Automotive

Typically, the automotive sector is a market leader and where the latest metrology technologies are employed first.

Metrology in the Automotive, Truck & Bus Sector

Some of the most common metrology products and systems used in the automotive, truck and bus sectors in Australia include

  • CMMs
  • Portable arms
  • Laser scanners
  • Flush & gap scanners
automotive-body-checking-with-CMM
CMM-in-auto-application

Whilst the automotive sector is declining in Australia, there are still some areas that require both metrology and testing solutions.

For example, applications such as the checking and recording of vehicle panel flush and gap variations, the laser scanning of body panels, and the fitment of plastic interior panels and assemblies are where the latest developments in technology are being effectively deployed to help improve productivity and to enhance vehicle quality and customer experience.

Met Optix also offers a range of innovative wireless torque wrenches, such as the LightStar product to the automotive market. LightStar when combined with data collector devices such as the 700-series data collector and SPC software packages such as QDA from Datamyte provide a complete turnkey solution for torque audit applications.

Other Sectors

Aerospace

Aerospace OEMs and MROs use dentCHECK systems for measuring aircraft panel surface damage and 4D InSpec systems for surface defects.

Mining

Mining

3D scanning systems to digitise worn components so that new parts can be fabricated as well as the measurement of surface roughness on machined components and shafts.

Rail

Rail

Surface roughness measuring equipment for machined wagon wheels and bearing journals as well as products such as portable arm CMM and laser trackers for measuring large-sized components.

Typical Applications

The automotive sector is a key industry for metrology products in order to maintain and improve vehicle quality and overall performance.

Flush and gap measurement

The fitment of vehicle panels in terms of flushness and gap between panels is important – both from an aesthetic point of view as well as from a customer complaint perspective with unacceptable wind noise. The measurement of flushness and gaps between panels, therefore, has become a critical task in assembly operations.

Equipment such as LaserGauge is helping manufacturers around the world to audit and check panel gaps as well as panel flushness between adjoining panels in order to improve vehicle quality.

Inspection of panels and dies

In the press and die shops of modern automotive assembly plants large dies are repaired and refurbished in order to support the press shop in making high-quality automotive panels. The monitoring of the condition of these dies and the establishment of points of high wear or constant damage is critical to the overall efficiency of the whole operation.

Manufacturers tend to use equipment such as structured light scanners to 3D scan dies – both new and repaired in order to accurately get an understanding of the condition of the tools and the relative variance of the die to the theoretical 3D CAD model. this is both an efficient as well as a highly accurate way in which to measure the 3D shape of complex items such as automotive press tools.

Residual audit torque

In final assembly as well as various points within the assembly processes it is important to check and monitor residual or break-away torque on key fasteners in order to maintain quality and to reduce warranty costs. Products such as the LightStar digital torque wrench from ASI Datamyte help manufacturers with this exercise to keep bolted joints and assemblies tightened to the specified torque limits set in the design specifications.

The LightStar toque wrench couple with a data collector system such as the 600 Data Collector, also from ASI Datamyte, allows the storage of data as well as the downloading of measurement routines to the torque wrench equipment for remote measurements within the manufacturing facility.

BIW checking

Body in white (BIW) checking is usually carried out with the use of large coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) primarily of the horizontal arm type – either single or twin arms.

These systems allow the quality personnel to check the quality of the assembly operations and the overall compliance of assembled bodies to the theoretical CAD model to ensure conformance, process control, and conformity.

Products such as horizontal arm CMM systems from manufacturers such as WENZEL are widely used, with great success, around the world.

Inspection of components

A wide range of engineered components are regular checked by automotive manufacturers as part of their ongoing quality and compliance checks.

Equipment used to perform these 3D measurements are usually CNC-controlled coordinate measuring machines, but also systems are also used such as manual portable arm CMMs and height gauges in particular.

The checking of roundness of cylindrical components such as engine parts and shafts, in general, are usually checked with roundness measuring equipment such as the Taylor Hobson Talyrond range.

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