Software For In Process Part Inspection - CNC Engineering Inc.

The company has introduced In Process Part Acceptance (IPPA), software that provides automated part validation on the shop floor. This validation information is stored in a centralized OBDC-compliant database for record keeping and for extended SPC analysis using industry standard SPC tools.

Like many of the company's other shopfloor products, the software is designed to gather essential information from CNC machines and shopfloor devices, perform the necessary evaluation processes on the data and provide the results to the manufacturing process control structure.

Based on a three-step inspection process, the software consists of three process modules: inspection requirements definition; data capture, available as both an automated or manual function; and a features analysis.

Inspection criteria are defined within the inspection requirements module based on the information the quality and engineering personnel are looking to acquire. These definitions are comprised of data "capture" requirements such as a point, a series of points or a hole center and diameter. The definitions may also include calculated values such as true position, distance between points, flatness or others. Each captured and calculated data value may have an assigned nominal value and plus or minus limits.

The data capture module is said to facilitate acquiring the inspection data, both in an automated and manual input form. CNC probing, electronic gages, manual inspections and the import of CMM results are a few of the methods by which the information can be collected.

The feature analysis module tests actual data against target data. The captured information, in its raw form or used in calculation, can be compared with predefined requirements. Discrepancies are signaled for measurement verification. If the measurements remain out of limits, the part is flagged for removal from the production line and is marked for a complete inspection. When discrepancies occur, e-mail messages that contain a full report are automatically sent to appropriate quality and manufacturing personnel.

To further support the manufacturing data process, the system contains a full set of reports, data archiving and revision control features.

CNC Engineering Inc.
19 Bacon Road
Enfield, CT 06082
Phone (860) 749-1780, Fax (860) 763-6467