REWRITING THE BOOK ON DIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENTS Dimensional Measurement
Time-Saving Dictionary

■ Image Dimension Measurement System IM-X Series

The IM-X Series Image Dimension Measurement System uses captured images to provide measurement at multiple specified locations in just a few seconds, all by simply placing the target on the stage and pressing the measure button.

Offering a solution to any dimensional measurement problem

■ Conventional Dimensional Measurement

Conventional methods (optical comparator, measuring microscope, caliper, micrometer, 3D measuring instrument) are time-consuming, prone to user error, and require skill to operate.

■ The New Standard

With the emergence of image dimension measurement systems, previously faced problems can be solved with just one measurement system.

■ Dimension Measurement System Benefits

Significant reductions in measurement time

The steps required for measurement constitute simply placing the measurement target on the stage and pressing a button to begin measurement. These two steps are all it takes to obtain measurements for up to 5000 locations in just a few seconds. For example, let’s assume that conventional measurement methods require 10 minutes for one target. Conducting 50 measurements a day would amount to about 2000 hours per year. With the IM-X Series Image Dimension Measurement System, one measurement can be done in seconds, reducing the hours to just about 40 per year.

Annual measurement time drops from 2000 hours with a microscope or optical comparator to 40 hours with the IM-X Series, cutting labor by 1960 hours.

Elimination of user-caused measurement errors

Manual measurements by three operators vary (78.4mm, 78.6mm, 78.8mm), but the IM-X Series gives all three the same 78.6mm result.

Conventional measurement systems require the user to decide the measurement point, where target edges should align, where the focus should be, and a host of other aspects that can lead to variations in measurement results depending on the habits and skills of the user. With an image dimension measurement system, positioning and orientation adjustment for a target are performed automatically, and measurement is performed for a set point. Manual operations that previously played a role in measurement errors, including measurement point specification, edge alignment, and focus adjustment, are no longer an issue.

Simple and convenient saving, searching, and statistical processing of measurement results

The histogram settings can be changed as desired, and a trend graph shows the trend of products at a glance.

Inspection reports or analysis reports can be created easily.

All measurement results are automatically saved to the built-in hard disk drive. Critical statistical values required for inspection reports, including maximum/minimum values, averages, σ, 3σ, and CPK values, are calculated and displayed automatically just by selecting the measurement data. Inspection reports and analysis reports can also be created at the push of a single button.

More than just outline measurement from waveform images! 3 new functions

Import drawings and automatically create programs

Automatically retrieves the information needed for measurement from the drawing. The operator simply clicks the points to be measured on the screen. The measurement program automatically reflects information such as elements required for the measurement points, design values, tolerances, etc. There is no longer any need to spend time reading and interpreting drawings to create a program.

Accurate measurement in three dimensions

The low-measuring-pressure touch probe makes it easy to measure 3D machined shapes, including the perpendicularity of the top and side surfaces and the angle of slopes, which were difficult to detect with conventional measurement detects. It can also be used with commercially available styluses, allowing accurate measurement of deep holes and narrow grooves.

Automatically determine optimal focus and lighting with Smart Assist

Tasks such as focusing, illumination selection, and edge detection are now all automated. The measurement system itself can experiment with various conditions to find the optimal conditions for stability during continuous measurements. This allows anyone to reproduce measurements at an expert level.

Examples of Improvement

■ Boot

Soft, complex boot shapes make caliper and comparator measurements unstable; IM-X measures radius, maximum, and minimum points contact-free, instantly.

■ Charpy specimen

Charpy specimens need many measurements (length, notch angle, height, radius) that take time and vary by user; IM-X gets them all in 1 second with confidence.

■ Clip

Clips need virtual-line and virtual-point measurements across many types, which is slow; IM-X extracts these automatically and measures instantly.

■ Connector terminal

Bent connector terminals require many radius and position checks plus appearance comparisons; IM-X measures up to 5000 points and compares shapes to CAD data instantly.

■ CVT element

CVT elements need strict, high-volume tolerance checks near the laminated rings; IM-X measures distances from a reference line just by placing and pressing a button.

■ Designer goods (glasses)

Comparing eyewear shape to an approved prototype relied on visual inspection with no numeric quantification; IM-X captures the accepted contour directly for comparison.

■ Flange

Flange hole-pitch and virtual-line measurements are slow and user-dependent; IM-X measures hole pitch, pitch circle, and concentricity at the push of a button.

■ Gear

Gear dimension, inner-diameter, concentricity, and base tangent length checks previously needed separate systems and caused delays; IM-X gets them all in 1 second.

■ Heat sink

Heat sinks have many small, closely spaced points that are hard to measure with calipers; IM-X measures pitch and thickness non-contact for up to 5000 locations instantly.

■ Inscribed gear

Inscribed gears can't be measured by touch and require careful, slow stage movement with an optical comparator; IM-X measures them non-contact without moving the stage.

■ Linear guide

Linear guide hole positions and virtual-line distances take a long time on movable-stage systems; IM-X measures all points at the push of a button and reuses saved programs.

■ Motor core

Motor cores need many high-accuracy radius and center measurements where user error is critical; IM-X measures up to 5000 points instantly and compares them to CAD data.

■ O-ring

Caliper contact distorts O-rings and skews measurements; IM-X measures the inner circumference non-contact to get accurate diameter and inner diameter values.

■ Polygon mirror

Polygon mirrors need strict angle checks that normally require dedicated equipment like an auto-collimator; IM-X measures angle and dimensions by placing and pressing a button.

■ Rubber band

A rubber band's unstable shape makes outer and inner diameter measurements slow and inconsistent between people; IM-X calculates both instantly from the perimeter.

■ Screw

Screw thread gauges wear out and only give pass/fail, while comparators are slow and error-prone; IM-X measures inside, outer, and effective diameter in 1 second.

■ Spool valve

Spool valves previously needed multiple measurement systems and 10 full-time inspectors for diameter, groove, and radius checks; IM-X replaces them all with one device.

■ Torsion spring

Torsion spring centerline checks took 10 minutes each by hand, delaying inspection of many daily types; IM-X measures the virtual line in 1 second, improving productivity 50%.

■ Weatherstripping

Comparing weatherstripping shapes by overlay gives no deviation values and can't be saved; IM-X overlays CAD data instantly for exact, savable deviation measurements.

Contact us to learn more about how our advanced technology can help take your business to the next level.