LMI Technologies
Canvas Category Machinery : Sensor Systems : Metrology
As the global leader in 3D scanning and inspection, LMI Technologies works to advance quality and productivity with 3D sensor technology. Our award-winning, FactorySmart® laser, snapshot, and line confocal sensors improve the quality and efficiency of factory production by providing fast, accurate, reliable inspection solutions that leverage smart 3D technologies. Unlike contact based measurement or 2D vision, our non-contact solutions add 3D shape information that is critical to achieving 100% quality control.
Assembly Line
Automated 3D Inspection System Detects Weld Defects
Since the assembly process involves more than 20 steps, quality control must be comprehensive to ensure that defects are identified at an early stage and reworked. If problems are identified too late in the process, the part must be scrapped.
To guarantee structural integrity, each weld must be inspected. Afterwards, the height of each rivet must be checked with an accuracy of ±0.1 millimeter, since the height of the raised round rivet heads determines how much pressure must be applied when the sheets are joined. Finally, various holes, slots and mounts must be inspected to comply with specifications.
To accomplish these tasks, the carmaker turned to Bluewrist Inc. in Ann Arbor, MI. Bluewrist developed an inline 3D vision inspection system that can continually monitor production quality. Working with the OEM, Bluewrist designed a system that uses two six-axis robots from FANUC and two 3D laser profile cameras from LMI Technologies. As the robots carry out high-speed inspection of all the critical features, the results are recorded and a 3D point cloud is processed and verified against specifications to identify any defects.
The profilers capture detailed surface characteristics of each weld. The weld profile can be inspected in its entirety or broken down into individual sections for analysis and comparison against blueprints to guarantee conformity to length, width, throat thickness, and leg length. The system can inspect fillet, lap, butt, corner, T-joint and plug welds.
Given the complexity of the battery tray, Bluewrist tested the system extensively with feasibility studies before deploying it on the production line. In production, the system performs all the inspections in less than 200 seconds.
LMI Technologies Enhances Industry-Leading 3D Vision Solutions Portfolio With Acquisition of Liberty Robotics (LR)
LMI Technologies (LMI), the global leader in 3D scanning and inspection solutions, announced the acquisition of Liberty Robotics (LR), a pioneering provider of 3D machine vision solutions for robotic guidance in the automotive and material handling/packaging and logistics industries.
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Liberty Robotics has established itself as a key player in automation for the automotive sector, renowned for its innovative VFix and VGuide systems, which enable precise end-of-arm robotic guidance for applications including part handling and the application of coatings and sealers. Liberty Robotics systems are actively running in the facilities of many of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers.
The acquisition will enable LMI to leverage Liberty Robotics’ strong foothold in North America to expand its footprint globally. With LMI’s extensive network, the acquisition is poised to accelerate the company’s growth in markets across North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. In the packaging and logistics space, LR’s unique, industry-leading solutions for handling mixed pallets of boxes that vary in size, color, and pattern will drive rapid business growth in material handling applications given the high demand for automation in this area.