Fit-for-purpose CMM fixturing saves on inspection time

Yeovil Precision Castings (YPC) Limited manufactures production quantities of high-quality investment castings in air and vacuum. It supplies to customers in aerospace, medical, power generation, vehicle components, safety equipment, railway and general engineering.

Engineering Manager Mr. Stanley Chubb (right) and Chief Inspector, Mr. Rob Calway (left) supervising the CMM inspection.

In order to meet its customer demand for more thorough batch sampling, the company has invested in two DCC co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs), each equipped with a Renishaw PH10T motorised head. More recently, YPC has also invested in a comprehensive Renishaw modular metrology fixturing system, to increase repeatability of part inspection and to reduce the time taken in its quality control activities. As a result, YPC claims to take up to 50% less time to check batch samples than it did previously.

According to Engineering Manager, Mr. Stanley Chubb and company Chief Inspector, Mr. Rob Calway, CMM fixturing is no longer the ‘weak link’ that it once was.

Stanley Chubb: When I came to YPC, 15-years ago, we only had traditional measuring and inspection equipment. We had a manual CMM, but mainly we used vernier calipers and micrometers. Now, though, we have two DCC Mitutoyo co-ordinate measuring machines – one of which is slightly bigger than the other, and is the one mainly used for sampling our production parts. The smaller one is mostly used for creating the inspection programmes.

We were satisfied with the way we did things 15-years ago – we provided our customers with what they wanted, but over time their demands and the demands of industry in general have evolved. Customers want more accuracy, but they also want more comprehensive checks and traceability. We’ve invested in the inspection
equipment to make sure we can meet, and exceed their demands.

Renishaw’s metrology solutions in use, a CMM modular fixturing set-up, alongside PH10 motorised head and a probe rack.

Rob Calway: Once we’d made the investment in the CMMs, it became apparent the weakest link in our inspection process was fixturing. Renishaw’s metrology solutions in use: a CMM modular fixturing set-up, alongside PH10 motorised head and a probe rack.

Stanley Chubb: We bought the Renishaw modular system with two M6 base plates and a magnetic and clamping fixture kit. On the two base plates, we can build fixtures for one-off parts or, for example, batch samples of up to 10 or 12 parts.

With help of the Renishaw FixtureBuilder software, Rob has created a folder with descriptions and images of how to build the fixtures for each of our more common parts. An operator simply follows the automatically generated work instructions to build the fixture, positions the finished plate with the parts on the CMM table, and calls up the correct program.

We also designed and made our own positioning guide, so the operator can simply place the plate against the guide – in the position indicated in Rob’s instructions – and be confident that the parts are in the correct position.

Rob Calway: Now we have a system that gives us repeatable and accurate measurement of multiple parts, saving time and preventing mistakes. The operator no longer determines the position of the fixture and the parts – the system we have offers foolproof, fast setting of the plate in a position that the CMM can easily find.

The YPC part inspection using Renishaw CMM fixturing and PH10

The Renishaw system is also easy to expand – we can simply purchase more clamps and base plates, and it’s very cost-effective, especially compared to systems from other companies.

Stanley Chubb: Quick and repeatable inspection is always a trade-off between being foolproof and being useable in a busy production environment. My general philosophy is, less is more. After we’ve built a system for a part or multiple samples from a batch, we try to take out as much of the fixturing as possible, without compromising the repeatability. The more stops, posts, and stand-offs we use, the less access we have to the part, which slows down the measuring process. We only need three points of rest for a part, perhaps one or two of which will be magnets to provide more stability. The Renishaw touch probe uses very little force; using the magnets means parts are secure enough that they’re not displaced.

Rob Calway: Furthermore, Renishaw’s FixtureBuilder software has improved our ability to programme off-line. The software package enables us to build and export fixture set-ups using 3D models, which we then use to create inspection programmes before the part is ready. In some cases, before the part has even been manufactured! We can work from a 3D model in FixtureBuilder to create the fixture, and use this model to programme well ahead of time.

FixtureBuilder screen with an YPC component.

Stanley Chubb: Throughput and speed of inspection are vital, as it’s a production environment, and delivery dates are critical. Since we invested in the Renishaw modular fixturing system, we’re saving a lot of time. Repeatability has also improved, dramatically. Multiple-part set-up increases throughput on the CMM while allowing for future flexibility. What’s more, we’re able to prove repeatability, so our customers can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that our samples give a reliable indication of batch accuracy. In short, creating fixtures on the CMMs is no longer an imprecise, hit and miss, time-consuming affair. We now feel like we have far better control.

This blog originally appeared on www.renishaw.com. It has been republished on Design Engineering’s website with permission from Renishaw.