In order for the automotive industry to implement its zero-defect strategy, it needs fast measuring and testing processes. It must also be possible to automate the measurement technology for inline operation in such a way that it can immediately detect quality errors and process fluctuations and report them back to production.

For SMP Samvardhana Motherson Peguform in Neustadt an der Donau, Heitec develops and manufactures fully automated measuring and inspection systems for checking front bumpers, cockpits and side panels. The sensor system, consisting of up to 25 cameras or laser scanners, checks the correct installation of safety and assistance systems, lighting and parking aid sensors, radar and lane change detection or even just the presence of emblems or screws in a non-contact and non-destructive manner. At the same time, the system checks installed wiring harnesses and connected components. Verification is carried out on the basis of the previously scanned barcode and the associated data from the database. Depending on the scope of the inspection, the Heitec system requires between ten and 90 seconds for a complete measurement cycle.

The fully automatic HeiCMD (Cylinder Measuring Device) measuring system checks the dimensions and geometry of rotationally symmetrical parts with tight shape and dimensional tolerances. The maximum, minimum and average diameter over the entire measuring range or over partial ranges, cylindricity, parallelism and straightness are evaluated. The measurement results can be used for pairing or classifying bushings and shafts. The measurement data is read out in real time by the evaluation software, processed and displayed numerically or graphically. Depending on requirements, the measuring station can be equipped with a pneumatic measuring mandrel, measuring ring or a tactile probe or optical laser for measuring internal and external features. A high-precision piezoresistive pressure transmitter with integrated temperature sensor for temperature compensation is used for pneumatic measurement. Surface inspection systems detect production defects, damage and soiling.

Heitec is developing an automatic inspection device with a line scan camera, an entocentric lens and beam illumination for international automotive suppliers. Using the 3D scattered light method, the system detects surface defects on the lateral surface of cylindrical grinding parts from a size of 0.02 millimetres with a field of view of 50 millimetres in the line direction and distinguishes between scratches and dents. The concept enables a production-integrated, one hundred percent inline inspection of piston pins within one second. Depending on the respective cycle times of the production lines of 0.5 to 1.8 seconds, the systems can be designed as single or double-track end-of-line inspection machines. as