Automated Measurement of Small Non-Ferrous Mill-Turn Components

Inspection of Small Non-Ferrous Mill-Turn Components

Application Overview

In the manufacturing of precision connectors and electronic components, many small mill-turn parts are made of non-ferrous materials such as stainless steel, copper, or aluminum-based alloys. While these materials offer excellent conductivity and machinability, they also pose challenges during dimensional inspection.

Using traditional contact probes to measure such lightweight parts often results in unintended displacement of the workpiece, and increases the risk of scratching the surface, which can compromise both appearance and post-assembly quality. For parts featuring complex geometries such as milled surfaces and lateral holes, the inspection process becomes even more difficult.

The TIMI Desktop Telecentric Imaging System provides an ideal solution for these challenges by enabling automatic rotational positioning of milled reference surfaces and capturing complete dimensional data through non-contact high-precision imaging—perfectly suited for the inspection of small non-ferrous mill-turn components.

Inspection Challenges

• Non-ferrous materials like aluminum or copper are lightweight and easily displaced, making contact probe measurements unstable
• Soft surfaces are prone to scratching or deformation from physical contact
• Complex geometries and small sizes make reference surface alignment difficult
• Multi-feature inspection requires repeated manual rotations and adjustments, increasing time and risk of errors
• Lack of fully automated solutions makes large-volume process control difficult

Solution

The TIMI Desktop Telecentric Imaging Measurement System delivers a non-contact, stable, and fully automated inspection solution specifically designed for small, precision non-ferrous mill-turn components. It significantly reduces manual handling and error risk while allowing for fast, repeatable, and traceable measurements directly beside the production line.

• Automatic rotational positioning of milled surfaces and lateral hole features
• High-resolution non-contact imaging to prevent scratches and displacement errors
• Critical dimensions measured include: pin diameter, hole position, and milled surface alignment
• Measurement cycle time under 20 seconds per piece, ideal for inline full inspection

• Enables stable and damage-free inspection of delicate non-ferrous parts
• Solves measurement instability caused by traditional contact probes
• Improves dimensional consistency and assembly yield for connectors and precision components
• Reduces manual setup and inspection workload, boosting production quality and efficiency
• Supports automated quality assurance and integration into smart manufacturing systems