The AICON TubeInspect system acquired by Sharpe Products is a 16-camera model that is expected to support increased production capacity at the company. Photo courtesy of Sharpe Products.
NEW BERLIN, Wis.—Sharpe Products recently purchased a second TubeInspect system as part of its ongoing focus on quality control, the company said in a release. The new system is described as a larger, 16-camera model that will complement the 8-camera technology that Sharpe is currently using and provide added capability to inspect larger parts more efficiently.
“We purchased this equipment to provide greater consistency in our quality procedures between plants,” said Sharpe Products Plant Manager Randy Krickeberg, in a statement. “We’ve used an AICON TubeInspect S system for over 12 years and, based on our research, it has proven to be the best and most efficient way to measure a bent tube. With the speed of the equipment, 100 percent inspection with reporting is achievable when required, which is ideal for prototypes to production.”
Using digital, high-definition cameras, the equipment visually measures the geometry and sizing of a bent tube. It also verifies angles and tolerances based on the specifications in the digital file, generating a multi-dimensional image of the bent part. Adjustments, if needed, are then transmitted to the CNC bending machine, resulting in shorter throughput to achieve a dimensionally accurate part.
Overall, the equipment offers real-time diagnostics and monitoring during inspection, allowing for faster decision-making and greater visibility to quality parameters from start to finish, the release said.
The AICON TubeInspect is manufactured by Hexagon Manufacturing A/B, and distributed in North America by Accurex Measurement, Inc.
Sharpe Products (www.sharpeproducts.com) is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company that provides pipe and tube bending, laser cutting, and custom fabrication services for commercial and industrial applications.
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