All Features
Curt Oswald, Donald L. Reynolds, John J. Casey
Do you want to know a secret? It’s one that lean experts often overlook because nobody told them about it. However, before revealing it, we need to answer a couple of questions first.
• What is 5S? • Why is 5S important to implement? • Why do so many U.S. companies fail in 5S implementation?
5S…
Alex Lucas
The current focus on improving production efficiency and part quality while meeting stringent production schedules is unrelenting. Measurement and inspection is one vital area that can benefit from advances in laser-scanning technology. Retrofitting coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) or…
John Ferreira
The need for low-cost temperature logging devices in the cold-chain industry has led to the development of silicon-based instruments that do not need calibration. Traditional temperature monitoring devices (using thermistors or thermocouples) must be calibrated during final production and assembly…
Matthew E. May
All I want for Christmas is a meaningful measurement. I’m tired of “technical specifications” that have no real-world application. I’m fatigued by acronyms and jargon that I can only imagine have evil engineers and masochistic technical writers in dark rooms giggling with glee (mwah-ha-ha-ha style…
Carl Zeiss Microscopy
Much has been said about American students falling behind in science; minority students in particular are under-represented and tend to choose other career options. One doctor and research scientist with a longstanding interest in education and training was determined to change this pattern. He has…
Marc Tian
Gauging fixtures are a staple in many metrology labs and assembly lines. They offer a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to determine if a measured part passes tolerances. Two popular tools that are found in many fixtures are HEIDENHAIN length gauges and linear variable differential transformers (…
NIST
Two federal agencies have teamed to create the first-ever system for linking accurate assessments of risk from wildland fires to improved building codes, standards, and practices that will help communities better resist the threat.
The proposed Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Hazard Scale addresses…
Portable 3D measuring devices have revolutionized the world of metrology since their invention some 30 years ago. They have brought the world of inspection right down to the production line, allowing measurements to be done much quicker and easier.
However, some devices, including portable…
Belinda Jones
Overlapping personal passion with technical expertise can often spawn a successful business. Chris Kelley, president of California Cycleworks, exemplifies the small business owner who envisioned opportunity and took a leap of faith.
While Kelley was working at CA Cycleworks as a college student,…
Renishaw
The Cliffs of Moher is one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions and a designated UNESCO Geo Park. O'Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic cliffs, at the top of which you can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, and the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara. The cliffs take their name…
National Physical Laboratory
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), part of the United Kingdom’s National Measurement Office, has developed a new range of 3D standards for verifying freeform coordinate measurement machines (CMMs). The standards allow the verification of portable and fixed noncontact coordinate measuring…
Creaform Inc.
Cédric Touchette, holder of the Guinness record for fastest speed on a gravity-powered street luge (157.41 kmh/97.81 mph) decided to take up a new challenge: pass the symbolic mark of 100 mph, with no engine. Among the other thrill seekers interested in this challenge was Louis-Étienne Bouchard-…
Koji Kiribuchi
With the motto, “Improved Operations through Improved Safety,” Delta Q Consultants provides risk assessments, accident investigations, safety consulting, and applied research and development specializing in fire and explosion dynamics for a wide range of clients.
The firm is headquartered in Marco…
Pinpoint Laser Systems
Many manufacturing facilities use equipment that contain rollers, idlers, press drums, and web-handling systems, and their alignment has a major effect on their efficacy.
There may be many rollers over which material passes as it proceeds through a specific manufacturing process. For example, in a…
Belinda Jones
The CMS Certification Committee broke new ground this year during the Coordinate Metrology Systems Conference in July 2012. Attendees, both experts and novices, were encouraged to test their general knowledge of portable 3D metrology and contribute to the success of the first, level-one personnel…
Robb McIvor
The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) sends its support to our members and vendors who were affected by super storm Sandy. Families and businesses will need aid and support during the coming months to put their lives back together. You can help by donating money to the American Red Cross at www.…
Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics
Few areas of research are as dependent on 3D measurement technology in the setup of its major experiments as fusion plasma physics. Highly developed laser trackers, as well as portable scanning and photogrammetry systems, have opened up a world of possibilities for improving fusion research…
Paul S. Banks
Most existing 3D capture technologies can’t be used to record objects in motion, and they usually require a stationary platform for operation. Some technologies can record 3D data at video rates (e.g., flash LADAR), but their spatial and range resolution are severely limited.
TetraVue, a provider…
Daniel Brown
A new white-light 3D scanner using hybrid positioning to scan large objects and output a file with no post processing has recently been released.
The Go!SCAN 3D can scan up to 10 times faster than standard 3D scanners. It also has a large 15 in. by 15 in. scanning field of view and a measurement…
Beamex
Beamex and Emerson have partnered to offer Calibration Excellence, a best-in-class solution for managing calibrations. This solution delivers the benefits of a complete automation asset management and premier calibration management functionality in an integrated solution.
Calibration Excellence…
Dirk Dusharme @ Quality Digest
Looking for an event to attend where you get up-to-date information on the latest hardware and software? Try attending a user conference of a prospective vendor. You might be pleasantly surprised at how much you learn. Although typically set up for existing users of a company’s products, these…
Nanovea
Electronic applications typically have challenging surfaces, angles, steps, and structures that must be measured during development. Whether it is circuit-board flatness or microstructures on the board itself, precise measurement is crucial. Components continue to shrink in size, and surfaces…
Bill Kalmar
For those of you looking for a way to emerge from the doldrums of realizing that summer is almost over, I suggest you circle today, Wed., Sept. 19, on your calendar. No, it isn’t the first day of fall; that is Sept. 22. Sure, the leaves turning brilliant colors, sipping cider, and getting sticky-…
Dirk Dusharme @ Quality Digest
“Quality is not free, but it has a pretty darn good ROI.”
So said James Rooney, chair of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), and keynote speaker at this year’s National Conference of Standards Laboratories International (NCSLI) conference in Sacramento, California. The comment got a good round…
The main plant of Hitachi Engineering and Services (HES) has produced pipe spools for large scale plants. These pipe spools have complicated shapes and are made by various types of materials. In the process of these pipe spools fabrication, high accuracy and high throughput are required. Especially…