Renishaw adds process monitoring window to Equator comparative gauging system

The Renishaw Equator's process monitoring window instantly displays measurement results of inspected features to the operator on a bar graph display. It also shows the history of measurement on each feature so that process trends can be seen. The system's re-mastering process can also now be managed based on either temperature limits, number of parts or time since last master. A status bar chart shows inspection results for the last part measured as a proportion of tolerance either side of nominal. If required, the system can be set up to display just key features. The part feature already has pass/fail tolerance limits set by the inspection program, but now the engineer can configure the system to set extra warning limits so that action can be taken before a process reaches 100% of the tolerance. At the warning limit, the bar turns orange, if the process drifts further and the pass/fail tolerance is exceeded, the bar turns red and re-mastering can be enforced with an on-screen message to the operator. Selecting an inspected feature changes the line graph to show the values measured for that feature on previous parts. The engineer can change the scale to show the history of a few recent parts, or to show more parts, so that any trend in the process can be seen. This graph is especially valuable where a process is likely to drift – for example, when the cutting tools used to machine the inspected surfaces are subject to wear. If the value for a feature is steadily drifting towards its tolerance limit the operator or engineer can make a decision, for example, to apply a tool offset or change the cutting tool used for that feature. The line graph shows the tolerance limits and warning limits, along with vertical lines when re-mastering points are recorded. Equator's comparator also copes with changes in shopfloor temperature, based on the traditional comparison of production parts to a reference master part, by re-zeroing the system with an inspection routine on the master part – re-mastering. Re-mastering immediately compensates for any change in the thermal conditions and means that Equator systems are suitable for use in environments with wide temperature variation. The process monitor window makes this even easier to manage by using the built-in sensor to detect changes in ambient temperature and warns the operator that re-mastering is needed. Engineers responsible for the process can set an upper and lower drift limit – if the temperature chart is selected then the measured values can be seen plotted against each part inspected. Alternatively, re-mastering can be specified by the user to take place after a certain elapsed time, or after a certain number of measurement cycles. The software automatically switches from measure mode into master mode so that the operator can run the mastering routine. Historical measured data can be exported in either .csv for use in a spreadsheet or .jpg images for use in reports.