Application of FARO portable coordinate measuring equipment in automobile manufacturing (2)
MAT engineers often face surfaces that are almost unmeasurable, that is, around the part or behind the part or hidden inside the part. This is especially true when you need to work under the car or under the engine. Previous page
"The location of many of the surfaces we are measuring is often obscured by other components," said Todd Hovey, director of the QC department. "Because Arm's articulated arm has six degrees of freedom, we can do other tasks that cannot be measured. ""
Ergonomics and manufacturing processes
As the shape of the car gradually evolves toward aerodynamics, the interior of the car is rapidly evolving toward a more ergonomic direction. Partly because of the efforts of MAT engineers, they worked with OEM engineers on the prototype phase of the vehicle model to find design flaws before they became new cars.
In addition, the analog use of the digital environment is more convenient than relying on traditional tool measurements (operating directly on the hardware), and MAT engineers use digital to reconstruct the interior of the car – including the dashboard, steering wheel, door surface, central controller and front Panel and other details. This complex program is like a platform (a virtual cabin) where OEMs can use a variety of special software to evaluate specific ergonomic issues. For example, using different engineering standards for different body parts, it is possible to calculate the position of the line of sight, adjust the position of the front panel according to the sitting posture of the passenger, or reconfigure the steering wheel, instrument or controller.
In the manufacturing process of the seat, MAT engineering often uses a human body model called 'Oscar', which is a standard human body model for industrial manufacturing.
"We sent the instruments to car manufacturers around the world to help them locate the critical H (hip) points used in the new seat design." Hovey said, "This point is to evaluate seat positioning." With the Oscar mannequin to position, we can accurately establish this point for the seat designer to apply the human body component software to estimate the leg placement, back contour and head position."
Assessing the assembly draft for each part of the car is also part of the MAT's scope of work. For example, the finished door panel, instrument panel, and front panel manufacturing process are all measured. MAT engineers compare the position of the panels and components based on the mating surfaces and then compare their measurements to the embedded CAD image. In the CAM2 test software, the out-of-tolerance portion is marked with a red dotted line. Although hundreds of hours are spent on evaluation and testing, some shortcomings are still brought into the product. These feedbacks are usually from consumers, and car manufacturers are investing in these issues. They often seek insights from the MAT team, especially with regard to the annoying glitch of dynamics.
MAT is similar to dealing with kinetic instability by dealing with ergonomic problems: first establish a digital environment using FaroArm, then apply the analysis software to this environment space to identify the problem.
Hovey gives an example of this process: "Special car style customers are subject to the high frequency vibrations of the steering column, which manufacturers have investigated but found that all the rotating elements of the transmission are in equilibrium and can Get good support. In that case, they will ask us to test the problem."
FaroArm
"We lifted the car and simulated the rotating elements of all the gears and their support. We passed these images into the analysis software and we found out that when the driving speed reached a certain speed, the resonance in the transmission was fed back through the steering column. Our information, the company has reinforced the support components to change the resonant frequency so that it will not be affected at any frequency the transmission can reach."
Internal support for certain divisions of Intier Automotive is also the best customer of the MAT Working Group's analytical services program.
"Our company has 10 FaroArm services, most of which are online applications. Check the key points and assembly status before the finished product. But because this instrument has a wide range of applications in Livonia, many companies often ask us to help us with the technology. Support," Hovey said. "For example, they need to write a macro to check some special dimensions over and over again, and we can solve these problems."
However, more often, a product department will need us to help reconfigure a large product or test equipment.
"This is where the Arm device really saves time," Hovey said. "For Arm, the corner of a weldment and the test bench, such as a multi-action simulator, is just another three-dimensional image. When we enter a shop, we can measure 30 or 40 assembly holes in a few minutes, at most No more than an hour. Once it needs to be reassembled, we can accurately locate and the equipment downtime will be greatly shortened."
In general, the MAT team found the role of the FaroArm to be indispensable. "Without FaroArm, it's hard for us to serve our customers," Hovey said.