Together with its project partners, Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions, and precision metrology services provider a3Ds, the Siempelkamp Foundry recently presented the world’s largest non-contact robot measuring cell.

As a world first, the new robot measuring cell is the special pride of one of the world’s leading hand-casting manufacturer. It allows for the fully automated, non-contact and reliable inspection of finished components up to a weight of 240 tons. Even though the robot measuring cell is nearly as large as a tennis court, its measuring accuracy is less than 0.6mm due to the generation of up to twelve million 3D measuring points.

“With this unique and highly innovative technology we are further advancing our comprehensive digitalisation strategy. We are now able to track the entire component geometry of our products, from model to casting mould, all the way to the finished casting, in a digitised manner,” explains Dr. Georg Geier, the foundry’s Managing Director.

“This system is the most advanced and powerful of its kind and helps us further optimise our casting and production processes through digital technology,” Geier adds.

The foundry’s customers also benefit from the new metrology owing to the millimetre accurate inspection of components which are several meters long and weigh several tons and the quality of the components increases in terms of sustainability and efficiency in processing and operation.

The world’s largest non-contact robot measuring cell was produced by Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions in collaboration with the automation experts from a3Ds. Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions developed a state-of-the-art scanner for the robot measuring cell having a measuring field of
2 000mm by 1 600mm. Ground-breaking technology enables the system to scan complex components, such as ship engines, grounding bowls or presses in no time at all.

With a total of two measuring rooms, the automation system from a3Ds provides maximum flexibility as well as the greatest possible efficiency. What is impressive is the use of the most advanced robot technology, which allows for the fast and user-friendly production and analysis of a complete ‘digital twin’ of the inspected component on the screen.

Source: Metrology News www.metrologynews.com