COMMON VISION BLOX

High precision meta-plastic composite parts are used in many automotive applications. "Such hybrids can for example be found in the steering controls of virtually all leading car makes and models. The manufacturing of such composite parts is one the core skills at Swoboda KG" explains the operations manager at the parent plant in Wiggensbach near Kempten. "Assemblies by Swoboda can be also found as interfaces between electronics and mechanics in gear controls, connectors, magnet and high voltage assemblies as well as numerous other car components. In daily use they provide the safe transfer of driver's commands to the reaction of the vehicles", adds the operations manager.

Challenges for an optical test system: differences in material surfaces

The quality control of these assemblies is a demanding task. "The main challenge when testing these products consists of the differences between the material surfaces" as a Swoboda image processing specialist in the department of process technology outlines the task he faced in the realisation of the test station. "The optical variances in surface quality of the metal parts from matt to polished are difficult to analyze with a conventional image processing system due to the differing light reflections. This leads to increased pseudo-rejects and thus post-sorting and additional costs. With the trevista system which we have been using for some months now at this test station we are now in a position of being able to detect and analyse the surface quality at high resolution."

In the words of the image processing expert, the reliability of fault detection was improved considerably: "The pseudo-rejects were reduced by nearly two thirds at an early stage. We still see potential for optimisation of the necessary detection of deflections and tilts on the bonded surfaces of the assemblies, but we are already looking for a suitable solution in close cooperation with STEMMER IMAGING."

trevista as a useful alternative

The equipment on which the steering control components are manufactured at Swoboda has been in operation since 2009. Initially the company engineers had realised the test station on the basis of a 2D image processing system which, however, resulted in increased pseudo-rejects. "This incorrect ejection of apparently defective components which, when checked manually, proved to be free of defects was something we wanted to minimise or, if possible, eliminate completely", was the way the Wiggensbach operation manager summarised the situation at the time.

"We were therefore on the lookout for a suitable alternative system and came across a solution at the Control trade fair in May 2012" added one of the system developers for Swoboda image processing systems. Dr. Tobias Henzler of STEMMER IMAGING Sales with responsibility for image processing solutions and 3D technologies demonstrated the trevista system which is distributed by STEMMER IMAGING to Swoboda's expert for the first time. The first positive impressions gained at the fair were confirmed later on during further tests and intensive feasibility studies.

Particularly for the inspection of shining parts

In its application at Swoboda the trevista image processing system plays out its features to the full. The dome-shaped illumination equipment of the trevista system ensures optimum illumination of the test samples and keeps away interfering ambient light. In addition, the rugged design allows reliable integration into the manufacturing process or into an automatic tester.

However, the speciality of this system is its patented Shape-from-Shading technology which is highly suited for the inspection of shiny or reflective surfaces, as is the case with the Swoboda hybrid assemblies. It allows problem-free inspection of not only shiny metallic components with varying surfaces but also of black plastic material.

These four images are transmitted to the image processing system for automatic evaluation of faults. The calculation algorithm is computer-based and integrated into the software platforms Sherlock by Teledyne DALSA and Common Vision Blox (CVB) by STEMMER IMAGING. Using this combination even small fault characteristics of only a few micrometers depth can be made visible.

"The curved images clearly show the surface's shape characteristics, thus making parameterisation of the image processing software easy and safe. This makes it possible to check defects which could have not been separated automatically hitherto. trevista can capture flat but also slightly curved surfaces with varying degrees of shine reliably" is the way Dr Henzler describes the strengths of the system.

Area scan cameras are used as a matter of principle in the trevista system for inspecting non-moving assemblies. This is the constellation used in the Swoboda test cell. However, in case of inspecting jacket surfaces of rotationally symmetric components, a combination of line scan cameras also offers complete inspection. In this case, the timing of the illumination needs to be specially adapted to the characteristics of these cameras.

Fast implementation

"Following diverse application-specific adaptations we were able to integrate the test system into the equipment as soon as October 2012 in place of the present 2D system" adds the Swoboda image processing expert on the course of the project in the Wiggensbach works. "This rapid implementation was extremely helpful as our customer had specified a relatively tight time window for the production and testing of assemblies."

In the words of the operations manager, the use of the new system has to date led to a considerable reduction in additional manual inspection. "We have the objective of completely dispensing with manual sight inspection as soon as the station has proven that it works reliably under constant operating conditions." Cycle times were not a problem. "We had sufficient leeway with the trevista system to comply with the cycle times of the upstream unit."

Successful partnership

In the words of the responsible quality assurance team leader, one of the other advantages of working together with STEMMER IMAGING was "that we were able to obtain the individual solution we needed for our application. The standard system was able to technically solve the pure image processing task, but as the system had been added to the line at a later stage, some specific changes to the standard system proved necessary which we were able to achieve in the time available in close cooperation with STEMMER IMAGING and the manufacturer of the system." As examples he mentions the mechanical adaptation of the base plate of the trevista system and the linking to the existing software system.

Another form of very useful support was the fact that STEMMER IMAGING loaned Swoboda KG the trevista system during the evaluation phase. "This way we were able to set up trevista initially as a stand-alone system and test whether the results were reproducible and plausible. We had the loaned components on site for several months and paid a fee for their use, which was then largely offset upon purchase." This was regarded by Swoboda KG as expedient: "We viewed the development as a joint project, with both sides investing. This way we were able to gain an advantage over other suppliers, which has now paid dividends."

So far the system has met many expectations. For this reason Swoboda are now looking at further trevista stations for other applications and projects in production.

Also very helpful for familiarisation with the new system was a day of individual training on the trevista system at STEMMER IMAGING in Puchheim, attended by the image processing specialist at Swoboda. "The training by Dr. Henzler and STEMMER IMAGING training manager Lars Fermum considerably speeded up the introduction to the system and definitely contributed to us being able to have the plant operational in the short space of time specified."