CAPTOR-R Case Studies

Case Study 1: Control of positions in a gear lever

Application for a quick control of an automatic gear lever, controlling that the different positions of the lever are within tolerance (P,R,N,D / +, – ).

The lever will be perfectly fixed with a CMM fixture ensuring the repeatability of the measurements. This system enables to control different versions or references of levers by simply changing the CMM fixture.

CAPTOR-R can define the location of the lever knob and control simultaneously if the lights corresponding to each position turn on correctly. It can also detect faults in the printing of the numbers or letters when they turn on. The control time is of 1 second per position and the total control time of the whole gear lever can range between 10 and 15 seconds depending on the number of positions to be checked and the method used – manual or automated – to shift the lever from one position to the other. Shifting the lever automatically has the advantage of enabling to measure the effort required to shift to each position.

Such a short time cycle enables to implement either a control of 100% of the production or a control of production samples at determined frequencies. The traceability is total and a wide range of formats is available for the export of the data.

Case Study 2: Control of an exhaust pipe

Application to control precisely the position of the different sections of exhaust pipe after their welding process, without extending the process cycle time.

Once the part is mounted on the CMM fixture, CAPTOR-R can take sections of control of position at the beginning and at the end of each section composing the exhaust pipe in order to control that the position of the section is correct. Moreover, the presence or position of any element, probe, nut, etc. welded on the assembly can be checked.

The total control time of the part is not longer than 5 seconds. On the contrary, a manual checking fixture could not carry out a complete control of this part in less than 3 minutes.

The significant reduction in the cycle time helps improving the productivity of the production line, and makes the control of 100% of the parts possible and easy.

Case Study 3: Control of a dashboard (cockpit)

Application to control the correct fitting of the components of a dashboard assembly. CAPTOR-R controls the gap and flush between the different components in a quicker and easier way than any other system available on the market. CAPTOR-R can check the real dimensions of the part as they are displayed in the part drawing. The values obtained are displayed instantaneously, generating files of a small size making any postprocess of the data unnecessary. The use of thickness feelers – which results depend on the user’s skills – or the digitizing of the assembly to carry out a further study of each area with highly expensive equipment are no longer necessary .

The control time of each gap/flush area is of 1 second approximately with a precision of less than 0.1mm.

The initial investment in the system can be repaid on several parts references. The only extra cost to be added to each reference is only a CMM fixture and the programming of the controls sequence.

Another possible application for this type of part is the detection of fixation elements of the part – Tuckers, washers, holes, etc. – and the detection of surface defaults in specific areas. The application, in this case, will take sections in two axes to control the presence and location of every fixation point of the part. In a checking fixture, these controls can only be done manually by using position control pins or orbitting dial indicator points, which implies a longer cycle time and a risk of errors when measuring and gathering the measured data.