Quality articles from April 2008

Quality archives from April 2008

All for one.(FROM THE EDITOR)
April 1, 2008... When is the last time you heard someone win an award, walk up to the microphone and say, "There's no one to thank; I did it all myself. So, I'll going to put this award on my mantle where I can easily share it with me, myself and I." While...

Coming events.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Calendar)
April 1, 2008... MAY 20 FUNDAMENTALS OF COLOR AND APPEARANCE 2008, Valley Forge, PA. X-Rite, (888) 439-4403. www.xrite.com/top_services. aspx?eventid=266 20-22 EASTEC 2008 EXPOSITION AND CONFERENCE, W. Springfield, MA. Society of Manufacturing...

Obituary: Dr. Joseph M. Juran, "father of quality".(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)
April 1, 2008... SOUTHBURY, CT--Dr. Joseph M. Juran, noted author and "father" of modern day quality management, passed away on February 28 from natural causes. He was 103, and was physically and mentally active until his death. Born in Braila, Romania, in...

Ametek acquires Newage.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(AMETEK Inc. acquires Newage Co.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... PAOLI, PA--Provider of sensors and sensor-based instruments and calibration systems, Ametek Inc. has acquired Newage Testing Instruments, manufacturer of hardness testing equipment used in a range of industries, including aerospace, oil...

ASI Datamyte, ddw announce merger.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
April 1, 2008... MINNEAPOLIS--ASI DataMyte Inc., provider of manufacturing quality-related software solutions, and ddw Computersysteme GmbH (ddw) have concluded an agreement to combine the ddw business with ASI DataMyte's global enterprise, ddw will be merged...

Automated Imaging Association (AIA).(ASSOCIATION NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Michael Cyros, head of Allied Vision Technologies Inc., has been elected the 2008 president of the Automated imaging Association (AIA), a global machine vision industry trade group, representing more than 290 member companies from 26 countries....

Quality QMC and QNDTC 2008 conferences.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Conference news)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... BENSENVILLE, IL--The Quality Measurement Conference celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, with the inaugural Quality NDT Conference taking place in conjunction. The conferences will be held at the Marriott Suites Resort on Sand Key,...

Obituary: Mid-State president Bradley D. Wilson.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Obituary)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... COLUMBUS, OH--Bradley (Brad) D. Wilson, 61, died February 4, in Phoenix after a brief illness. He had been with Mid-State Bolt & Nut Co. Inc. for 37 years in various positions, most recently as president, since 1996. He was an active member of...

NAM: manufactured goods trade balance shows improvement.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... WASHINGTON, DC--Following the Commerce Department report on February 14 that the U.S. trade balance shrank by $46 billion in 2007, its largest improvement in 16 years, the National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) Vice President for...

Donnelly Custom Manufacturing Co.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Donnelly Custom Manufacturing Co. (Alexandria, MN), provider of injection molding services, announces the attainment of ISO 13485:2003 certification. This certification reflects the company's commitment to growth in the medical device sector.

Exact Metrology Inc. (Algonquin, IL), a measurement services provider, has acquired Berding 3D Scanning (Cincinnati), a reverse engineering and laser scanning services firm.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Exact Metrology Inc. (Algonquin, IL), a measurement services provider, has acquired Berding 3D Scanning (Cincinnati), a reverse engineering and laser scanning services firm. The combined company will operate under the name Exact Metrology Inc....

Jetcam International (Fontvielle, Monaco), provider of software and services to the sheet metal industry, announces a partnership with High Performance Machinery Italy S.r.l. (HPm, Cavriglia, Italy), provider of industrial machinery.(BUSINESS NEWS)
April 1, 2008... Jetcam International (Fontvielle, Monaco), provider of software and services to the sheet metal industry, announces a partnership with High Performance Machinery Italy S.r.I. (HPm, Cavriglia, Italy), provider of industrial machinery. Under the...

Northwest Analytical Inc.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Northwest Analytical Inc. (NWA, Portland, OR), provider of SPC and manufacturing analytics software, has opened a new office in Shanghai, China. The China office will be staffed with sales, marketing and technical support.

