Flexible Gauge Features Touch-Trigger Probing Capability
February 1, 2015
Renishaw's Equator shop floor comparative gauge features a new touch-trigger probing capability via the TP20 probe, which can now be used in addition to the scanning SP25 probe. The two probing technologies allow the choice of the fastest data capture technique for each application or part.
"Equator with TP20 is an ideal alternative for in-line gauging tasks which might have used expensive custom hard gauges with single-point air gauges or LVDTs," said a company spokesperson. "TP20 can be used for fast capture of discrete point data, with the stiff lightweight structure of Equator allowing short cycle times and high repeatability on simple touch point measurements. The touch trigger kit includes industry-standard TP20 modules and a new range of extension bars and joints. The Equator can also switch automatically to the SP25 scanning module using the integrated changing rack to provide any combination of measurement routines. SP25 allows continuous scanning of features at scan speeds of up to 200 mm/s to gather high volumes of data on the form of features."
Feature Compare Interface
Equator uses the principle of mastering to cope with changes in temperature on the shop floor, and the process of calibrating the master part is designed to be faster with the new Feature Compare function. "Master parts do not need to be expensive or custom made; users can simply take a production part and measure it in any number of ways, such as on a calibrated coordinate measuring machine (CMM) in a temperature-controlled environment," said the spokesperson. This measurement establishes the variation of the master part from the CAD or drawing nominals. Feature Compare then allows the user to take the master part's measurement data and enter the compensation values for each feature's size, position or orientation relative to the CAD or drawing nominals.
According to the company, re-mastering Equator on the shop floor with the master part is as fast as measuring a production part and immediately compensates for any change in the thermal conditions of a shop floor environment. Equator can be used in factories with wide temperature variation - re-master and the system is "re-zeroed" and ready for repeatable comparison measurements.
Traceability to Calibrated CMMs
The calibrated absolute accuracy of the CMM or other devices (often kept in a temperature-controlled metrology lab) can be effectively extended onto the shop floor to provide calibrated traceability to Equator measurements. With the calibration data for the master part loaded into the Equator software, measurements then made on the Equator gauge can be referred back to the CAD or drawing nominals for traceability to a calibrated device.
Programming and Operating the Equator Gauge
Equator inspection programs can be created or modified with Renishaw's comprehensive MODUS programming software. Shop floor operators then select and run the programs using the intuitive Organiser front-end software. Organiser software can report gauging results as a pass/fail message, as a full inspection report or through the Process Monitor window.
For more information contact:
Renishaw Inc.
5277 Trillium Blvd
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
847-286-9953
usa@renishaw.com
www.renishaw.com/gauging
HOUSTEX 2015 Booth 313
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