(Marposs: Auburn Hills, MI) -- At the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago, Marposs demonstrated its VTS SF-45 Compact, the newest member of the noncontact VTS (visual tool setter) family.

The VTS SF-45 is well-suited for optical measurement of small, complex-shaped tools in constrained working spaces such as micromachining, semiconductor, or mold-making applications. The units are installed inside the machine working area and able to monitor actual tool working conditions while the tool is rotating at full spindle speed (up to 80k rpm) during data acquisition. Since there is no need to slow the spindle, presetting time can be reduced, and measurement accuracy is increased to better eliminate collision hazards.

The VTS SF-45 acquires a variety of tool dimensions in a single instant using the principle of shadow projection, where an illuminated object projects its shadow onto the camera. These measurements include tool length, static and dynamic tool diameter, tool runout, and cutting-edge radius. With a resolution of 0.1 µm, the VTS enables measurement of tools with diameters as small as 10 µm with repeatability of 0.2 µm, providing a higher level of accuracy than touch probes or lasers in small applications.

Additionally, the VTS SF-45 uses a frontal light to analyze the tool surface, displaying the illuminated surface on a PC monitor where the integrity of the cutting edges can be evaluated. The GUI software for the VTS simplifies the measuring cycle process and documents the tool history, helping to quickly reveal damage in advance of the machining operation. The software can be fully integrated into Marposs touchscreen PCs (NEMO or Merlin+) or in a stand-alone version for PCs with Windows or Linux operating systems.

One of the main features of the VTS is its protection system, which enables excellent measurement performance even in the presence of coolant or dust. Pneumatic shutters cover and protect the optical lens when VTS is not working, plus a patented airflow solution rejects chips and coolant drops, keeping the shutter-side clean and protecting the optical lens when the shutter is open.

Find out more about the VTS SF-45 here. You also can contact Marposs at (248) 370-0404 or by emailing marposs@us.marposs.com

Marposs VTS SF-45 Compact optical tool setter for small applications