Regular calibrations are the only way to reliably monitor the precision and stability of the measuring devices used and thus ensure controlled processes in production; they therefore create the basis for reliable measurement results. Traceable calibrations – i.e. calibrations that are traceable to a national or international standard in a national institute – are becoming the standard in more and more industries and applications.

In view of the increasing requirements, the Kistler Group now offers a new accredited calibration service for piezoelectric force sensors and measuring chains in the low force range. This new service provides traceable calibrations in the range from 1 to 50 N by an ISO 17025 accredited calibration laboratory from Kistler. The continuous calibration procedure used has been specially designed for piezoelectric force sensors and measuring chains and achieves the smallest measurement uncertainties. It is also suitable for meeting the highest requirements in the relevant industries.

Traceable calibration: indispensable in many areas

Traceable calibrations are of crucial importance in many industries and are often explicitly required, particularly in the medical technology and automotive industries. In order to ensure the high quality and safety of products, the international quality standard ISO 9001 already requires traceable calibrations for all quality-relevant processes. For medical technology, ISO 13485 follows the requirements of ISO 9001 almost word for word. The requirements in the automotive industry are particularly strict, as IATF 16949, with its continuously updated “Sanctioned Interpretations”, insists on exclusively traceable calibrations.

There are comparable specifications and requirements in semiconductor manufacturing, the consumer goods industry and the aerospace sector, too. Often, only traceable calibrations are recognized – i.e. those that have been carried out in a calibration laboratory that has been accredited by the respective national accreditation body. In Germany this is the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS), in Switzerland the Swiss Accreditation Body (SAS).

Kistler can now meet this high standard not only for piezoelectric force sensors and force measurement chains up to 300 kN, but also in the low force range from 1 to 50 N. The SAS-accredited calibration service offers an achievable measurement uncertainty of up to 0.75 percent (±5 mN). Christian Streili, Field Service Development Manager at Kistler, says: “This service extension underlines Kistler’s commitment to innovation and high-quality standards in measurement technology. Traceable calibrations in the low force range close an important gap in our service portfolio and enable us to provide our customers with even better support.”

Scott has more than 25 years of experience in sales, sales leadership, and business development in the manufacturing and machining industries. Over 13 years with Transcat, a distributor of test, measurement, and calibration equipment and services, he held positions of increasing responsibility including Director of Field Sales for North America. He was most recently with NYMAT Machine Tool Corp. and has additional experience with tool distributor Alltite, Fluke Process Instruments, ElectriCom, and Newark Electronics. He has served in the US Marine Corps active duty and reserves. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from St. John Fisher College.

About New Scale Robotics

New Scale Robotics helps manufacturers automate manual gauging. Our Q-Span® Workstations combine measurements from a wide variety of gauges with robotic part handling and automated data logging. They improve efficiency, capacity, and real-time reporting of quality departments. Based on flexible and teachable collaborative robots, Q-Span Workstations are do-it-yourself (DIY) automation kits that fit into existing workflows. They help quality teams reduce errors, increase throughput, and better utilize skilled labor in small-batch, high-mix manufacturing. Easy to deploy without specialized training, they deliver return on investment (ROI) in less than ten months.

New Scale Robotics is a division of New Scale Technologies, specializing in small, precise and smart embedded motion systems. Our miniature mechatronic modules fit in the smallest instruments. They incorporate patented and proprietary technologies including piezoelectric and magnetic micro-actuators, sensors, drives, control systems and network connectivity. Our smart motion modules with unmatched miniaturization, micrometer-scale resolution, and fully-integrated microelectronics enable our customers to achieve higher performance with smaller size and faster development time.

In addition, API Services certifies all brands and models of laser trackers providing an independent statement of tracker performance. API is also ISO 17025 accredited for on-site laser tracker certification services to provide a traceable accuracy statement to the B89.4.19-2006 standard.

API offers a range of annual laser tracker calibration and certification contracts. Contracts can include comprehensive repair and maintenance including parts, a loaner tracker program, and priority calibration scheduling allowing laser trackers to be kept at peak performance.

In 2020, API Services will be expanding their B89.4.19-2006 certification capabilities into their Dallas and Los Angeles offices. Beyond calibration and certification, API Services offers Laser Tracker rentals, laser tracker inspection services, and recertified preowned laser tracker units to budget conscious customers.

