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Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence division is launching a new three-dimensional measuring machine (MMT) that masters the challenges of measuring sensitive components, such as lens sets on a smartphone camera. This measurement system allows for quality controls up to four to six times faster than conventional methods, with less precision than the micron.
The constant demand for high-value products precisely assembled from delicate materials, such as smartphones and other wearable technologies, leads electronics manufacturers to check with high precision large volumes of sensitive miniaturized components. For example, the plastic tube of a smartphone lens with a diameter of 7 mm, with a manufacturing tolerance of the order of 1 to 2 microns. The precise geometric shape of these components is of great importance because an alignment error would make the photos distorted and the user dissatisfied with the product. Quality control of a certain number of samples may be sufficient in some applications, but in the lens field, each element of the assembly must be checked to ensure perfect quality.
Offering a 28-micron length measurement accuracy, the Leitz PMM Gold - the letter "P" of the name meaning precision - is Hexagon's most accurate metrology system. With this new machine, optical verification of a lens tube takes less than five minutes, limits a person's intervention to the positioning of the parts, and does not come into contact with fragile components during measurement. This MMT not only performs faster measurements, but also uses contactless sensors that are particularly sensitive to geometric deviations, which can play a crucial role in validating the quality of precision components. Up to seven layers of material, for example, are required to make a single smartphone camera lens. It is therefore obvious that even small variations in surface quality can greatly alter the results.
Profileometers traditionally used to control sensitive electronic parts, such as smartphone camera lenses, often distort components during measurement and are characterized by a cycle of 20 to 30 minutes per room due to stringent positioning requirements. Although very precise, the profileometer has another drawback, as it can only be used for final quality control, while a contactless inspection is possible at each assembly phase.
Svenja Schadek, Product Manager, explains: "As the leading supplier of MMT, Hexagon has extensive experience in addressing the needs of manufacturers facing new productivity and quality challenges. As part of research and development, we have developed an extremely accurate and more compact MMT, which allows our customers to launch their brand new consumer products more quickly to the market through rigorous control of large series of parts, validating their manufacturing processes. »
The ability to quickly switch between optical tools and low-strength touch tools is a major advantage of the Leitz PMM Gold, as accurate measurement of deep cavity or detailed-characteristic components can become difficult without styluss. With its low-strength palping, the new MMT keeps fragile surfaces intact, while the optical sensor allows rapid contactless control. The MMT's automatic sensor replacement system allows easy switching between the measuring heads and sensors, and quickly switches from one to the other when measuring different parts characteristics.
Specially designed for high-precision manufacturing, the Leitz PMM Gold is 30% smaller than competing machines, reducing floor space. Available worldwide today, the MMT offers ideal features to control precision gears for electric vehicles in an ultra-precise way, as well as to check other precision components, gauge calibration and reference parts.
For more information:
HexagonMI.com/Leitz-PMM-Gold
