Flexible measuring system FRAMS

Flexible measuring system FRAMS

Keywords: Robotics, Measurement

Aware of the challenge the automotive industry and its suppliers face in the gauging process, Staübli offers a flexible measuring system called FRAMS(Flexible Robotic Absolute Measuring System).

Today, there are two ways to measure parts on a factory floor to guarantee optimum product quality while reducing rework costs and shortening product launches:

• 1.

  Off-line gauging to measure some parts from the production line;

• 2.

  In-line gauging to inspect 100 per cent of production.

In-line gauging is done by two different systems:

• 1.

  Stationary sensor tunnels measuring the same model repeatedly, offering limited flexibility;

• 2.

  FRAMS system (Flexible Robotic Absolute Measuring System) which offers an interesting alternative to those

disadvantages thanks to:

• added flexibility through simple robot programming allowing the measurement of different models and different points from cycle to cycle;

• cost reduction with only one camera required per robot.

FRAMS can be used for either online or off-line measurements.

FRAMS concept includes one high-precision Staübli RX robot, one Staübli CS7B controller, one optical or touch probe sensor with its controller, specific Staübli temperature compensation and absolute calibration software.

As a pioneer, Staübli's FRAMS has a wide range of applications: car body measurement, die-casted parts, bodywork (door, hood, ...), injection model parts, dashboards, large parts with poor accessibility, welded parts (exhaust pipes ...) and in-line measurement.

Already implemented at BMW (USA) for Z3 frame gauging, Daimler Chrysler(Germany) for SL frame gauging (in evaluation) and Audi (Germany): on this production floor, four RX130L industrial robots measure A4 and A3 car bodies off-line in order to detect statistical trends of different diagnostic points(see Plate 2). Each robot inspects approximately ten points. The system runs with temperature compensation within the limit of þ0.075mm (6 sigma). A second in-line system consists of an RX130L that measures the A4 and A3 in the production line. The FRAMS flexible gauging system is running in slave mode to the production line PLC.

 Plate 2Four RX130L measure car bodies off-line at Audi

In all applications, the RX robot's high repeatability yields increased quality measurements. Their high speed allows faster sensor repositioning resulting in more measurement. The FRAMS temperature compensation and the absolute robot calibration for absolute measurements, and measurement point definition directly on CAD, guarantee the necessary repeatability and accuracy of a measuring system.