About API

For more than 30 years API has pioneered laser-based equipment for measurement and calibration. API founder and CEO, Dr. Kam Lau, invented the laser tracker while working at USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow industrial robot accuracies to be determined.

Today API is a global company with its laser trackers, machine tool and robot calibration equipment, optical sensors and coordinate measuring products continuing to be the benchmark for metrology Automation, Precision and Innovation. API measurement and calibration products are at the heart of manufacturing organizations world-wide ensuring product quality and performance.

API also provides on-site dimensional inspection, metrology and calibration services. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland USA, API has subsidiary operations in Germany, France, Brazil, China and India.

Automated Precision, Inc. – World Headquarters
15000 Johns Hopkins Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
(800) 537-2720
F: (301) 990-8648

Contact
Ron Hicks | Vice -President

API’s CMM Calibration service allows users of all popular CMM brands to maintain their investment by contracting API, as an independent third-party provider, to calibrate CMMs to OEM or better specifications in accordance with ISO 10360-2.

API’s CMM service uses a revolutionary software utility which allows the calibration of all CMMs by importing, reading and modifying the original CMM error maps, regardless of whether the map is located in the CMM controller or in the CMM metrology software.
API offers highly skilled calibration technicians and the award-winning XD 6DoF Laser Interferometer, which measures all 21 errors of the CMM in a single set-up. In addition, all CMMs are evaluated using an “Acceptance Check” fixture, based upon a rigid body, with high-precision calibrated measuring standards.

API is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994, ISO 9001 and AS9100 with all equipment calibrated and traceable through NIST.

About API

For more than 30 years API has pioneered laser-based equipment for measurement and calibration. API founder and CEO, Dr. Kam Lau, invented the laser tracker while working at USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow industrial robot accuracies to be determined.

Today API is a global company with its laser trackers, machine tool and robot calibration equipment, optical sensors and coordinate measuring products continuing to be the benchmark for metrology Automation, Precision and Innovation. API measurement and calibration products are at the heart of manufacturing organizations world-wide ensuring product quality and performance. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland USA, API has subsidiary operations in Germany, France, Brazil, China and India.

API also provides nationwide on-site dimensional inspection, metrology and calibration services through its API Services division headquartered in Newport News, Virginia.

Cole Technologies contracted API Services to perform on-site robot calibration using the API RADIAN 6DoF (6 degrees of freedom) laser tracker, in conjunction with its proprietary Robot Measuring Software (RMS), to improve programmed robot motion path accuracy.
The RMS system uses a multiple SMR tracker target frame directly mounted onto the robot end-effector allowing for dynamic robot tracking. Recorded measurements are used to determine tracked robot position points revealing true robot position and orientation. RMS procedures use ISO 9283 guidelines to check accuracy, repeatability, pose, distance, drift, and overshoot by exercising all robot joints. Robot working envelope can be defined applicable to the planned robot application function.

“The availability of additional robot accuracy allows us to provide a better outcome for the customer regardless of application” states Steve Richard Director of Engineering at Cole Technologies. “API were able to directly interface with our RoboDK robot programming software for robot calibration making it seamless and efficient to load the new parameters.”

Measuring a free point cloud consisting of 80 points the RMS software generated a new DH (Denavit-Hartenberg) frame model parameter set that was used to correct errors in joint angles and link lengths. The revised DH parameter can be directly input into the robot controller or used to update the robot motion path program as was the case at Cole Technologies resulting in significant improvements to robot accuracy.

Click HERE to view application video.

About API

For more than 30 years API has pioneered laser-based equipment for measurement and calibration. API founder and CEO, Dr. Kam Lau, invented the laser tracker while working at USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow industrial robot accuracies to be determined.

Today API is a global company with its laser trackers, machine tool and robot calibration equipment, optical sensors and coordinate measuring products continuing to be the benchmark for metrology Automation, Precision and Innovation. API measurement and calibration products are at the heart of manufacturing organizations world-wide ensuring product quality and performance.

API provides on-site calibration and dimensional inspection services. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland USA, API has subsidiary operations in Germany, France, Brazil, China and India.

