Manufacturing Technology

One of the largest automotive bolt manufacturers in India recently added a VisionLab 3D Fastener Gauging System, from General Inspection LLC, a US manufacturer of gauging, sorting and inspection machines, to its production in order to streamline its first part inspection process. 

VisionLab uses General Inspection’s patented 3D gauging technology to provide complete part dimensional layouts in less than five seconds. The machine can perform 360° dimensional inspection with detailed data reporting, plus options to provide 360° visual defect detection, end view inspection, as well as measure recess depth and recess concentricity. 

The bolt manufacturer’s goal was to reduce inspection time, improve quality and cut down on calibration costs by replacing multiple manual gauges, such as micrometers, calipers, and optical comparators, which are inherently subject to human error. With Visionlab the company is able to complete first piece inspections in a fraction of the time allowing employees to concentrate on production tasks instead of manually measuring parts. 

“Since introducing Visionlab the manufacturer’s production has significantly increased and errors have been eliminated, with the company able to measure much more frequently,” highlights General Inspection. “All dimensions, including lengths, diameters, radii, angles, and GD&T features, are measured and displayed with a pass/fail indication.”

Custom data reports can also be created and saved as CSV or Microsoft Excel files, but in this case the customer is utilising the ‘My Sequel’ built in server to connect directly to their SPC program. General Inspection underlines this saves time and money plus drastically improves quality by accurately measuring parts within two microns. Part feature tolerances are also assigned with the appropriate part number and stored in memory for quick recall.