Quality Applications

Carl Zeiss IMT Corp.'s PRISMO VAST CMM Benefits Simultaneously measures dimension, form and position Measures applications related to curve and free-form surface measurement No mechanical alignment and no rechecking or inaccuracies www.zeiss.com/imt

Machining Business Selects PRISMO VAST CMM
Carl Zeiss IMT Corp.'s PRISMO VAST CMM

F&G Tool and Die designs, builds and runs tools and dies for the automotive, medical device and electronics industries. When the company wanted to increase measurement accuracy and reliability, it chose the PRISMO VAST CMM from Carl Zeiss IMT Corp. "We purchased the PRISMO VAST based on its accuracy and reputation," explains Kevin Hauck, quality manager for F&G.

 To remain competitive, F&G decided that scanning technology was a valuable investment for raising the quality bar in manufacturing. After using the PRISMO VAST, the company realized its return on investment within one year, while also increasing confidence in its grinding and inspection machine capabilities.

 "We can take on work we couldn't do before and verify the machining industry's lowest tolerances," says Hauck. For example, with the PRISMO VAST, F&G can conduct tolerance measurements as low as 50 µm, discover machine-tool wear and expand its measuring capability.

 Using high-speed scanning, the PRISMO VAST measures a part's dimension, form and position in one setup. Scanning increases measurement reliability by gathering thousands of data points per minute. Prior to using the software, F&G used jig grinders to verify accuracy when dealing with low tolerances. The PRISMO VAST CMM has enabled the company to detect and correct worn or misaligned machines without delay.

 The PRISMO VAST software, UMESS, supports true geometric tolerancing, which allows the CMM to measure size and hole position to within 0.0002 in. UMESS software enables operators to measure coaxiality and concentricity and network with other CAD systems. With UMESS, operators can also download CAD files to the PRISMO VAST, develop inspection programs to automate measuring processes and use reverse engineering to digitize dimensions directly from a part profile and create a CAD file.

 Since its implementation, the CMM has helped F&G to qualify its machining capabilities, meet customer requirements, conduct complex measurement tasks and support its business neighbors with expert precision.