3-D system inspects seams

Weld seams, seals, and rivets are often complex and difficult to inspect with satisfactory assurance during manufacturing processes. In applications such as assembling airplane-cockpit support frames, seam inspection is critical for detecting holes, surface voids and pores, missing seams, and cracks within joints. The cockpit support frame consists of two aluminium half-shells that are welded together over a length of 1300 m in an electron-beam welding facility.

A 3-D seam-inspection system such as the VIRO developed by Vitronic (Wiesbaden, Germany; www.vitronic.com) can ensure that the necessary quality inspection is performed. The sensor unit on the VIRO contains light-stripe sensors with scan rates of 500 to 2000 profile stripes per second. The robot moves the frame past the sensor and interfaces with the robot controller. A good/no-good signal is transmitted from the sensor to a PLC, which can send the part back for rework and to a PC that tracks the type and frequency of defects and documents the process.