ABB has unveiled a new 3D inspection robot cell, which it claims makes quality control testing “10 times faster” than conventional methods.
The industrial automation company said the 3D quality inspection (3DQI) robot cell is “capable of detecting defects of less than half the width of a human hair and imperceptible to the naked eye”.
The 3DQI is conceived for offline testing stations and its modularity allows for customisation or expansion. Using a single 3D white light optical sensor to scan millions of 3D points per shot, a detailed digital model of the part being inspected can be created, which can be compared to an original CAD drawing. According to ABB, all of this can be done 10 times faster than with conventional coordinated measuring machines.
The sensor can be carried by any robot with a handling capacity greater than 20kg and is compatible with a range of robots, tracks and rotary tables, which means it can inspect all parts dimensions.
According to ABB, key benefits of the 3DQI include its combined speed, accuracy to below 100 (micrometre) μm and flexibility provided by its modular design, with customers able to create a solution tailored to their requirements.
As well as increasing productivity, the solution also reduces costs by minimising the risk of product defects that could lead to potential recalls, said ABB.
“The ability to accurately measure and control quality is vital to ensure that products achieve consistency, comply with standards, and meet customer expectations. Traditional testing methods are slow and capture the potential quality mistakes often too late in the process,” said Tanja Vainio, managing director, auto tier one business line for ABB Robotics.
“Our 3DQI cell automates this process, far exceeding the capabilities of traditional inspection in speed, accuracy and repeatability. We’ve developed and piloted our 3DQI technology in automotive applications, including automotive supplier Benteler, and the 3DQI solution has been proven to improve product quality, throughput and safety, while freeing up skilled labour to be deployed on other tasks.”
The solution also provides comprehensive data analysis processed in real time. Digital records support traceability, as well as enabling users to adapt their processes to prevent further failures to improve overall quality and productivity.
The new 3DQI inspection cell is the latest cell introduced by ABB and joins FlexArc and FlexLoader in ABB’s portfolio of smart, flexible solutions. All equipment is included in ABB’s RobotStudio Sidio Planner Power Pack, enabling new users to become familiar with using the 3DQI solution.
