At rare moments, an idea comes along that makes people rethink how jobs are done from that point on. The engineers at Falk PLI Engineering & Surveying have hit on such an idea for one of the most basic concepts of all: measuring.

The larger-than-life nature of steelmaking would seem to belie a need for precision, but secondary forming processes depend on tight dimensional tolerances. Precise alignment of primary molding and shaping equipment is critical for optimum throughput and scrap reduction.

The reality is that machine elements built in one location at one temperature and shipped to and assembled in another location rarely retain their original size. Even the act of transportation can change the dimensions. Compounding the problem is the fact that the equipment may not have been built using precision measuring equipment. During assembly, this “dimensional delta” becomes a major headache for machine riggers trying to get the final alignment right.

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