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- The Fabricator
- FABTECH
- Canadian Metalworking
Foldens enhances inspection capabilities with new CMM
by Jerry CookIn response to customers who wanted a higher level of inspection capability, Foldens Machine Works Ltd., Tillsonburg, ON recently installed a new Mitutoyo coordinate measuring machine (CMM).
- By Rob Colman
- August 22, 2007
- Article
- Measurement
“Two of our major customers wanted cpk reports and part inspection
traceability and installing a CMM was the easiest way to do it,” says
George Barnes, president and owner of Foldens. As a result, the company
recently installed a Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex C 574 CMM.
Foldens, which started operations in 2001, has 35 employees at its
7,200 sq. ft. facility. Foldens also has a 2,500 sq. ft. warehouse in
Tillsonburg. The firm is ISO 9001-2000 registered.
Foldens Machine Works is a custom machine shop that serves a variety of
markets including agricultural, trucking, lifting equipment, and
military training devices. The firm works with a variety of materials
including mild steel, stainless steel, cold- and hot-rolled bars,
plate, plastics, brass, aluminum and more. Typically, Foldens’ part
runs range from 50 to 2,000 pieces.
The company offers a variety of services including CNC machining, CNC
turning, HyDefinition plasma cutting, and oxyfuel cutting.
The new Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex CMM has provided Foldens with a variety of
benefits, says Barnes. For one thing, the Mitutoyo CMM has
significantly decreased inspection time. “The new CMM has cut our
inspection time by 80%. Previously, we were doing it all manually which
is very time consuming,” Barnes says.
In addition, Barnes says that the Crysta-Apex CMM has increased
productivity. “It has really kept the spindles running here. On some
parts, productivity has improved by 25%.”
Barnes evaluated a number of competing CMMs before selecting the
Mitutoyo CMM. There were a number of reasons that influenced the
choice, he says. “The ease of programming of the Mitutoyo CMM was one
reason and also the reports that it generates for us. You can customize
the reports (according to your needs).”
The Mitutoyo CMM is also opening up new opportunities for business for
Foldens, adds Barnes. “Because of the Mitutoyo CMM, we have been able
to start quoting some automotive parts. Previously, the inspection
levels were such that we couldn’t do that before.”
The Crysta-Apex C 574, which was supplied by Mitutoyo Canada Inc.,
Mississauga, ON (mitutoyo.ca), offers a measuring range of 505mm
(X-axis), 705mm (Y-axis), and 405mm (Z-axis) and a maximum drive speed
of 520mm/s. Self-adjusting air bearings on all axes allow the
Crysta-Apex C to move the probe with speed and precision.
It provides a length measuring accuracy of 1.7 µm. The Mitutoyo CMM is
a modular system which allows the user to easily convert and upgrade
the machine depending on changing requirements and measurement
applications.
Another benefit of the Crysta-Apex is that it is a multisensor-capable
3D CMM. As a result, the user can alternate between contact, optical
(image processing) and laser systems. The Crysta-Apex can also use
probes and sensor systems from other major manufacturers.
In addition, with its fully automatic measuring sequences, the
Crysta-Apex C can be perfectly integrated into the production process
itself. As well, networking between production machines and a feedback
system causes no problems either.
Other benefits offered by the Crysta-Apex CMM include: integrated
thermal-effect compensation for instrument and workpiece in the
temperature range 16 °C to 26 ºC; high precision (resolution: 0.1 µm)
with dustproof glass scales on all axes; self-adjusting air bearings on
all axes; fully-digital servo control for low-vibration movements; and
FEM-aided design which ensures geometric accuracy and vibration
resistance.
The Crysta-Apex employs MCOSMOS software with Mitutoyo Intelligent Computer Aided Technology (MiCAT) as standard.
According to Barnes, the new Mitutoyo CMM is definitely meeting the
company’s expectations in terms of performance. “It has definitely
improved our product going out the door.”
About the Author
Rob Colman
1154 Warden Avenue
Toronto, M1R 0A1 Canada
905-235-0471
Robert Colman has worked as a writer and editor for more than 25 years, covering the needs of a variety of trades. He has been dedicated to the metalworking industry for the past 13 years, serving as editor for Metalworking Production & Purchasing (MP&P) and, since January 2016, the editor of Canadian Fabricating & Welding. He graduated with a B.A. degree from McGill University and a Master’s degree from UBC.
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