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Dimensional measurement has been used as a part of manufacturing systems for many years. However, although shop floor measurement equipment can be used next to a manufacturing machine and its measurement data can be digitally interfaced to change some manufacturing parameters, machine tools…
Superconducting (SC) magnetic and SC radiofrequency (SRF) devices designed for use in particle accelerators present challenging alignment problems. These devices are assembled and aligned at room temperature but operate at 2 Kelvin (K) to 4 Kelvin (K), with thermal offsets being large relative to…
Rina Molari-Korgel
On World Metrology Day this Friday, May 20, I ask that you pause a minute when you look at the alarm clock in morning, and then again as you set the thermostat or look at the weather report. World Metrology Day celebrates a link that binds humanity—the bond of a common measurement that is…
Belinda Jones
When the PrecisionPath Consortium concluded its second working meeting on February 25, 2016, noteworthy progress was made in the roadmapping process for advanced, large-scale manufacturing. More than 20 members of the consortium participated in this pivotal "“Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis”…
ECM Global Measurement Solutions
In greater Downeast Maine, boat builder Hodgdon Yachts plans for the construction of the 100-ft racing yacht called “New3” (also known as “New Cubed”). Set to be constructed and finished toward the end of the year, the vessel will be shipped to Australia for its first race. As Tim Hacket, the…
Belinda Jones
The industrial metrology sector is an ever-changing landscape for 3D measurement professionals. In the thick of it you will find the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL)—each offering…
InnovMetric Software
Headquartered in Graz, Austria, the Andritz Group (composed of Andritz Hydro, Andritz Pulp & Paper, Andritz Metals, Andritz Separation, and Andritz Automation) is a leading global supplier of plants, equipment, and services provided to hydropower stations, the pulp and paper industry, the…
Rina Molari-Korgel
It is my pleasure to welcome you to this issue of CMSC World. Our 3D metrology community is small compared to the bigger circles of civil engineering, manufacturing engineering, or even quality engineering. An even scarcer sight is a female 3D industrial metrologist, such as me.
It has been and…
Mike Campbell, Ben Hughes, Dan Veal
I n this article, we present a wide angle, frequency scanning interferometer (FSI) system capable of measuring the absolute distance to multiple targets simultaneously.
A spatial light modulator has been integrated into the FSI sensor head, projecting multiple beams towards targets. Absolute…
Capture 3D
To reduce weight and fuel consumption, the aerospace industry increasingly relies on lightweight materials and new material combinations. That’s why the entire fuselage of the Airbus A350 XWB consists of carbon fiber composite (CFC) materials. In total, the long-haul aircraft reaches a CFC portion…
Rina Molari-Korgel
What a busy year for the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS). To get you updated, I will need to throw a lot of numbers and dates your way. Here we go!
The 2015 Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) in Hollywood, Florida, was a great success. Forty-five exhibitors and a newly expanded…
In aerospace vehicle manufacturing and assembly, including that at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, measurements of composite part thickness are required for ensuring that underlying processes are within tolerance, and for achieving outer-mold line-control surface requirements.
This article…
Belinda Jones
This past summer, the Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte were awarded an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.…
The inspection and characterization of machine parts is still subject to research. Although optical means of measurement are very promising in respect to speed and precision, they are still not capable of measuring difficult-to-reach inner geometries. In this article, we will demonstrate our …
Exact Metrology
Josh Schradin, one of the 3D Scanning specialists at Exact Metrology’s Cincinnati facility, recently completed a computed tomography (CT) scanning project involving aluminum castings measuring approximately 12 in. x 6 in. x 6 in. and weighing 10 to 15 pounds.
The company’s new metrology-grade GE…
Rina Molari-Korgel
In the business of metrology services, a critical part of the process is setting expectations with customers and their management teams. Setting the stage for any measurement or inspection job requires clear communication so that both parties understand what they will receive in return for…
Mike Richman
The 31st annual Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC), which concluded on July 23rd, delivered some fantastic career-enhancing opportunities for metrologists from 13 nations, representing leading research institutions as well as industries such as aerospace, space hardware, antenna,…
Mike Richman
Editor's note: This week, Quality Digest Daily will be looking at some of the key technologies on display at the Coordinate Metrology Society's annual conference (CMSC). The CMSC, taking place this year July 20–24 in Hollywood, Florida, is the gathering place for users, service providers, and…
InnovMetric Software
E xtreme Fab Inc. is a structural metal fabrication company that has the tools and skills to build the massive machinery that the oil and gas, power, energy, and trucking industries require. One of their key customers is GE Aero Energy, a company that gives businesses and communities around the…
Large-volume metrology measurements are conducted at every major phase of alignment and integration of the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM), which forms the main payload of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). Both ambient and cryogenic…
Earlier this spring, thousands of people from all over the nation gathered in Springfield, IL, to honor the life of our beloved President Abraham Lincoln. After his death in 1865, his body was carried hundreds of miles by a funeral train. It passed through more than a hundred cities, with formal…
Ron Rode
Yesterday, May 20, 2015, we celebrated World Metrology Day. This is an annual commemoration of the signature by representatives of seventeen nations attending the Metre Convention, which was held on May 20, 1875. This convention set the stage for global acceptance and collaboration for “Metrology…
Nikon Metrology Inc.
Kiekert AG, the global leader for automobile door lock systems, now uses digital cross scanners by Nikon Metrology to test the positions and dimensions of sealing lips on door and rear compartment locks. Tactile inspection methods are unable to correctly measure these touch-sensitive and complex…
Masashi Sato
In the manufacturing industry, it is ideal to ensure high manufacturing accuracy without the need for inspection. In fact, however, the inspection and the measurement processes are performed for various reasons, such as to secure the product traceability, to visualize the quality of production,…
GE has introduced a metrology package for highly efficient, extremely precise 3D metrology performed with computed tomography (CT). The company states the enormous efficiency benefits, the use of industrial CT for nondestructive failure and structure analysis, and 3D metrology (especially for…
