Quality control (QC) for industrial manufacturing and process control using non-contact, optical measurement and testing solutions by Polytec: from testing acoustic and dynamic properties over surface characterization, length and speed measurement in the manufacturing process of continuous goods to spectral analysis for agriculture, food and chemicals. Polytec quality control solutions open up a realm of applications in quality control. Experience here, how our customers check tolerances, control process stability and secure quality.
Quality control by optical 3D surface characterization
The QC Package for TopMap optical surface profilers are just an example of innovative solutions, offering smart quality control for industrial precision manufacturing and machining processes. Measure, visualize and evaluate surface parameters such as flatness, waviness, step height, parallelism, roughness or structural details close to or in the producion line and benefit from fast and efficient feedback on the machining process. Set up and manage different sample types in predefined measurement recipes and load the settings with barcode scanners for quick and easy operation at production level. Compare and synchronize measurement settings for worldwide standardization and rely on areal, non-contact and repeatable topography measurements.
Airborne remote sensing with hyperspectral camera systems
Hyperspectral imagers (HSI) are imaging spectrometers that deliver spatially and spectrally high-resolution images. As ideal solutions for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of objects based on their specific spectral and geometric signatures, their applications range from precision farming, forest management, environmental damage assessment, basic biological research, open pit mining exploration, remote sensing to archaeology. HSI systems from Polytec are used in laboratories, in the field, in industrial quality assurance and increasingly in remote sensing - from small unmanned drones to satellites in orbit. The ready-to-fly systems shown here have been specifically designed for airborne applications. Benefit from compact, lightweight, thermally and mechanically robust sensor solutions equipped with onboard data acquisition.
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Non-destructive detection and quantification of physical and chemical characteristics
NIR Spectroscopy is well established and one of the most efficient Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tools, allowing non-destructive detection and quantification of physical and chemical characteristics of materials. Polytec provides NIR-Spectrometer-Systems for a wide range of routine analytical and/or industrial applications, from incoming material inspection through manufacturing processes and final product quality control.
In-process analytics of fat, protein and starch content
In modern food industry, quality control of manufactured products is becoming increasingly important. Due to legal requirements, but also at the insistence of consumers, food producers must continuously check their products and ensure that the ingredients and quality meet the requirements. Food products can be analyzed quickly and usually without sample preparation and thus non-destructively using NIR spectroscopy. Common and for quality control crucial parameters like fat, protein, lactose starch or dry matter content are available with only one measurement. With Polytec´s NIR spectrometers, optimized for inline process control, operators are able to monitor these important parameters at all times and can quickly and efficiently adjust production processes.
Acoustic end-of-line testing of roller bearings
Dimensional tolerances of bearings are in the range of just a few micrometers and special attention is paid to achieving low running noise. Cycle times in typical bearing production of just a few seconds require highly efficient inspection systems. In addition, many manufacturers are dedicated to a zero defect policy, despite aiming for thousands of outcoming products per day. As a consequence, premium manufacturers like SKF from Sweden apply 100% noise testing as end-of-line test systems using laser vibration sensors for non-contact 100% testing. Why does noise testing and condition monitoring with laser precision provide a reliable and efficient bearing quality control solution?
Putting accelerometers, microphones and laser vibrometers on the test stand
Technology benchmark
Comparing vibro-acoustic production testing methods
What do you want to measure?
Deflection shape analysis determining the sweet spot for production testing
Acoustics and long service life are quality criteria which consumers value particularly in house-hold appliances for daily use. For this reason 100% of the vacuum cleaner motors by Vorwerk are subject to final testing during production. Understanding dynamics using laser Scanning vibrometry reveals valuable information for production control. A pass/fail decision is made based on a comparison of measured spectra with reference spectra.
In order to minimize false rejects, it is important to find suitable measurement points. To optimize the testing process, the motors that have already been optimized during the development phase with respect to their vibration behavior are measured using a 3D Scanning Vibrometer. The measuring system determines and visualizes the operational deflection shape, leading to the sweet spot aka suitable measuring points for further production testing.
Wafer-level MEMS testing & quality control for improved production processes
The development of a new MEMS typically requires specifically improved production processes. MSA-600 Micro System Analyzers evaluate current processes and their impact on device parameters such as dimensions, mechanical and material properties. This in turn will allow to better control the manufacturing process. For instance, topographic analysis is critical for building three-dimensional surface micro-machined sensors and actuators using Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology. Measurements can be performed on wafer-level prior to packaging. Stress on the membrane of a MEMS pressure sensor can adversely affect the expected lifetime of the device. Since stress shifts the vibrational resonance frequencies, devices that require a long lifetime can be selected from production runs by examination of their dynamic spectrum.
Quality inspections on precision parts
Have you ever lost important photos or documents due to a defective hard drive? We want all our data, personal or work-related, to be stored safely and reliably. Hard disk drives – with their ever growing storage densities and shorter access times – require an extremely high level of stability as regards the read/write head’s positioning above the disk surface. Its flying height of just a few nanometers is a compromise between high data density and risk of collision. The resonances of the aerodynamic bearing depend on the ambient pressure and thus can cause instabilities.
Since laser vibrometers measure in a non-contact and non-intrusive way, they provide the only method of inspecting the response behaviour of the read/write head including its suspension following dynamic excitation as a function of the ambient pressure. Such resonance tests are used to identify critical conditions and then derive design improvements to develop precision mechanics that respond robustly to resonances caused by aerodynamic excitation.
Condition monitoring in industrial plants
Production quality in industrial manufacturing processes highly depends on reliable and reproducible machining processes such as grinding, drilling, milling or cutting. For calibration or potential failure analysis, portable laser vibrometers like the VibroGo® allow an entirely remote inspection from comfortable and safe distances, measuring the out-of-plane motion of the milling head, analyzing the noise on pumps and compressors and more. Here, the laser sensors reliably detect noise on a wide frequency bandwidth and monitor the component's condition for a flexible and simplified preventive maintenance.
Access monitoring by detecting body temperature
TI FeverScan is an innovative solution for detecting elevated body temperature as a result of illness or infection. Based on a high-precision temperature image analysis, this high precision access monitoring system with a contactless temperature measurement allows a fast and simple setup for both the termporarily use in public places or as stationary access checkpoint in entrance areas. Originally designed for industrial process monitoring and Industrie 4.0 applicatins, the detecion of elevated body temperatures are comply with the IEC 80601-2-59:2017 standards.
Learn more about LWIR microbolometer thermography cameras