Wilson Instruments (Norwood, MA), an Instron company and provider of hardness testers, announces the release of its Ready Block program for Rockwell hardness test blocks.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Wilson Instruments (Norwood, MA), an Instron company and provider of hardness testers, announces the release of its Ready Block program for Rockwell hardness test blocks. The program provides same-day delivery for the 40 most common Rockwell...

Test Equipment Distributors.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] David Jaeger has been appointed sales engineer for Test Equipment Distributors (TED, Troy, MI). Jaeger will be responsible for sales and technical support in the southeast United States, including Virginia, West...

Datalogic Mobile Inc.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brad Wall has been appointed sales manager for North America at Datalogic Mobile Inc. (Eugene, OR). Wall is a veteran of the automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) industry with more than 20 years'...

National Academy of Engineering.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Alexis C. Livanos has selected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alexis C. Livanos, corporate vice president and president of the Space Technology sector for Northrop Grumman Corp. (Redondo Beach, CA), has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in...

Balluff.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Drew Stevens has been named business development support specialist for metal-forming at Balluff (Florence, KY). Stevens will be responsible for directing Balluff's metalforming support programs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Michael Uccello.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Michael Uccello has appointed as a product manager )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Michael Uccello has joined Carl Zeiss IMT Corp. (Brighton, MI) as product manager for the SF&G product line. Uccello will oversee all direct sales and distribution sales of surface, form and geometry systems within the Eastern 23-state region.

Plexus Systems Inc.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Bob Stosz has been named as a solutions engineer for Plexus Systems Inc. (Auburn Hills, MI). Stosz is responsible for analyzing prospective Western-region customers' needs for manufacturing systems support and then engineering optimum...

Kaman Industrial Technologies.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Thomas A. Weihsmann has been appointed as a regional manager)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Thomas A. Weihsmann has been appointed vice president, regional manager, for Kaman Industrial Technologies (Windsor, CT). Weihsmann assumes full management responsibility over the company's southeast region, based in Atlanta, where he will...

SAI Global acquires QMI.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... CLEVELAND--SAI Global has acquired QMI, a North American registration body. The merger fulfils both companies' strategies of becoming larger global players. The acquisition will benefit QMI-SAI Global customers by providing a wider range of...

Vision continues to expand.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STUTTGART, GERMANY--Vision 2008, the international trade fair for machine vision and identification technologies, to be held at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre, November 4 to 6, 2008, will include 25% more hall space...

HTI presents award to congressman.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TARRYTOWN, NY--Representative Duncan L. Hunter was presented the Hand Tools Institute American Manufacturing Champion award by representatives of the Hand Tools Institute (HTI), a trade association of American hand...

Demanding excellence: suppliers and OEMs need to open a dialogue about producing quality parts at fair prices.(MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE)
April 1, 2008... I used to teach quality improvement to suppliers of a large corporation. I was repeatedly told that the OEM asked suppliers to produce quality product, yet constantly provided poor quality specifications--mistakes in specifications, old...

Buyer beware: discuss expectations with your supplier before you buy gages or instruments.(OTHER DIMENSIONS)
April 1, 2008... Many battles are waged over what someone buying equipment thought they would get compared to what is usually supplied by the industry. Most of the problems arise due to folks not reading the product specifications. One key area for...

Get up to speed with data collection: modern data collectors have the power to bring manufacturers plantwide data collection solutions.(QUALITY 101)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The age-old considerations for data collection enthusiasts have always stared them straight in the face while they attempt to select the perfect system for their company's needs: Capability, flexibility,...

Reducing PPM.(BRAIN TEASERS)
April 1, 2008... Anyone who has faced a production problem with a need to solve it by using production data can relate to the notion of a brain teaser. The brain teasers presented here are based on real-world situations encountered by workers in manufacturing...

Caliper software: the Caliper software allows customers to automate their inspection process.(QUALITY INNOVATIONS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Verisurf's Caliper software aims to help gages catch up with coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). It allows customers to streamline their inspection process and automate their hand tool measurements. Released in...

3-D laser scanning accelerates inspection: 3-D laser scanning speeds up part inspection while capturing freeform surfaces and geometric feature details.(QUALITY MEASUREMENT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dimensional error margins that compound too enthusiastically throughout the parts assembly process introduce reduced product quality and, subsequently, lengthy corrective actions. To avoid this, accurate and...

Faster computed tomography: microfocus computed tomography extends from the lab to the production floor.(QUALITY TEST & INSPECTION)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shrinking device geometries in electronic and electromechanical components and microsystems enable continuous growth in complexity. These technologies drive the need to virtually cross-section a sample to simplify...

Finding the right calibration software: when the correct calibration software is selected, it is likely that an organization will realize a host of benefits.(QUALITY SOFTWARE & ANALYSIS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Regardless of size, facilities with the need to calibrate instruments can benefit from the implementation of calibration software. Such software allows an organization to keep all calibration records, calibration...

Ford's focus: the Van Dyke Transmission Plant of Ford Motor Co., Quality Magazine's 2008 Plant of the Year, focuses on quality and safety.(QUALITY MANAGEMENT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The people at the Van Dyke Transmission Plant (Sterling Heights, MI), just outside Detroit, know what is going on. It is no secret that the economy is not what it used to be in Michigan. The economy is...

Laser detection prevents damage.(CASE STUDIES)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati (Bologna, Italy) revved up manufacturing efficiencies on its Desmodromic engines by turning to automated laser tool monitoring provided by Renishaw (Hoffman Estates, IL)....

Taking reverse engineering up a notch.(CASE STUDIES)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The typical turbine blade that comes to Eastern Technical Services (ETS, Stuart, FL) is a part and nothing else--there are no computer-aided design (CAD) models, drawings, measurements, tolerances or inspection data...

Press Force Analysis Module.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Cincinnati Test Systems Inc. giving the information about SAM 400 Press Force Signature Analysis Module )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SAM 400 Press Force Signature Analysis Module is a multi-station instrument for any press force monitoring operation. It can handle up to two independent press station operations, with each station programmable...

Thermal imager.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Palmer Wahl Instrumentation Group)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Heat Spy Thermal Imaging Cameras are now available in a high-temperature model. The HSI3002 measures in the range of 392 to 1,652 F (200 to 900 C). The unit is light, compact, easy to operate and designed for...

SPC software.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... SQCpack is a stand-alone tool for general statistical process control charting and analysis, with out-of-control summary reporting, chart review and automatic assisted process capability interpretation. Chart review allows a user to browse...

Linear encoder.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The LS 688C linear encoder is in keeping with the conversion of linear encoders for manual machine tool applications to the more robust 1 volt peak-to-peak interface (from 11 micro-amp interface). This full-size...

Laser scanner.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... The Metris K-Scan MMD handheld scanning system blends the company's ModelMaker D laser scanning and optical CMM continuous probe tracking. Optical probe tracking enables the operator to walk around and acquire surface scans of the measurement...

PC-based controller.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] eXtreme Fast Control (XFC) is a control solution based on optimized control and communication architectures. The solution enables cycle times of 100 microseconds without having to give up central intelligence and the...

Data recorder software.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Quality View Mode is a software option that configures the CL5 Precision Thickness Gage to more quickly capture and communicate inspection data to Microsoft Excel or a third-party quality analysis software program. The software is available...

Portable CMM.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Fusion FaroArm is for manufacturers that want the in-process measurement, reverse-engineering capabilities and ergonomics of the company's flagship arm in a lightweight, portable and more affordable solution....

Ultrasonic wall thickness gage. (QUALITY PRODUCTS).(Electromatic Equipment Co. inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... Checkline TI-CMX and TI-CMXDL data-logging ultrasonic thickness gages are for making wall and coating thickness measurements. Both gages automatically measure and eliminate any coating from wall thickness measurements, allowing operators to...

'Balance' in favor of U.S.(THE LAST WORD)
April 1, 2008... Where should the "line" be drawn about technology the United States allows to be transferred to foreign companies? Recently, 3Com, the Marlborough, MA-based manufacturer of Internet router and networking equipment, was approached by Bain...

On the road.(EDITOR'S NOTE)(Editorial)
April 1, 2008... Once again, business trips led me to Florida and Michigan. A recent Thursday and Friday were spent in Lake Buena Vista, FL, and on Monday I was back at the airport at dawn for my flight to Detroit. While in Florida, I had the opportunity to...

Quality NDT conference approaches.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Conference news)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... BENSENVILLE, IL -- The Quality Measurement Conference (formerly MMCW) will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2008, with the inaugural Quality NDT Conference taking place in conjunction. The conferences will be held at the Marriott Suites Resort...

Mistras acquires Controlled Vibrations Inc.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ -- Mistras Group Inc., provider of nondestructive testing products and services, has acquired Controlled Vibrations Inc. (CVI, Doylestown, PA). CVI has been involved in the predictive maintenance (PdM) industry since...

Olympus NDT introduces web-based tutorial.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
April 1, 2008... WALTHAM, MA -- Olympus NDT introduces a flee self-guided phased array ultrasound tutorial on its Web site, www. olympusndt.com. The extensive tutorial is an introduction to ultrasonic phased array testing, both for newcomers and for more...

Conam adds to its high energy X-ray capabilities.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ -- Conam Inspection & Engineering Service announces an upgrade of their Auburn, MA, facility's in-house radiographic capabilities from the installation of a 4 million electron volt (MEV) X-ray unit. Lou Varady,...

Metallurgical High Vacuum expands headquarters.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Metallurgical High Vacuum Corp.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... FENNVILLE, MI -- Metallurgical High Vacuum Corp. (MHV), supplier to the vacuum technology industry, has opened a 2,400-square-foot building housing its Engineering Design Center. It is equipped with the latest 3-D CAD systems to accommodate all...

LTI renews PRI/Nadcap accreditation.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
April 1, 2008... HATFIELD, PA -- Laboratory Testing Inc. (LTI), specializing in materials testing and nondestructive testing of metals, alloys and other materials, has been re-accredited for nondestructive testing by PRI/Nadcap, the Performance Review...

Industrial computed tomography: CT provides 3-D images for visual inspection.(BACK TO BASICS)
April 1, 2008... Industrial computed tomography (CT) is a unique nondestructive evaluation technique for inspecting interior structures of test objects. While computed tomography has long been used by radiologists for medical diagnostics applications,...

Fast flaw detection: ultrasonic flaw detection can be a valuable tool both for verifying product quality and helping to ensure safety.(Cover story)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ultrasonic flaw detection has been a valuable quality assurance tool for decades. Since the 1940s, inspectors have used the laws of physics that govern the propagation of sound waves through solid materials to detect...

Magnetic particle inspection explained: this technique lends itself to automation and high-volume production inspection--and is less expensive than other more sophisticated methods of quality assurance.
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By definition, nondestructive testing is the collective name given to repeatable processes applied to components or structures to interrogate their integrity, in such a way as to not impair their ability to operate...

Glossary.(Glossary)
April 1, 2008... * Alternating Current (AC). Electric current flows through a conductor in a back and forth direction at specific intervals. Note: It provides the best sensitivity for the detection of surface discontinuities only. * Direct Current (DC)....

Advances in videoscope technology: the inspection process are now thorough, efficient and reliable than ever before, given the advances of the core imaging technology.
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Boroscope and videoscope technologies have advanced dramatically since their beginnings. As such, a refresher of borescope technology evolution may be in order. The rigid borescope is a rather...

Leak testing diversity: a range of leak test methods and equipment is available to suit a variety of needs.(TECH SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2008... Leak testing is used across a gamut of industries to ensure part integrity. Three common types of leak tests are tracer gas leak testing, bubble emission leak testing and air leak testing. In a basic example of tracer gas leak testing, a...

Motion control makes testing easier.(NDT APPLICATIONS)
April 1, 2008... Many nondestructive testing applications involve repetitive exercising of a device under test (DUT) by an automated motion system. If all that is required is causing a motion sequence and counting the cycles, and possibly some simple data...

On-line XRF for fast alloy analysis.(NDT APPLICATIONS)
April 1, 2008... Sandviken, Sweden-based Sandvik Materials Technology produces high technology stainless steels, special alloy materials and advanced value-added products. The company wanted an efficient on-line system for testing seamless stainless steel...

XRF analyzers.(NDT PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A range of X-ray fluorescence systems is available from the company. The weatherproof handheld alloy analyzer--with a fully integrated, sealed controller--is appropriate for any weather, ideal for recycling and scrap...

Digital torque tester.(NDT PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Tornado is a digital torque tester designed to assess the low-level torques associated with small rotating components, from packaging closures to electrical controls, and building hardware to medical devices. The tester features pass/ fail...

Digital slide scanner.(NDT PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Mirax Micro is a digital slide scanner that enables operators to create digital slides when using a microscope system from the company. Operators have the option of selecting objectives based on specific project...

Ultrasonic flaw detector.(NDT PRODUCTS)(GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Phasor XS offers phased array capability within a portable ultrasonic flaw detector to reduce inspection times and improve probability of detection. Because of its menu-driven inspection instructions, the battery-powered instrument requires...

Videoscope.(NDT PRODUCTS)(Danatronics, inc. )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The ForeEyes 2020 X2TS is a third-generation videoscope that has a high-resolution 7-inch touch screen display, 80-gigabyte hard drive and WiFi capability. The videoscope is not only smaller (2.5 pounds) than its predecessor, it also offers...

Horizontal X-ray inspection.(NDT PRODUCTS)(FocalSpot Inc. has introduced horizontal beam X-ray inspection systems )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Verifier H Series of horizontal beam X-ray inspection systems, designed for industrial, automotive and medical applications, is available. The systems provide manufacturing quality assessment and defect detection of components and...

UV lamp.(NDT PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Spectroline BIB-150P UV lamp is appropriate for use in nondestructive testing, quality control, leak detection and UV curing. The handheld inspection lamp offers super-high ultraviolet intensity. It meets or exceeds MIL and ASTM...

X-ray sensitive imaging camera.(NDT PRODUCTS)(Rad-icon Imaging Corp. )(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Shad-o-Box 1024 Hi-Res is an X-ray sensitive imaging camera that uses the company's RadEye X-ray specific digital image sensor. The camera has a 14-bit output and parallel digital interface (LVDS) for direct input to a digital frame...

Universal Testing Machine.(NDT PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The 1000HDX Universal Testing Machine features a dual test space for tension, compression, bend, shear and flexure testing on high strength materials. The machine is appropriate for testing materials for the metal, fastener and construction...

Microscopes.(NDT PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The IRT-5000 and IRT-7000 are microscopes that can be interfaced with the company's FT/IR-4000 and FT/IR-6000 spectrometers. The IRT-5000 is an FT-IR microscope system featuring dual detector capability and multiple...

Handheld ultrasonic flaw detector.(NDT PRODUCTS)(Olympus NDT)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Epoch LTC digital ultrasonic flaw detector weighs 2.12 pounds (0.96 kilograms) and is built for use in a range of weather conditions and difficult inspection environments. Its sealed case meets IP67 requirements to withstand the rigors of...

XRF handheld analyzers.(NDT PRODUCTS)(Thermo Fisher Scientific Niton has lanched XRF handheld analyzers.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... The Niton XL3 800 Series and XL3 900 Series of handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers are available. The 800 Series provides fast alloy grade identification and laboratory-quality composition analysis of metal alloys. Typical time for...

The missing piece of your integration puzzle.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2008... The OmniScan iX, by Olympus NDT, is an industrial ultrasonic flaw detector system designed for high-speed testing of critical industrial components. It can be configured for 2, 4, or 8 conventional ultrasound channels, and is available in a...

S1 Tracer handheld XRF analyzer.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2008... Bruker AXS Handheld XRF line of portable X-ray fluorescence analyzers provides quick accurate elemental analysis from Mg to U. The S1 Tracer with its' patented vacuum system, enables light element analysis to quantitatively analyze elements....