New cutting-edge measurement system offers automated quality assurance

EdgeMasterX

Automation and production-integrated measurement technology play an increasingly important role in manufacturing. Alicona, supplier of high-resolution optical 3D surface measurement systems, is reacting to this development with their new cutting-edge measurement system EdgeMasterX. With this instrument, users can customize quality assurance in production exactly according to their individual measurement demands and achieve even greater automation. Typical applications of this system include the measuring of inserts, drillers, cutters, and other round tools. The EdgeMasterX is the result of Alicona's consistent improvement of the EdgeMaster, a globally used system for the quality assurance of cutting tools.

The most remarkable feature of the new EdgeMasterX is the automatic multiple measurement

of edges. Users can now measure various edge parameters at different positions on a tool to verify the desired edge preparation. It is also possible to measure one or more user defined edge parameters of several tools of an entire batch. Additionally, a motorized rotation unit now allows users to measure multiple, also chamfered edges of a tool in a single measurement cycle. All of the EdgeMasterX's measurement capabilities designed to automate quality assurance are based on a one-button solution. This means that once a measurement has been started, no further user interaction is necessary.

3D measurements in production

Like its sister model, the EdgeMasterX is designed for use in a production environment. As such, it offers solid high-resolution measurements even when subjected to vibrations, fluctuations in temperature, and extraneous light. Users also profit from traceable and highly repeatable results. The EdgeMasterX measures all the classical edge parameters such as radius, various angles, bevel length, chipping, and tool wear. It automatically detects form deviations and visualizes them using a special color coding. The EdgeMasterX also allows users to apply ellipse fits to a high-resolution edge profile, increasing the number of radius parameters to two. This makes it possible to measure the "true" edge shape. Alicona's solution therefore clearly differs from that of other suppliers whose edge-preparation measurement systems use only one radius parameter. Additional measurement capabilities such as profile- and areal-based roughness measurement complete the EdgeMasterX's range of production-integrated edge measurement functions.

Smart manufacturing and robot based metrology

Apart from systems created specifically for the purpose of cutting-edge measurements, Alicona also offers a range of other solutions for production-integrated quality assurance. Among these are the concepts of Closed-Loop Manufacturing and Smart Manufacturing. Closed-Loop Manufacturing combines high-resolution 3D metrology and automated machine programming in one process. In EDM, as one example, high-resolution 3D measurement continuously and automatically inspects the complex geometries of miniaturized components as they are being manufactured. This is achieved as an optical measurement sensor is part of an EDM machine, and components are measured directly in the machine. Robotic measurement systems by Alicona are yet another way of ensuring automatic and flexible quality assurance. This is accomplished by equipping a 6-axis robot with a 3D measurement sensor, allowing flexible 3D positioning of the measurement system and integration into production lines.

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