Computer Aided Quality Control

Automated Inspection
• Automated inspection can be defined as the automation of one or
more of the steps involved in the inspection procedure.

• There are a number of alternative ways in which automated or semi

automated inspection can be implemented:

1. Automated presentation of parts by an automatic handling system

with a human operator still performing the examination and
decision steps.

2. Automated examination and decision by an automatic inspection

machine, with manual loading (presentation) of parts into the
machine.

3. Completely automated inspection system in which parts

presentation, examination, and decision are all performed
automatically.
 Where and When to Inspect

• Inspection can be performed at any of several places in production:

1. Receiving inspection, when raw materials and parts are
received from suppliers.
2. At various stages of manufacture, and
3. Before shipment to the customer.
 Off-Line and On-Line Inspection

• The timing of the inspection procedure in relation to the

manufacturing process is an important consideration in quality
control.

• Two alternative situations can be distinguished:

1. Off-line inspection.
2. On-line inspection.
 Off-Line Inspection
• Off-line inspection is performed away from the manufacturing
process, and there is generally a time delay between processing and
inspection.
• Manual inspection is common.
 On-Line Inspection
• The alternative to off-line inspection is on-line inspection, in which
the procedure is performed when the parts are made, either as
 An integral step in the processing or assembly operation, or
 Immediately afterward.

• Two on-line inspection procedures can be distinguished:

 On-line/in-process.
 On-line/post-process.
 On-Line/ in-process Inspection
• The is achieved by performing the inspection procedure during the
manufacturing operation.
• As the parts are being made, the inspection procedure is measuring
or gaging the parts simultaneously.
 On-Line/ post-process Inspection
• The measurement or gaging procedure is accomplished
immediately following the production process.
 Contact vs. Non-contact Inspection Techniques

• Inspection techniques can be divided into two broad categories:

1. Contact Inspection.
2. Non-contact Inspection.

• In contact inspection, physical contact is made between the object

and the measuring or gaging instrument.
• In non-contact inspection no physical contact is made.
 Contact Inspection Techniques

• The principal contact technologies are:

 Conventional measuring and gaging instruments, manual and
automated.
 Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs)
 Stylus type surface texture measuring machines.
Coordinate Measuring Machines

• A Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) is an electromechanical

system designed to perform coordinate metrology.
Coordinate Measuring Machines
 Coordinate Measuring Machines

• To accomplish measurements in 3D, a basic CMM is composed of the

following components:
 Probe head and probe to contact the workpart suraface.
 Mechanical structure that provides motion of the probe in three
Cartesian axes and displacement transducers to measure the
coordinate values of each axis.
CMM Mechanical Structure

(a) Cantilever (b) Moving bridge (c) Fixed bridge

 CMM Mechanical Structure

(d) Horizontal Arm (e) Gantry (f ) Column