Increased productivity with reduced tool costs by means of a collaborative measuring system

Industrial automation with optical 3D measurement

A key sector of Element Six's core business is the development and implementation of integrated production strategies in machining technology. The aim is the communication and networking of production systems, machines and measurement technology. So, the supplier of high performance materials is very precise in choosing his partners. They play an essential role in implementing fully automated production with machine-to-machine communication in the medium term. This also and especially applies to partners in measurement technology. Production suitability, automation and the ability to connect to existing production and quality management systems are basic prerequisites that production measurement systems for quality assurance must meet. For this reason, Element Six, which has already been using measuring instruments from the InfiniteFocus series, once again decided to invest in an Bruker Alicona measuring system. 

Connection to existing production systems for self-correction manufacturing

The CompactCobot enables this integration and networking in several ways. On the one hand, the optical collaborative measuring system is so robust that also in production high-resolution measurements are achieved in a high measuring speed and in high repeatability. Automated and therefore unmanned measurements in production are realized with the software interface AutomationManager. On the other hand, the Cobot has interfaces such as TCP/IP, Modbus/TCP or Anybus and can thus be connected to existing production systems. This integration enables communication between the individual machines and thus contributes to the implementation of self-controlling, self-correcting production.

Measurements are done without unclamping components

With the CompactCobot, Element Six has started to implement this modern manufacturing concept. Both the tool, an insert, and surface finish of the workpiece are measured in the lathe. Leahy describes the state of affairs as followed: "A central control system starts the testing process. At a defined point the lathe stops, the door opens and a further signal sets the Cobot in motion. The robot arm with 3D measuring sensor is automatically manipulated into the lathe and first measures predefined cutting edge parameters of the insert. The sensor then moves on to the workpiece and measures its roughness, which enables us to verify the surface quality. Then the robot arm returns into its original position. All measurements are carried out without unclamping components." The next step in planning is the automatic correction of machine parameters based on the measurement results. The Cobot transmits measured values or an OK/not OK signal to the lathe. "If tool or workpiece do not meet the specified tolerances, the lathe automatically changes machine parameters and testing continues. In this way, the first part is already produced as a good part", Leahy explains steps ahead.

Simple operation: teach-in of measurement series without programming skills

There is another aspect that is decisive for the implementation of integrated production strategies with automated measurement technology. Measuring systems must be easy to operate without programming knowledge. Bruker Alicona meets this condition. The teach-in of measurement series by an administrator is carried out in only three steps. Special programming skills are not necessary. The measurement is started at the push of a button, the measurement result is independent of the operator. As it is with other Bruker Alicona measurement systems already in use, the new CompactCobot meets the high demands of users at Element Six. "It took about a day to train an operator on the Cobot. Handling and user guidance is extremely simple and intuitive," says Leahy.