When faced with the need to find high-precision, flexible measuring devices that would satisfy the challenging inspection needs of two company divisions, Stuart Hill, Development Engineer at AM Hydraulics, communicated each division’s diverse requirements to FARO UK and requested demonstrations of suitable portable CMMs.
In the course of the subsequent in-house demonstrations, the speed, precision and generous capacity of FARO’s QuantumM 3D ScanArm proved it to be the perfect portable inspection solution for AM Hydraulics’ large components. Likewise, when measuring the company’s AM Tooling division’s relatively smaller workpieces, the recently launched FARO Gage measuring arm confirmed its impressive accuracy specification, in addition to its quick set-up and ease of use abilities. The outcome of the successful demonstrations was an order for both FARO products.
Since being established in 1978, AM Hydraulics has continuingly expanded and is now a major force in the UK hydraulics manufacturing sector. Areas served by the progressive, family owned business include the challenging Aerospace, Nuclear Power, Earth Moving, Oil & Gas and Wind Power industries.
Based in a recently opened, purpose-built admin and manufacturing facility in Birmingham, AM Hydraulics offer an all-embracing, ‘one-stop’ manufacturing service. The company’s impressive end-to-end production capabilities include milling, finish grinding and hard chrome plating. In addition to allowing challenging delivery deadlines to be met, AM Hydraulics’ impressive level of autonomy enables rigorous quality control standards to be adhered to.
As an ISO 9001 accredited business and an approved supplier to many blue chip companies the quality of AM Hydraulics output is of paramount importance. In addition to undertaking final inspection routines, dedicated Quality Inspectors also make detailed in-process checks at every stage of production. Given the size - up to Ø3000mm, and weight - up to 20 tonnes, of AM Hydraulics’ workpieces, administering an efficient in-process quality regime presents a range of challenges.
Now used by AM Hydraulics, the FARO QuantumM ScanArm was designed to deliver outstanding levels of inspection precision in less than pristine environments, such as on the shop-floor. The robust FARO product is certified to ISO 10360 -12:2016, the most rigorous international measurement quality standard in existence and tests to the International Electrical Commission (IEC 60068-2) standards for shock, vibration and temperature stress relief.
In addition to performing highly efficient tactile inspection tasks, the QuantumM ScanArm is able to undertake precise, non-contact scanning routines thanks to the use of its FAROBluTM Laser Line Probe HD. FARO’s next generation of blue line laser technology enables five times faster scanning than previous models, including use on complex surfaces comprised of dark and reflective materials..
When compared to its best-selling predecessor, the QuantumM ScanArm is 20% lighter in the hand and, as it requires no warm-up time, it is always ready to use. These qualities ensure improved levels of productivity by enabling operators to work longer and more comfortably.
The use of industrial grade wireless connectivity and dual, hot swappable batteries supports the Quantum M ScanArm’s data transfer capabilities and its continuous operation in remote areas of the factory floor without the need for external power.
Explaining AM Hydraulics’ improved inspection efficiencies Stuart Hill said. “Given the size of AM Hydraulics’ large workpieces we chose a QuantumM ScanArm with a 2.5m capacity and it has proven to be the ideal large capacity portable CMM for our use. In addition, as it is easily transportable and quick and simple to set-up, it helps that our operators can carry the QuantumM ScanArm to all of our production areas and quickly put it to work carrying out detailed inspection work using its touch probe or its non-contact laser probe. Although our staff are experienced in using precision equipment, given the nature of the production areas it is used in, it helps that the QuantumM ScanArm is so tough.
“In addition to delivering the levels of speed, accuracy and capacity we were looking for on our large parts; the QuantumM has significantly reduced our inspection data capture times. Our staff are now able to instantly download collected data, store it directly onto a computer and compare it against nominal CAD data.”
Equally challenging, although different in scale, are the inspection requirements of the business’ AM Tooling division. AM Tooling specialises in the manufacture, assembly and repair of press tools, in addition to providing a comprehensive jig and fixture design and manufacturing service. Explaining the use of the recently installed FARO Gage by AM Tooling, Stuart Hill continued. “As well as speeding-up AM Tooling’s inspection work and flow of data, our use of the FARO Gage has enabled us to increase or precision capabilities. Also, as it is so flexible, the Gage has helped us to lessen our reliance on hand tools, such as calipers and height gauges, and to reduce the use of numerous measuring instruments spread around our shop floor. Our FARO Gage is now making a major contribution towards upholding AM Tooling’s demanding quality standards.”
As the most accurate and also the most affordable FaroArm ever produced, the recently launched FARO Gage is perfectly suited to performing inspection tasks on small to medium size components. The extremely intuitive and versatile portable Coordinate Measuring Machine boasts a1.5m (4.9 ft) working volume and a volumetric accuracy of 0.022mm (0.0009 in.). Thanks to the Gage’s best-in-class performance for hard probing applications it is able to eliminate inspection bottlenecks and greatly reduce companies’ reliance on difficult to use and expensive fixed CMMs.
Stuart Hill concluded. “The success of both AM Hydraulics and AM Tooling is due largely to the quality of each divisions output and their efficiency levels that allow competitive quotes to be tendered and business to be won. To make sure that we maintain these advantages we regularly invest in state-of-the-art production and inspection technologies.
“Our two co-located divisions share the same passionate quality cultures, although, given the difference in their manufactured products, each have very specific inspection requirements. Therefore, when a decision was taken to make a major investment in portable inspection equipment, as an enthusiastic user of previous generations of FARO products, I related each divisions’ inspection requirements to FARO UK.
“On witnessing detailed, in-house demonstrations of a FARO QuantumM Scan-arm and a FARO Gage, I was very impressed by the latest FARO developments and convinced that each suggested solution ticked each divisions precision and efficiency boxes.
“Our two new portable inspection technologies provide us with a major advantage over the use of a fixed CMM as, along with being used for final inspection purposes, we are able to use them to perform in-process checks on workpieces that remain located in machine tools.
“Now in regular use, our new FARO products’ impressive accuracy specifications and speed of use is helping us to maintain our high quality standards and also enabling us to further boost our inspection efficiency levels.”
