#Industry News
Quality control in the manufacturing process
Intelligent sound detection in production
With intelligent acoustic sensing, the dsound® system inspects and ensures the quality of a wide variety of materials and components during the production process.
Schwerin, November 6, 2023 · Sound detection is suitable for many process-accompanying, comprehensive quality checks in manufacturing. Especially in industrial mass production, anomalies or deviations in the production process can be detected early, minimizing the risk of failures. In this specialized field, ds automation GmbH is successfully active. The company develops acoustic sensors that, based on sound characteristics, can reliably perform quality inspections of small parts made of metal, glass, or ceramic. For example, the air-coupled sensor dsound® USS4 “listens” to the slightest changes in sound and can thus draw conclusions about the quality of the component or material. “If, for instance, there are fine cracks in screws, inclusions in retaining rings, or geometric defects in turned parts, our sensors detect them immediately,” says Ronald Meyer, Development Engineer at ds automation GmbH. In real time, the acoustic sensors in serial production can determine whether a component or precision part has the “correct sound” and can immediately remove “defective parts” from the production process. This makes quality checks possible even in areas where other systems, such as cameras, would be too costly or maintenance-intensive, too complex to install, or simply unable to detect defects.
“This offers a range of advantages for industrial manufacturers,” explains Arndt Kritzner, Managing Director of ds automation GmbH. “With our acoustic method, they can check the quality of their products early and quickly identify defective material. Faulty parts do not enter the downstream manufacturing process, ensuring flawless end products. Our customers gain better control over their processes, avoid costs and stress from complaints, and prevent the need to discard entire batches. Overall, the efficiency of the entire manufacturing process increases.” ds automation has developed different sensors for various applications, capable of solving both simple and highly complex tasks, working with exceptional precision and fully synchronized with production.
In the production process, dsound® acoustic sensors inspect parts for dimensional accuracy, correct material composition, the presence of cracks, assembly completeness, gear tooth flank play, pressure tightness, and other quality criteria. Acoustic testing allows the inspection of features that are often difficult to detect using other testing methods. Material properties, cavities, or intricate structures can be comprehensively and precisely checked against target specifications through sound. Both air- and structure-borne sound can be captured and analyzed with dsound® sensors.
