applications

For example, well-known engine manufacturers use the optical 3D measurement method for non-contact inspections in blisk production. With this much faster and more accurate method, throughput times of test procedures can be significantly reduced and the design of the components is optimized. The entire surface of the particularly close-tolerance engine components can be recorded here within a very short time, which was almost impossible with the tactile measuring technique used up to now. The optical method also opens up completely new dimensions for companies in terms of evaluating the measurements.