2019cnc4-5

56 www.CNC-West.com CNC WEST April/May 2019 What is the future of automated measurement? To be completely honest, as I possess neither the ability to see the future nor a working crystal ball, I don’t know. But being part of a business supplying measurement technology to manufacturing industries around the world, as well as user experience in the aerospace sector, I do know to measure is to confirm not only the dimensional quality of a manufac- tured part, but of the process that made it. Where divining the future of automated measurement is concerned, what we can do is look at the benefits of existing solutions and posit a pathway forward. Compare going for a doctor’s examination to the mea- surement function in production. The first reaction may be denial – “I’m too busy to take time for the doctor,” as com- pared to “I don’t want to delay my production schedule.” Add that a doctor’s visit can be expensive, which can cer- tainly be analogous to modern metrology equipment. Fear is certainly a factor – being diagnosed with a condition or discovering your parts are out of compliance. Both condi- tions here can certainly be dangerous to the health and well- being of your business and personal life. My experience in a recent colonoscopy confirms all of the above. There was very little I liked about it, from sched- uling the appointment to all the fasting and preparation for the test. Yet, despite all my whining, I’m very glad I did it, not only because things checked out for the positive. It is simply that knowing is better than hoping. The Future of Automated Measurement By Peter Morken, Senior Applications Engineer - Nikon Metrology Envisioning the Future Where automation is concerned, we can employ a simple definition of automation being the use of a machine or ma- chines doing something better or faster than a human worker. Consider a vision of the future from the 1960’s prime-time cartoon The Jetson’s. There was everything from flying cars and smart watches to robot maids and dog-walking tread- mills. There also was an episode where George contracted “button-itis” from repeatedly pushing the same button at work – a predictor of carpal tunnel syndrome from unergo- nomic keyboarding. An automated future can have its haz- ards. There are also outstanding benefits. If I may offer another personal medical example, the experience of my wife being on blood thinners would involve regular trips to the lab for a blood draw and a return trip home to await the results and adjust meds as need be. Too much medication would mean too much blood thinning; too little is not enough for protec- tion against blood clots. The development of reliable blood meters means now, in the comfort of our own home, she can test her blood with a finger prick, get the results in seconds, and upload the results to her doctor’s office with a smart- phone app. It is instructive to ponder just how many microchips are part of our daily experience. Consider your smartphone, lap- top or tablet, smart watch or digital clock, your automobile, or any medical devices such as pacemakers or insulin pumps. Automated X-ray computer tomography can diagnose problems with metal 3D-printed parts impossible to achieve by other methods.