3-D system inspects seams

Oct. 3, 2005
Weld seams, seals, and rivets are often complex and difficult to inspect with satisfactory assurance during manufacturing processes. In applications such as assembling airplane-cockpit support frames, seam inspection is critical for detecting holes, surface voids and pores, missing seams, and cracks within joints.

Weld seams, seals, and rivets are often complex and difficult to inspect with satisfactory assurance during manufacturing processes. In applications such as assembling airplane-cockpit support frames, seam inspection is critical for detecting holes, surface voids and pores, missing seams, and cracks within joints. The cockpit support frame consists of two aluminium half-shells that are welded together over a length of 1300 m in an electron-beam welding facility.

A 3-D seam-inspection system such as the VIRO developed by Vitronic (Wiesbaden, Germany; www.vitronic.com) can ensure that the necessary quality inspection is performed. The sensor unit on the VIRO contains light-stripe sensors with scan rates of 500 to 2000 profile stripes per second. The robot moves the frame past the sensor and interfaces with the robot controller. A good/no-good signal is transmitted from the sensor to a PLC, which can send the part back for rework and to a PC that tracks the type and frequency of defects and documents the process.

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