OGP’s Snap CMM develops place-and-go automatic non-contact CMM

All the operator needs to do is walk up to the benchtop-mounted machine, place the part to be checked on its measuring platen and initiate the cycle. Fixtures are not required and parts do not need to be aligned or brought into focus as the image processing system is able to zoom on any portion within the field of view and even isolate small details. Telecentric optics accurately measure parts up to 35 mm thick at the highest magnification or up to 75 mm thick at the lowest with a resolution of 50 nanometres. The device uses OGP Measure-X 2D metrology software. Green, orange and red warning lights give an immediate response against pre-programmed size and drawing tolerance dimensions while more detailed balloon-style graphical reporting against features can be displayed in X, Y and Z plus angular and curvic profiles. Versatility is enhanced as these can be selected against all dimensions captured or just those requiring greater levels of information. The whole unit is shop hardened and robust with the nickel-plated measuring platen able to support loads up to 20 kg. It has a cast aluminium base with manual adjustment in the Z axis vertical plane that has a rotary lock. The field of view is 78 to 19.5 mm with six digital zoom steps. Part illumination is by ultra-bright but cool LEDs to avoid influencing measurements taken. Backlighting is used for profile projection while square-to-platen overhead lighting highlights bores and cavities, for instance. Green lighting is provided for sub-stage and coaxial surfaces plus a programmable ring light with eight sectors that maximises and highlights surface features through red, green or a combination of these colours that can be selected for each segment of the ring. The high definition megapixel monochrome camera has a 2.2 micron pixel size and is fully integrated with OGP's Measure-X 2D metrology software. This enables a full range of feature measurement incorporating unlimited numbers of parts and measured steps to be set up as part of the inspection routine. Data is to ANSI or ISO standards and reporting can also be easily customised for first-off article inspection, in-process or statistical evaluation.