G&L CMM: Inspection Solution for Quality Lab and Shopfloor

Bringing high-accuracy, low-maintenance inspection to the quality lab and the shopfloor, the Endeavor series of CMMs from the Measurement and Sensing division of Giddings & Lewis (Dayton, OH) can deliver volumetric accuracy up to 0.00032 in. (0.008 mm) and 0.0001 in. (0.0025 mm) repeatability. The machine is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of myriad manufacturing environments.

The Endeavor was designed to be able to handle variations in ambient temperature that most production areas experience, which can challenge the accuracy of CMMs. It features real-time temperature compensation that's said to guarantee accuracy over a ±5°C temperature range.

"The broad temperature range capability of the Endeavor not only helps make it a robust solution for many production environments, it also dramatically reduces set-up time and expense. In most cases, users don't have to make special preparations, such as an enclosure or temperature control, to accommodate the CMM," explained Matthew J. Lopinski, vice president of sales and marketing for the Measurement & Sensing division.

In addition, a granite table adds to the machine's thermal tolerance and provides a firm foundation that is vibration resistant. The unit's overall structure is said to be solid enough to require only a simple elastomeric isolation system instead of a more costly pneumatic arrangement.

Lower Maintenance, Higher Reliability Reap Benefits
Special features built into the machine enable it to deliver high-accuracy performance and also make it more reliable and much easier to maintain than other CMMs. For instance, the brushless linear motor direct drive system that moves the carriage eliminates misalignment, backlash, and wear on moving parts, which are inherent in mechanical drives.

According to Assad Ansari, Measurement and Sensing division vice president of engineering, " Using linear motor technology instead of a belt, screw, or friction-type drive means there are no moving parts, which means there is no wear and tear on the system. The customer benefits in two ways: system reliability is improved while maintenance costs are reduced."

Also contributing to the CMM's performance and reliability is the unit's extremely rigid, lightweight moving structure. Supported by five bearing points, the structure permits accurate control with less stress on the drive system. Most of the moving structure's mass is located on the driven side of the machine. Because of that, the tendency to "drag" the support post opposite the driven side is significantly reduced, which tends to happen with older, bridge-type units. The benefit? No decrease in accuracy or repeatability.

Inspection Software
The company's new MeasureMax+ suite of inspection software is included with the CMM, along with a user workstation equipped with computer, printer, monitor, and stand. The Windows interface makes available the software's Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which is becoming a universally recognized inspection format. The IDE seamlessly combines tasks including inspection, process control, statistical analysis, reverse engineering, and part programming on the CMM either through VisualBasic or from CAD files. And for shopfloor applications, the Single Touch Interface (STI) makes running a part program as easy as touching a picture on the CMMs monitor screen. The software was developed to run part programs from current and previous versions of the company's Sheffield and Cordax systems. In fact, Sheffield's DMIS run engine is completely compatible with the current ANSI standard.

Giddings & Lewis Controls, Measurement and Sensing Div., Box 1127, Dayton, OH 45401-1127. Tel: 800-348-9510; Fax: 937-254-5054.