Automated Precision, Inc.
15000 Johns Hopkins Dr
Rockville MD 20850
P: (757) 810-4743
Ron Hicks | Vice President

“Exact Laser Measurements are a perfect fit for API as we continue to expand our process control metrology automation products into the automotive sector” states API President Joe Bioty. “API is already unique as a metrology hardware manufacturer in offering contract measuring services through the API Services Group located in Newport News, VA with regional offices in Dallas and Los Angeles. The acquisition of Exact Laser Measurements perfectly complements our existing metrology services network and strengthens our presence in the Automotive sector and Michigan markets while providing enhanced experience as we roll out our services portfolio into international markets.”

Exact Laser measurements CEO Tim Pare comments, “We have the greatest of respect, as a metrology services provider, for the API product portfolio. With our customers focus on improving their process control through metrology feedback, the increasing need to calibrate industrial robots in the plants, along with 5 axis machine-tools calibration within automotive tooling shops the synergy between API products and our metrology services execution create a compelling solution to the automotive sector”

Exact Laser Measurements will relocate immediately to the existing API facility in Plymouth, MI and commence offering ISO 17025 laser tracker accuracy certification to OEM specifications along with industrial robot accuracy certification and calibrations using API’s 6DoF technology.

About API

For more than 30 years API has pioneered laser-based equipment for measurement and calibration. API founder and CEO, Dr. Kam Lau, invented the laser tracker while working at USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow industrial robot accuracies to be determined.

Today API is a global company with its laser trackers, machine tool and robot calibration equipment, optical sensors and coordinate measuring products continuing to be the benchmark for metrology Automation, Precision and Innovation. API measurement and calibration products are at the heart of manufacturing organizations world-wide ensuring product quality and performance.

API also provides on-site dimensional inspection, metrology and calibration services. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland USA, API has subsidiary operations in Germany, France, Brazil, China and India.

Automated Precision, Inc. | API
47522 Galleon Court
Plymouth, MI 48170
P: (734) 667-1586
Ron Hicks | VP Sales and Services

SWIVELCHECK can operate in automated or manual modes and includes API’s Intellicomp software for control, data acquisition and reporting, SWIVELCHECK can also be used in conjunction with the API XD laser interferometer to measure horizontal rotary table position. SWIVELCHECK can be mounted off-centre of the rotating axis to measure the swivel axis of trunnions without need for disassembly of critical machine tool components.

SWIVELCHECK is easy to set-up offers +/- 400 degree swing and allows tilting axes to be checked at the spindle nose offering true accuracy to be reported over systems that check at the motor and do not detect ‘lost motion’. The Intellicomp software provides a direct import of measured axis data to machine-tool CNC controllers allowing an update of system parameters for improved precision.

SWIVELCHECK provides an invaluable tool to validate machine tool rotary axis performance in general machine shops and users of sophisticated 5 axis machine-tools. As an alternative API services offers contract machine-tool calibration services throughout North America using SWIVELCHECK.

About API

For more than 30 years API has pioneered laser-based equipment for measurement and calibration. API founder and CEO, Dr. Kam Lau, invented the laser tracker while working at USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow industrial robot accuracies to be determined. 

Today API is a global company with its laser trackers, machine tool and robot calibration equipment, optical sensors and coordinate measuring products continuing to be the benchmark for metrology Automation, Precision and Innovation. API measurement and calibration products are at the heart of manufacturing organizations world-wide ensuring product quality and performance.

API also provides on-site dimensional inspection, metrology and calibration services. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland USA, API has subsidiary operations in Germany, France, Brazil, China and India.

Automated Precision, Inc.
15000 Johns Hopkins Drive
Rockville, MD 20850

For Further Editorial Information:

Allan G. Hall | Hall Industrial Publicity, Inc.
alhall@industrialpublicity.com
1261 Romney Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304.
P: (248) 705-8272
F: (248) 645-0906

Ron Hicks, VP Sales and Services | Automated Precision, Inc.
ron.hicks@apimetrology.com
47522 Galleon Court
Plymouth, MI 48170
P: (734) 667-1586

As the aerospace and space exploration industries have grown, manufacturing on the west coast, particularly in Los Angeles, has exploded. Yet, the ever-increasing demand for precision engineering products and services has not been met with enough local options.

API and Kadan offer a combined five decades of dedicated experience in portable laser tracker metrology. Their service technicians have expertise in industries from Aerospace and Defense to Shipbuilding and are knowledgeable in every step of the process from running laser trackers and machines to programming, setup and operations. This partnership unites API’s state-of-the-art Radian Tracker line and Kadan’s history of solution-based metrology services to bring hands-on customer service to these underserved industries.

After nearly two decades of using Faro and Leica trackers, Kadan is making the switch to API. Jody Sjoberg, M.E. & Lead Consultant for Kadan Consultants, says, “You see what the other metrology companies have been doing recently with their old laser trackers; they’ve obsoleted them. And then, look at API. They’re constantly innovating and putting out new products, but everything out there is still serviceable, and they do whatever the customer needs to keep the products moving. That’s important to us.

“Other metrology companies have become so conglomerated, they’re trying to offer everything under the sun; whereas API is a focused company,” said Eric Nemitz, Director of North American Sales for API. “That’s where Kadan fits right in with us. They’re very dedicated, understand solution-based sales, and have a very long history of positive customer service.”

Kadan has already purchased and integrated API’s Radian Laser Trackers for service and engineering work. They are available for demonstration and distribution from Kadan and API upon request.

About Kadan

Kadan Consultants Inc. is Minority Women Owned Small Business of 18 years in the greater Huntington Beach Southern California area, that specializes in Precision Manufacturing and Metrology. KCI’s founder, Gary Sjoberg, was one of the original early adopters of the Laser Tracker’s introduction into Precision Aerospace Mecca that is Los Angeles.

KCI primarily services the Aerospace industry, but over the years has expanded into every industry one can imagine: Mills, Automotive, Entertainment, Petroleum, Power, Testing, Rails, Marine, Hyperloops, Lumber, Transportation and even Fine Arts.

About API

For more than 30 years API has pioneered laser-based equipment for measurement and calibration. API founder and CEO, Dr. Kam Lau, invented the laser tracker while working at USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow industrial robot accuracies to be determined.

Today API is a global company with its laser trackers, machine tool and robot calibration equipment, optical sensors and coordinate measuring products continuing to be the benchmark for metrology Automation, Precision and Innovation. API measurement and calibration products are at the heart of manufacturing organizations world-wide ensuring product quality and performance.

API also provides on-site dimensional inspection, metrology and calibration services. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland USA, API has subsidiary operations in Germany, France, Brazil, China and India.

For more than 30 years API has pioneered laser-based equipment for measurement and calibration. API founder and CEO, Dr. Kam Lau, invented the Laser Tracker while working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This development, for the first time, allowed industrial robot accuracies to be determined.

Dr. Lau explains, “Today API is a global company with its Laser Trackers continuing to be the benchmark for metrology automation, precision and innovation. API measurement and calibration products are at the heart of manufacturing organizations world-wide ensuring product quality and performance. With the advent of smart factories API is more focused than ever on providing tools for the enhanced performance of manufacturing processes by reducing process variation.”

The rebranded API, with new updated corporate identity, has also added a new product philosophy tagline “Nothing Beyond Measure”, in recognition of API being a metrology innovator, spanning technological boundaries by harnessing scientific innovations, and to ultimately focus on delivering smart manufacturing measuring solutions.

API has recently launched a series of new product innovations including the CheckBox Smart Factory Inspection System (SFIS). CheckBox is an optical 3D measuring solution, developed for the inspection of production parts integrated directly into manufacturing operations. Real time enhanced robot accuracy from API’s 6DoF RADIAN Pro Laser Tracker eliminates any requirement for problematic stickers typically used by photogrammetric robotic measuring systems, while providing comparable horizontal-arm CMM accuracy.
In addition, and part of API’s global rebranding program, an updated series of RADIAN Laser Trackers offering the lightest, most compact and highest accuracy trackers has been launched. API’s compact and rigid UNIBODY tracker design incorporates shaft mounted motors, encoders and laser. The UNIBODY provides the centering of all heat sources, allowing rapid distribution of heat throughout the tracker body during warm-up, or drastic ambient temperature variations, ensuring the tracker body maintains constant heat equilibrium throughout its operation, resulting in shorter warm-up time and superior measurement stability.

Finally, an all-new web-site www.apimetrology.com has been launched together with an additional dedicated web-site, services.apimetrology.com, for its accredited measurement and calibration services.

About API

For more than 30 years API has pioneered laser-based equipment for measurement and calibration. API founder and CEO, Dr. Kam Lau, invented the laser tracker while working at USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow industrial robot accuracies to be determined.

Today API is a global company with its laser trackers, machine tool and robot calibration equipment, optical sensors and coordinate measuring products continuing to be the benchmark for metrology Automation, Precision and Innovation. API measurement and calibration products are at the heart of manufacturing organizations world-wide ensuring product quality and performance.

API also provides on-site dimensional inspection, metrology and calibration services. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland USA, API has subsidiary operations in Germany, France, Brazil, China and India.

Industrial robots calibrated with the API’s RMS system during extensive development testing have exhibited an improvement in positioning accuracy of up to 12 times.

Robot Performance Measurement: Quantifies an installed robot performance in accordance with the ISO 9283 Standard. Robot performance verification is the process of identifying the real geometric parameters present in the kinematic structure of a robot, such as relative positions of robot joint links. A total of 14 static and dynamic tests are used to quantify a robot’s absolute performance. This performance check determines actual robot performance against the original OEM specifications quickly determining robot accuracy, repeatability and identifying inherent robot joint wear.

Robot Calibration: Robots are historically repeatable but not accurate. Today many automation tasks require improved process control and a higher order of accuracy than that delivered by robot manufacturers. For instance, aerospace machining, drilling and assembly operations are increasingly performed by robots integrated into sophisticated and process critical manufacturing cells.

Typical applications for enhanced robot positional accuracy include machining, drilling, grinding, welding, cutting, inspection, deburring and 3D printing. Activities such as robot cell “cloning”, “cell mirroring” or “robot swapping” also benefit from enhanced robot accuracy by reducing manual programming time and allowing for seamless and precise off-line robot programming. Accurate robots improve process capability as a robot positions more accurately to its commanded position also negating the physical ‘touch-up’ of robot programs.

The delivered solution includes API’s 6 DoF (Degrees of Freedom) RADIAN Laser Tracker complimented by the API Smart Track Sensor, which mounts directly to the robot’s end effector, allowing the laser tracker to dynamically collect X, Y, Z, and I, J, K data for each robot position in space accurately and automatically.

The robot is automatically driven to discrete positions using API’s Robot Performance Measurement (RPM) Software providing fully automated measurements and data acquisition and allows customization of the actual workspace under calibration. Up to 30 robot parameters can be calibrated in a completely automated run-time.

API President Joe Bioty comments, “We expect our RMS robot accuracy verification and calibration solution to be of significant interest to robot system integrators, robot end users and robot OEMs, particularly since robot uptake is increasing dramatically in North America, while at the same time manufacturing operations are looking to more tightly control production processes.”

API’s RMS provides a single seamless solution for robot process performance enhancement and optimization. RMS can be supplied as a Robot Performance Measurement (RPM) module or combined Robot Calibration (RoboCal) and Robot Path Plan Enhancement (PPE) module. Robocal offers both DH kinematic model and a volumetric error compensation model (VEC) to update robot accuracy using collected data. Once a Robot has been calibrated existing robot path programs can be automatically updated driving the robot to its corrected calibrated positions.

RMS provides access to an extensive library of industrial robots from over 30 manufacturers.

About API

For more than 30 years API has pioneered laser-based equipment for measurement and calibration. API founder and CEO, Dr. Kam Lau, invented the laser tracker while working at USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to allow industrial robot accuracies to be determined.

Today API is a global company with its laser trackers, machine tool and robot calibration equipment, optical sensors and coordinate measuring products continuing to be the benchmark for metrology Automation, Precision and Innovation. API measurement and calibration products are at the heart of manufacturing organizations world-wide ensuring product quality and performance.

API also provides on-site dimensional inspection, metrology and calibration services. Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland USA, API has subsidiary operations in Germany, France, Brazil, China and India.