A clear view of quality

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Miles Platts, which designs and manufactures precision technical mouldings, uses automated inspection to ensure quality and production efficiency on 8 million units per month.

The company specialises in high precision, tight tolerance mouldings in engineering polymers –  often with zero or minimum draft. It has particular expertise in coil bobbins & electrical insulation solutions for a variety of industries – each with unique measurement requirements. Therefore, to increase efficiency, volume of output and meet the highest level of quality assurance, Miles Platts required an innovative automated solution. The AVR300 CNC Vision System from Starrett, provides the accuracy, reliability and versatility to meet these demands and to support Miles Platts’ plans for growth.

Quality Manager, Jonathan Fraser explained that for automotive projects, the AVR300 is essential not only for Initial Sample Inspector reports but throughout the Production Part Approval Process. Black, white and clear plastics mouldings can be very challenging to inspect and measure optically. The precision lens and advanced lighting options create high contrast on surface, edge and blind hole features, with capability to measure optical height and depth down to a few microns.

Miles Platts’ capability studies alone demand numerous precise measurements of 50 + parts - so the repeatability and speed of the AVR300 presents a clear return on investment.

3D measuring software allows Mr Fraser to preprogram the automated measurement of specific parts, giving capability for measurements by shop floor staff without need for training.

Precise visual inspection is facilitated by the huge range of magnification, 12:1 zoom optics are standard, together with the clarity of the LED segmented, height adjustable ring light. The optional touch probe is used predominantly for accurate measurement of 3D features, including planes, cylinders and cones. The probe is fully integrated, automated, compatible with the optical coordinate system, and can facilitate measurement outside the optical sensor “line of sight”.

Taking full advantage of the versatility of the probe, Miles Platts can also measure gauge diameter halfway down a core hole.

www.milesplatts.co.uk.

www.optimaxonline.com

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