New Scale Robotics has published a new White Paper to help companies assess the feasibility of automating contact measurements of the small parts they manufacture.

New Scale Robotics has published a new White Paper to help companies assess the feasibility of automating contact measurements of the small parts they manufacture.

"Manufacturers producing precision components often need to make caliper measurements of the parts for QC and process control - a boring and repetitive process that is a prime candidate for automation," said Stefan Friedrich, specialist at New Scale Robotics. "This white paper helps manufacturers assess whether their specific parts and processes are suited for automation using a Q-Span Workstation Kit."

Collaborative robots (cobots) make automation feasible for small-batch, high-mix manufacturers. Unlike hard-tooled industrial robots, cobots are deployed quickly at relatively low cost, operate near human workers, and can be easily moved from task to task.

Q-Span Workstation Kits work with cobots from Universal Robots (UR) to automatically measure small parts and record the data for statistical analysis. They combine this measurement with part handing (pick and place) to remove most of the labor from the process. The Q-Span Workstation can sort parts or alert operators to process drift based on real-time measurements.

The new White Paper, Q-Span® Workstation Kit Application Assessment, describes how New Scale Robotics application engineers can perform a free part assessment to determine whether the tool is a fit for the volume and types of parts that a company needs to inspect.

It goes on to describe the more detailed application assessment (proof of concept) that is offered if warranted. An application assessment may involve using a Q Span Workstation to measure the critical features on sample parts and calculate the expected gage R&R.

The White Paper shows a typical application assessment report, including photos and videos of the Q-Span Workstation measuring a customer's sample parts, the raw measurement data recorded by the data logging application, and the gage R&R calculations.

The white paper is free to download at https://www.newscalerobotics.com/resources/white-papers/#application-assessment