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High-Accuracy, High-Volume Inspection

May 17, 2012
Garner Industries adds Zeiss coordinate measuring machine
Garner Industries new CMM measures precision-machined components, tooling, and wire EDM components to tight tolerances with high accuracy and repeatability, it said.

The Zeiss Contura G2 CMM allows Garner Industries to fixture and program parts for FAI, which expedites throughput for high-volume production.

Garner Industries in Lincoln, NE, reported recently it installed a new Zeiss Contura G2 coordinate measuring machine with a measuring range of 700×1,000×600 (X×Y×Z.) It described it as a “state-of-the-art” machine able to measure a variety of metal components, with a degree of accuracy of 0.00008 in. over 3 in. The Contura G2 is capable of highly automated inspection with less reliance on human operation, and very consistent measurement.

Garner is an ISO 9001:2008-certified company that produces precision tooling, mold making, and plastic injection molding, as well as custom machining. Its 75,000-ft2 plant is also the worldwide source of BinMaster® bulk solid and liquid bin level indicators for the feed-and-grain, food, plastics, pulp-and-paper, power, mining, and concrete industries.

The company’s specialty is machining high-performance, and high-value, difficult-to-machine alloys, including Hastelloy, Inconel and titanium, so precision measurement is critical. Its customers are manufacturers in the aerospace, oil-and-gas, instrumentation, and automotive industries who require component parts with exceptionally tight tolerances.

“This new CMM is able to measure precision-machined components, tooling, and wire EDM components to tight tolerances with high accuracy and repeatability,” the company stated.

The Zeiss Contura G2 allows Garner to fixture and program the inspection procedure so repeat parts can be checked quickly and consistently. The company said the new CMM helps it to conduct first-article inspections (FAI) more efficiently by reducing set-up times and ensuring fast deliveries.

Garner Industries explained it selected the Zeiss CONTURA G2 because it is a robust design that provides the benefits of high-speed scanning. It includes a flexible articulating probe that scans in all angular positions for accurate, concentrated acquisition of measuring points, and offers more reliability and reproducibility than conventional systems, Garner said. With the CMM’s high degree of sensitivity, process changes are detected at an early stage, so high quality is ensured and rejected parts are reduced.

“Our quality goal is to deliver to customer’s demanding specifications,” according to Garner president Scott McLain. “We take pride in delivering high-quality parts and with this highly automated and precise equipment, we are able to upgrade our inspection ability and improve our quality efficiency and output. Our customers can have the confidence that we are shipping parts that consistently meet their stringent requirements.”

About the Author

Robert Brooks | Content Director

Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries.