Quality articles from May 2008

Quality archives from May 2008

Prove yourself first.(FROM THE EDITOR)(Peter Sanderson of Total Quality Management Systems Inc. (Cornwall, Ontario) received Quality Magazine Professional of the Year Award)(Editorial)
May 1, 2008... The Quality Magazine Professional of the Year Award was started several years ago to recognize an individual who, during the course of his or her career, has made outstanding contributions to the quality profession. Applicants for the award are...

Coming events.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Calendar)
May 1, 2008... MAY 31-6/3 2008 SME ANNUAL MEETING & INTERACTIVE "UNCONFERENCE," Detroit. Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), (313) 271-1500. www.sme.org JUNE 3-5 MD&M EAST, New York. Canon Communications, (310) 445-4200. www.mdmeast.com...

Marposs acquires gage maker Kern.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 1, 2008... AUBURN HILLS, MI -- Supplier of precision metrology equipment, Marposs S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy) announces the acquisition of Kern S.A.S., a supplier of high-precision mechanical gages and assemblies located in Chelles, France, a suburb of Paris....

AMTMA names new officers.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(The American Measuring Tool Manufacturers Association)(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... MENTOR, OH -- The American Measuring Tool Manufacturers Association (AMTMA) named its 2008-2009 officers and board of directors at its annual meeting, held March 13 to 14 in Phoenix. The officers are as follows: James W. Gregory, president;...

NAM: H-1B visa cap needs to be raised.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(National Association of Manufacturers)
May 1, 2008... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Along with other long-term solutions to America's serious shortage of highly skilled employees, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) praised policymakers who support raising the cap from its current 65,000 limit...

Olympus names CEO.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Olympus America Inc. appoints E Mark Gumz)(cheif executive officer)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CENTER VALLEY, PA -- Olympus, a precision technology provider of opto-digital solutions in healthcare, life science and consumer electronics products, announces that E Mark Gumz, president and chief operating officer...

GE opens NDT display.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies)(GE Aviation)(nondestructive testing)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... BILLERICA, MA -- GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies, provider of measurement, sensor-based and inspection solutions, has installed a customer-display area at GE Aviation's Customer Technical Education Center (CTEC, Cincinnati). CTEC is GE...

IBS software helps company achieve zero nonconformities.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Aspen Aerogels)(IBS America Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... LEXINGTON, MA -- Aspen Aerogels, a provider of insulation solutions, achieved zero nonconformities during its ISO 9001 re-certification. The company credits QSi Now! quality management software from IBS America, a provider of compliance and...

Modus Metrology opens new facility.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
May 1, 2008... KNOXVILLE, TN -- Modus Metrology Services, a part of Omega Energy Services, has moved to its new facility in Knoxville, TN, and will be operational and accepting work by June 1. The new calibration lab will include a Leitz 12107 Infinity...

American Society for Quality (ASQ).(ASSOCIATION NEWS)(American Society for Quality has appoints Dr. Gary Jing)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Dr. Gary Jing, who manages the Six Sigma program at Minnesota-based Entegris, was named a Fellow of American Society for Quality (ASQ). Jing received Fellow membership status for contributions in science and technology, particularly...

RABQSA International.(ASSOCIATION NEWS)(RABQSA International has expanded the RABQSA Management System Certification Body )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... RABQSA International has expanded the RABQSA Management System Certification Body (MSCB) Auditor Certification Scheme, designed specifically for auditors engaged by accredited management system certification bodies. The scheme initially...

Precision Metalforming Association (PMA).(ASSOCIATION NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The Precision Metalformlng Association (PMA) has announced the winners of its 2008 Awards of Excellence in Metalforming. Presented annually, the awards recognize the high standards of achievement set by the metalforming industry in the areas of...

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (Waltham, MA), provider to the scientific community, has acquired NanoDrop Technologies LLC (Wilmington, DE), manufacturer of micro-volume ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) instrumentation.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has acquired NanoDrop Technologies LLC)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (Waltham, MA), provider to the scientific community, has acquired NanoDrop Technologies LLC (Wilmington, DE), manufacturer of micro-volume ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) instrumentation. The acquisition will...

BryCoat Inc.(BUSINESS NEWS)(BryCoat Inc. achived Nadcap accreditation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... BryCoat Inc. (Oldsmar, FL), supplier of coatings for parts used in high-value applications, has achieved Nadcap accreditation. The company's quality management system also is certified to AS9100:2004 Rev B and ISO 9001: 2000.

Altra Holdings Inc. (Quincy, MA), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of industrial power transmission and motion control products, announces that it has acquired the assets of All Power Transmission Manufacturing Inc. (Green Bay, WI), manufacturer of specialty universal joints and other driveline equipment used in a number of industries.(BUSINESS NEWS)(mergers between Altra Holdings Inc. and Power Transmission Manufacturing Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Altra Holdings Inc. (Quincy, MA), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of industrial power transmission and motion control products, announces that it has acquired the assets of All Power Transmission Manufacturing Inc. (Green Bay, WI),...

Vectron International.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Vectron International (Hudson, NH), provider of frequency control, sensor and hybrid product solutions, has changed the name of its Sensors & Advanced Packaging (SAP) business unit to SenGenuity. The move represents the company's continued...

ShapeGrabber (Ottawa, Canada), provider of automated inspection systems for industrial markets, has signed a distribution agreement with Optical Gauging (S) Pte. Ltd, (OGS, Singapore) a Quality Vision International company and provider of sales and service support to the Southeast Asia region for its parent company, Optical Gaging Products Inc. USA.(BUSINESS NEWS)
May 1, 2008... ShapeGrabber (Ottawa, Canada), provider of automated inspection systems for industrial markets, has signed a distribution agreement with Optical Gauging (S) Pte. Ltd, (OGS, Singapore) a Quality Vision International company and provider of sales...

Delcam (Salt Lake City), provider of CADCAM software, announces that its FeatureCAM has been awarded Certified CAM Product status by the SolidWorks Partner Program.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Computer aided design)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Delcam (Salt Lake City), provider of CADCAM software, announces that its FeatureCAM has been awarded Certified CAM Product status by the SolidWorks Partner Program. This follows an extensive evaluation by SolidWorks Corp. (Concord, MA),...

Intertek (Houston), provider of quality and safety services to a range of global and local industries, announces that its Oil, Chemical and Agri Group has acquired Plastics Technology Laboratories Inc. (PTLI, Pittsfield, MA).(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Intertek (Houston), provider of quality and safety services to a range of global and local industries, announces that its Oil, Chemical and Agri Group has acquired Plastics Technology Laboratories Inc. (PTLI, Pittsfield, MA). PTLI provides...

Cree Inc.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Cree Inc. (Durham, NC), provider of LED solid-state lighting components, successfully completed an advancement assessment audit for ISO/TS 16949 certification. This audit includes the XLamp LED production facility in Durham, as well as the...

Milltronics (Waconia, MN) announces new product developments and a new corporate graphic identity.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Milltronics (Waconia, MN) announces new product developments and a new corporate graphic identity. The 30-year-old company will change its identity from Milltronics Manufacturing to Milltronics CNC Machines as a way to immediately convey the...

Adams Magnetic Products Co.(BUSINESS NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Adams Magnetic Products Co. (Elmhurst, IL), maker of magnetic products and assemblies, has purchased two engineering software packages--AutoCAD and Amperes--to enhance its product design capabilities and better serve its customers. The software...

Northwire expands, relocates Asian operations.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... OSCEOLA, WI -- Northwire Inc., manufacturer of industrial-grade technical cable, has relocated and expanded its Asian operations. The new facility, located in Jiangsu Province, China, includes a 5,300-square-foot warehouse and 3,400-square-foot...

Dr. Justin Redd.(PEOPLE NEWS)
May 1, 2008... Dr. Justin Redd has joined Timbercon Inc. (Lake Oswego, OR) as director of engineering. Redd's responsibilities will include new product design, product analysis and research.

Donald L. Warner, PE.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Donald L. Warner has been named Engineer of the Year )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Donald L. Warner, PE, vice president and director of quality and training for SSOE Inc. (Toledo, OH) has been named Engineer of the Year by the Technical Society of Toledo and the Toledo Chapter of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers....

Lean Learning Center.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Bill Artzberger has been hired as senior consultant for the Lean Learning Center )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Bill Artzberger has been hired as senior consultant for the Lean Learning Center (Novi, MI). Artzberger holds a Bachelor of Arts in business from Walsh College (Troy, MI) and an MBA from Wayne State University (Detroit). [ILLUSTRATION...

SmartCAMcnc.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Terry Antrobus has been appointed international business development director for SmartCAMcnc )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Terry Antrobus has been appointed international business development director for SmartCAMcnc (Eugene, OR). This is part of the company's plan to rapidly increase the marketing and support efforts of its worldwide reseliers.

Al Fitzpatrick.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Al Fitzpatrick has been appointed director of sales and marketing for Hardy Instruments and Metrix Instrument Co.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Al Fitzpatrick has been appointed director of sales and marketing, North America, for Hardy Instruments and Metrix Instrument Co. (Houston), both divisions of Roper Industries. Fitzpatrick will have a key role in expanding North American...

Homer T. Harrison.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Coherix appoints Homer T. Harrison as manager of diesel engine and machine tool markets. )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Homer T. Harrison has joined Coherix (Ann Arbor, MI) as manager of diesel engine and machine tool markets. Harrison also has been named a special advisor to Dwight Carlson, the company's founder and CEO.

Edmund Optics.(PEOPLE NEWS)(Edmund Optics has appoints Maria Light as director of sales )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Maria Light has been appointed director of sales for North, Central and South America for Edmund Optics (EO, Barrington, N J). Light will work directly with Allan Kreutzer, EO's vice president of global sales, to further develop the company's...

David Stamps.(PEOPLE NEWS)(David Stamps has joined Q-DAS Inc. as Sigma leader and statistical engineering consultant)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... David Stamps has joined Q-DAS Inc. (Rochester Hills, MI) as Six Sigma leader and statistical engineering consultant. Stamps' main tasks will be to lead the expansion of the training syllabus to incorporate the teaching of Six Sigma tools and...

Robert A. Dunlap.(PEOPLE NEWS)(CNC Machines has appoints Robert A. Dunlap as global sales and service )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Robert A. Dunlap has joined Milltronics CNC Machines (Waconia, MN), formerly Milltronics Manufacturing, as global sales and service manager. Dunlap brings the company 25 years of experience inside the machine tools industry.

Applied Vision Corp.(PEOPLE NEWS)(promotion of Bud Patel)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Bud Patel has been promoted to vice president of sales for Applied Vision Corp. (Akron, OH). Patel is responsible for the company's entire global sales operation, including relationships with sales partners around the world. [ILLUSTRATION...

NAM: export-led Growth continues.(INDUSTRY NEWS)(National Association of Manufacturers)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The March 11th report from the Commerce Department that the January manufactured goods trade deficit dropped by $7 billion from the previous year was hailed as validation that "export-led growth and free trade are continuing...

Excellence in national leadership: we need to create a vision for the U.S. economy that includes manufacturing excellence.(MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE)(Column)
May 1, 2008... Manufacturing excellence, or lack of it, has affected employment levels in the United States. It is not the workers' aptitude, attitude or capability, nor the cost of labor that has affected the manufacturing leadership. Instead, it is the will...

Certainties about measurement uncertainty: measurement uncertainty is about how close your measurement is to reality.(OTHER DIMENSIONS)(Column)
May 1, 2008... Considering the nature of the subject, I suppose I had better begin this rant with a simple definition. Measurement uncertainty is about how close your measurement is to reality. These days, "close enough for artillery" won't cut it and neither...

Surface analysis: beyond roughness: the methods to measure a surface and the reasons for doing so go far beyond roughness.(QUALITY 101)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Most discussions on the quality of surface finish revolve around the measure of roughness. Indeed, roughness is the most common measure of surface finish, and parameters such as average roughness ([R.sub.a]) and mean...

Product or process?(BRAIN TEASERS)
May 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...

High-speed help: the TroubleShooter LE digital video camera offers high speeds at a lower price.(QUALITY INNOVATIONS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Producing an easy-to-use camera with extensive features is important, but it will never reach the target audience if it is way out of their price range. John J. Foley, co-founder and executive vice president of...

Taking the edge out of noncontact measurement: combining video and laser sensor technologies in one measurement system can be an effective means to control manufacturing processes.(QUALITY MEASUREMENT)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Numerous dimensional measurements are made at many places in the manufacturing process. No matter the type of part, from circuit boards to engine parts to plastic connector housings, measurements ensure that parts...

Testing torque: from automotive controls to medical devices, torque testing is an essential ingredient of product design and manufacturing quality control.(QUALITY TEST & INSPECTION)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As consumers, we typically twist, turn, wind and unscrew dozens of items in any given day. From door handles and car steering wheels, to drink bottles and stereo volume knobs, there are literally thousands of...

Defining true enterprisewide quality: true enterprisewide quality systems can be used as a strategic advantage for manufacturers to retain and grow their market share.(QUALITY SOFTWARE & ANALYSIS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An enterprisewide quality initiative means something different in terms of process reach and cost reduction benefits to each company that commits resources, time and technology to manage their quality initiatives. To...

Living proof: proving himself time and again, Peter Sanderson, Quality Magazine's 2008 Professional of the Year, has made quite a career for himself.(QUALITY MANAGEMENT)(Total Quality Management Systems Inc. )
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "You don't get things in advance. You have to prove yourself first," says Peter Sanderson, president of Total Quality Management Systems Inc. (TQMS, Cornwall, Ontario) and creator of Continuous Improvement Software...

Enhanced cylindrical inspection.(CASE STUDIES)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Boulder Imaging (Boulder, CO) is a systems integrator involved with machine vision. The software used with its machine vision systems is developed in-house and designed for specific applications. Boulder Imaging's...

Measuring miniscule wire.(CASE STUDIES)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ultra-fine shaped wire, frequently one-tenth the thickness of a human hair, is the basis of critical components in applications ranging from aerospace and integrated circuits to automotive and medical instruments....

Mid-level DRO systems.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The ND 500 Digital Readout (DRO) Series and accompanying LS linear scales are available to both machine manufacturers and shop owners who want to replace or retrofit on-floor machinery. The DROs come in two variants:...

Ultrasonic flaw detector.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(OLYMPUS NDT )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Epoch LTC digital ultrasonic flaw detector weighs 2.12 pounds and can be used in a range of weather conditions and inspection environments. Its sealed case meets IP67 requirements and the multi-color...

Dew point meter.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The environmental conditions during pre-treatment and application of a coating system are major factors affecting the long-term performance of coatings on steel structures. The PosiTector dew point meter measures and records climatic parameters...

Chilled mirror hygrometer.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(GE Sensing )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The OptiSonde chilled mirror hygrometer is a humidity transfer standard available in benchtop or wall mounted configurations. The analyzers are connected to either a single or two-stage chilled mirror sensor and...

Photoelectric sensors.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With a 35- by 62-millimeter footprint, Series 31 Opti-Vue photoelectric sensors are the company's smallest photoelectric sensor line that offers a built-in SPDT relay with AC/DC models and 4-in-1 output with DC...

Thermal imager.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Palmer Wahl Instrumentation Group has introduced thermal imaging camera )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A long-distance model of the Heat Spy thermal imaging camera is available. The HSI3003 offers narrow angle 9.1- by 6.8-degree field-of-view optics, which enables detection and temperature measurement of small objects...

Label inspection.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(The Value Engineering Alliance )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The AVIA clinical trial label inspection system is both language and print orientation independent, corrects for character drift and print warping, can perform optical character recognition (OCR), optical character...

Imaging tool.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(JEOL U.S.A. Inc. )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MultiBeam is a high-throughput SEM/FIB that combines focused ion beam micro milling with high-resolution imaging. The tool is for IC defect analysis, circuit modification, TEM thin film sample preparation and...

Microelectronic testing.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MicroImpact testing system strikes a solder ball at a high rate of speed while simultaneously measuring force and displacement. The system is designed for R&D or process quality control of microelectronic...

Thread inspection.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The NCTP-200 is a four-channel computer controlled missing internal thread detection instrument. It has a menu-driven, digital keypad that allows operators to calibrate, program and save set. tings, as well as have...

Microscope camera.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Microcast HD is a high-definition digital microscope camera system with a 1080P digital output at 60 frames per second. Using true 3CCD high-definition progressive scan technology, the camera delivers image...

Microscopes.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] System 373 TRU trinocular microscopes enable operators to simultaneously view images onscreen and through the eyepieces. The line features aluminum housings and standard 10X, 23-millimeter widefield eyepieces and...

7-axis articulated arm.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(METRIS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MCA is a 7-axis manual coordinate measuring arm. It comes configured with the digital ModelMaker D scanner, available in three laser stripe width versions, enabling customers to select the appropriate balance...

Laser scanning arm.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Laser ScanArm V3 is 30% more accurate, 33% lighter and offers better performance in scanning dark or reflective surfaces than the company's V2 models. The laser scanning arm, which is compatible with the...

Digital indicator.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The MarCator 1088 digital indicator has at-a-glance tolerance monitoring with an LCD display that appears green or red to reflect in-or out-of-tolerance conditions. Numerical tolerance ranges can be entered while the gage displays measured...

Multi-application sensor system.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... MASS is a multisensor platform for the Prismo and Accura coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). With the platform, various contact and optical sensors can be used for automatic measuring runs without expensive upgrades. This expands the range of...

Laser inspection system.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The Gi-360 is a 3-D laser measuring system with eight lasers positioned around the circumference of the part. The system can measure all external features to print tolerances at rates up to 600 parts per minute. Measurement capabilities include...

Stroboscope.(QUALITY PRODUCTS)(HOTO INSTRUMENTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... The ESL-20 Series LED stroboscope is designed to measure the speed of rotating or cycling linear motion objects without contact or reflective tape, as well as freeze motion visually. The instrument is compact and has an aluminum housing, plus...

India is the train to catch.(THE LAST WORD)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "As it neared the top of the grade, which had so discouraged the larger engines, it went more slowly. However, it still kept saying, 'I--think--I--can, I--think-I--can.'--Watty Piper, The Little Engine That Could,...

Boston bound.(FROM THE EDITOR)(Editorial)
May 1, 2008... As some of our fast East Coast readers might know, the 112th Boston marathon was held at the end of April. If running 26.2 miles all at once does not appeal to you, or if, like me, you aren't fast enough to qualify for this elite...

Vision continues to expand.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 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...

AIA releases machine vision market study.(NEWS)(Automated Imaging Association)(Report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... ANN ARBOR, MI -- Machine Vision Markets-2007 Results and Forecasts to 2012, a new machine vision market study from the Automated Imaging Association (AIA), reports that machine vision and automated imaging continues to be a growth industry in...

EO expands relationship with Schneider.(NEWS)(Edmund Optics expands relationship with Schneider Optics)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BARRINGTON, NJ -- Edmund Optics (EO) will offer seven lines of Schneider Optics imaging lenses in its catalog and Web site, including 3 CCD lenses, F0.95 fixed focal length lenses, bi-lateral telecentric lenses and...

Allied Vision opens development center.(NEWS)(Allied Vision Technologies GmbH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AHRENSBURG, GERMANY -- Allied Vision Technologies GmbH (AVT) has expanded its development center in Ahrensburg, Germany, located near the northern city of Hamburg. AVT's R&D activities were relocated to a larger...

Edmund Optics appoints director of sales.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... BARRINGTON, NJ -- Edmund Optics announces the appointment of Maria Light as director of sales for North, Central and South America. Light will work directly with Allan Kreutzer, EO's vice president of global sales, to further develop the...

Baumer Optronic celebrates 10 years.(NEWS)(Baumer Optronic GmbH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOUTHINGTON, CT -- Baumer Optronic GmbH, member of the Baumer Group, celebrated its tenth anniversary. The company is a provider of digital cameras and image acquisition systems, as well as vision sensors for process...

MVTEC launches partner program.(NEWS)(MVTec Software GmbH)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... MUNICH, GERMANY -- MVTec Software GmbH has launched its MVTec Image Acquisition Partner Program, to strengthen its relationship with suppliers of image acquisition devices. As a supplier of standard software products for machine vision, one...

Machine vision China.(NEWS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Vision & Sensors exhibited at the Machine Vision China Show, which took place March 20-22 in Shanghai, China. This year brought 112 exhibitors--a 15.5% increase compared to 2007.

Multisensor metrology: probing the world of vision and multisensor metrology.(TECHNOLOGY)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With so many changes in the industry, it is useful to consider the rapidly evolving nature of vision and multisensor technology and review some' of the probing technologies. A short time ago there would be no...

The Ethernet enabled vision sensor: Ethernet can reliably deliver all useful vision sensor information to a plant's operation and process control systems.(MACHINE VISION 101)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Vision sensors analyze a digital image and render an output. This output can be as simple as a pass/fail indication or as complex as multiple megabyte packets of image and text data files. Unlike a simple...

Selecting the best camera for the job: high-speed video is increasingly used to ensure top quality and efficiency throughout the production process.(CAMERAS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The demand for high-speed imaging has dramatically increased for a broad range of applications, from automotive crash testing and live-fire missile testing, to production line faultfinding and performance...

Optical character recognition: the OCR component of an identification or inspection system is an important element in boosting overall quality.(SOFTWARE)
May 1, 2008... Optical character recognition (OCR) is the translation of handwritten, typewritten or printed text images into machine-editable text. OCR is a field of research in pattern recognition, artificial intelligence and machine vision. In...

Choosing the appropriate sensor technology: photoelectric sensors, vision sensors and vision systems: how to determine which is the most effective solution.(SENSORS)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Quality and manufacturing engineers are in a continuing battle to increase their competitiveness by improving quality and throughput while decreasing the cost to manufacture. The challenge to find the most effective...

Reliable code reading.(CASE STUDY)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MP3 players are destined for a demanding consumer market and cannot be compromised in any way. Code reading is an essential product-tracking procedure for printed circuit boards (PCBs) used in MP3 players, allowing...

Photoelectric sensors.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A photoelectric sensor family designed for small parts conveying equipment is available. The BOS 11K helps designers reduce a machine's overall footprint on the factory floor. The family includes diffuse,...

5-megapixel cameras.(PRODUCTS)(EPIX Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SV5C10 12-bit color and the SV5M10 12-bit monochrome are 5-megapixel, 10-frames-per-second cameras. They are externally triggered or free run, have flexible interface cables and convenient software control. The...

Smart cameras.(PRODUCTS)(SICK Inc. has introduced IVC-2D and IVC-3D smart cameras )(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New versions of the company's IVC-2D and IVC-3D smart cameras are available--the IVC-2D Reader, IVC-2D R, IVC-3D 30, IVC-3D 300 and IVC-3D Food & Beverage. The expanded product families are now able to handle more...

Infrared cameras.(PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... T-series infrared cameras operate at 76,800 pixels and have proprietary Advanced Signal Processing (ASP), delivering 4X the resolution of a 160 by 120 infrared camera. The series also has a simultaneous 1.3-megapixel visual camera, one-hand...

Signature cameras.(PRODUCTS)(KAPPA Opto-Electronic Systems Inc. has introduced Signature cameras)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cameras that detect any kind of image manipulation, such as image optimization or image forgery, are available. The internal signature feature is available in more than 170 models and can be operated at megapixel...