Speed up production at Mach 2006

Focus on time and throughput at Mach 2006 includes products to reduce inspection times on machine tools and co-ordinate measuring machines, and allow machines to run unstaffed under process control.

Renishaw is focusing on time and throughput issues at Mach 2006, from 15th to 19th May at Birmingham's NEC, with products that will reduce inspection times on machine tools and co-ordinate measuring machines (CMMs), and allow machines to run unstaffed under full process control.

Other products include an angle encoder and high accuracy linear encoder for precision position feedback, and software for motion system analysis.

The TRS1 tool breakage detection system lets manufacturers run machine tools unstaffed, with confidence that cutting tools damaged during a machining cycle will be quickly detected, eliminating the risk of scrapped parts.

This unit projects a beam of laser light at a tool and monitors the scattered light that is reflected, to determine if the tool has been broken.

It uses tool recognition technology that distinguishes between the tool and coolant or swarf and metal chips.

More reliable than conventional non-contact systems, the TRS1 comprises one unit containing the laser source and detection electronics, enabling it to be mounted outside the working area, safe from collision and saving space on the table.

Renscan 5 is an enabling technology that will allow highly accurate, high speed five-axis scanning measurement on CMMs.

This technology allows the development of five-axis scanning products that will measure at speeds of up to 500mm/s, and virtually eliminates the measurement errors normally associated with three-axis scanning systems.

The first product to take advantage of Renscan 5 is Revo, a measuring head and probe system that will increase inspection throughput while maintaining system accuracy.

Revo uses synchronised motion when scanning to follow changes in part geometry, without introducing its own dynamic errors.

This lets the CMM move at a constant velocity along a constant vector while measurements are taken, removing the inertial errors that result from acceleration of the machine during three-axis scanning.

At Mach, Renishaw is also showing two PC-based software products that offer time savings for users of machine tool probe systems.

Productivity+ Active Editor Pro is part of the firm's probing and process control software, which targets the entire spectrum of probe users.

The CAD front-end lets features be identified with one click, and the drag-and-drop interface uses the measured data to update machine parameters.

The result is an integrated metal cutting and probing program, which allows a machine tool to make intelligent decisions on the fly.

Renishaw OMV is a verification package that gives machine tool users CMM-style 3D verification against a CAD model.

The software is targeted at manufacturers of complex and large parts, such as mould tools, and combines freeform and geometric features.

A straightforward point-and-click approach means the user can see the inspection path as it is generated, and make changes if required.

With Renishaw's non-lobing, high accuracy spindle touch probes, such as the MP700 and OMP400 compact touch probe, OMV provides accuracy of part verification on machine tools.

The Signum family of rotary and linear position feedback encoders provide ruggedness and precision to deliver levels of performance previously possible only from fine-pitch systems too delicate for many industrial roles.

All encoders feature Signum software that improves set-up and real-time system diagnostics via a PC's USB port.

The Signum RESM angular encoder is a one-piece stainless steel ring with 20um scale marked directly on the periphery.

It features the In-Trac optical reference mark, which repeats, regardless of direction, at operational speeds of over 4500rev/min (52mm diameter) and up to 85C.

The Signum Relm high accuracy linear encoder comprises the SR readhead, Si interface and 20um RELM scale, which is offered in defined lengths.

Initially available in Invar, which provides a low thermal expansion of 1.4um/m/C, the Relm scale comes with a choice of In-Trac reference mark positions and dual optical limits.

Together with the robust, yet precise 20um spars, this enables the Relm to offer accuracy to +/-1um and resolution to 20nm.

For precision motion system analysis, Quickview is a software package from Renishaw to make the ML10 laser a more flexible and powerful analysis tool.

For years, electronic engineers have relied on oscilloscopes to study high-speed variations in voltage or current.

Now, Quickview provides mechanical engineers with a similar capability, allowing them to study minute variations in linear or angular displacement, velocity or acceleration.

With a simple graphical interface Quickview allows flexible operation, avoiding the need for predefined measurement targets and sequences - just point and measure, suitable for ad-hoc system investigations.

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