The measurement solutions provider has supplied a range of equipment to the National Physical Laboratory based at Huddersfield University to support its projects with businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber area.
NPL Huddersfield has added a pair of Hexagon Metrology coordinate measuring machines and a Romer portable measuring arm to its busy facility in a bid to boost research and development capabilities, CMM part programming and training services.
The bridge-style DEA Global Silver 7.10.7 Performance CMM with Tesastar-sm automatic indexable probe head was selected mainly because of its 700 x 1000 x 700mm measurement volume and PC-DMIS CAD++ software for direct CAD file translation. The OPTIV Classic 321GL tp multi-sensor CMM offers both a traditional touch-trigger tactile probe and non-contact vision sensor so that two different principles of CMM measurement can be performed.
The equipment is already proving to be a valuable asset to the laboratory's team of engineers who have used the DEA Global Silver 7.10.7 Performance CMM to improve the measurement accuracy of a precision component for industrial centrifugal fan maker, Halifax Fan Ltd. The Brighouse-based company has been able to refine its design, which is an integral part of their fan systems supplied worldwide.
Meanwhile, the OPTIV Classic CMM has undertaken some important investigative work for a leading engineering construction organisation. TEi, headquartered in Wakefield, enlisted the help of the laboratory to check the integrity of a stainless steel bolt.
The CMM's optical measurement capabilities were used to inspect the thread for any unexpected deviations caused through loading in service. The high accuracy and zoom lens of the OPTIV system were ideal for the dimensional process assessment thanks to its quick and simple set-up, fast scanning and rapid evaluation of the measurement data. The results formed part of a wider investigation, which ultimately revealed no evidence of any variation in the thread pitch.
"Hexagon Metrology is a trusted supplier whose equipment can be relied upon. It is a company, which is not only extremely supportive of the NPL's objectives, but also shares our passion for assisting manufacturers in this region," commented Andy Morris, NPL Huddersfield laboratory manager.
In a recent customer survey, NPL estimated it had directly helped organisations achieve benefits in excess of £100m a year through good measurement practice.
The NPL Huddersfield facility is based in the Leeds City region, which has the most people (139,000) working in manufacturing in the UK. Thanks to a strategic partnership with Huddersfield University, NPL plans to create a new purpose-built research facility and a centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing metrology.