Non-contact 3D measurement of bore holes

Measuring System: NOVACAMTM BOREINSPECTTM system
Keywords: NDT, high-precision, inspection of inner diameter, bore ID, hole ID, blind holes, cylinders, valves, deep holes

Trend towards non-contact 3D measurements

Manufacturers often find it challenging to ensure strict adherence to bore ID specification, especially if micron-level precision is required. Although many are used to manual gauges or contact CMMs to measure bore ID geometries, inner features, defects, and roughness, these technologies provide too little data in too much time to be integrated in plant-floor inspection stations.

When inspection cycle time and data density and precision of measurements are of the essence, NOVACAMTM BOREINSPECTTM non-contact 3D measurement system often fits the bill. The system acquires bore ID measurements with much higher precision than many contact gauges, measures at a much faster speed than CMMs (at up to 100,000 3D point measurements per second), and is versatile enough to be easily be deployed right on production floors.

Watch how the BOREINSPECT system acquires high-precision 3D measurements of multiple bores in a fully automated non-contact manner.

ID measurements of GD&T, roughness, defects, and more

The BOREINSPECT 3D measurement system acquires measurements of:

Go-no-go reporting is sped-up and automated (click image below for close-up)

Automated reporting of several bore IDs highlights out-of-spec measurement values.

How the 3D data is acquired and analyzed

The BOREINSPECT system uses  low-coherence interferometry technology.  It uses a small-diameter rotational scanning (RS) probe to measure bore ID topography directly (without replication). The probe directs a beam of light onto the surface and sends the reflected signal to the system interferometer, acquiring the surface in a point-by-point manner, at a rate of up to 100,000 points (3D measurements) per second.

The BOREINSPECT system simultaneously generates:

  • 3D point cloud
  • Height and intensity images of the surface that facilitate defect detection.

An accompanying PC-based metrology software (InnovMetric PolyWorks InspectorTM) enables full viewing and analysis of the acquired point 3D cloud. Views such as deviation maps provide key insight into bore machining processes. 

The acquired 3D point cloud of one of the above valve body bores reveals a defect near the entry.

The acquired 3D point cloud of one of the above valve body bores reveals a defect near the entry.

Height image of the “unfolded” inner diameter of a valve body bore.

Height image of the “unfolded” inner diameter of a valve body bore.

Intensity image of the “unfolded” inner diameter of a valve body bore.

Intensity image of the “unfolded” inner diameter of a valve body bore.

Automation-friendly system

The BOREINSPECT system is a modular and fiber-based optical system; its rotational scanner probe is connected to the system’s signal-processing interferometer with an optical fiber. As such, the probe is easily integrated as an end-effector on a robot arm or in any automated inspection station within continuous flow manufacturing.

Automation is supported by the BOREINSPECT system capabilities such as datum alignment, automated pass/fail reporting, and exportable reports. Using 3rd party GD&T software PolyWorks InspectorTM, bore ID data may be quickly and automatically compared to a reference CAD model or evaluated with respect to user-defined criteria (GD&T, inner feature specifications, roughness, and defect).

Watch efficient measurements of chatter in a fully automated solution that integrates the BOREINSPECT system and a robot arm.

Benefits to manufacturers

Manufacturers in a range of industries, including Aerospace, Automotive, Glass & Plastics, Dies & Molds, Electronics, Energy, and Medical Equipment  currently use the BOREINSPECT system  to automate and speed up the task of high-precision bore inspection.

They gain significant return on investment (ROI) through the following benefits:

  • With automated high-precision 3D measurements right on the manufacturing plant floor, final product quality improves, scrap decreases.
  • Manufacturers gain the ability to collect, associate, and store quality measurement data with each produced item, as is increasingly required in some high-precision component supply chains
  • Manufacturers gain the ability to measure and track the effectiveness of machining tools.  For example, they may replace high-cost high-precision drill bits on a “just in time” basis – when the effect of tool wear hits predetermined threshold, but before defects appear on the ID.

Related links

Download application note “Measuring Bores” [4 pages, PDF, 0.9 MB] for more details on this application

 Contact us or request free sample analysis to see if the BOREINSPECT system is suitable for your application