2024 March

Check out the March 2024 edition of Quality! Read our cover story 3D scanning in additive manufacturing for custom car builds, meet the 2024 Quality Plant of the Year, and much more!

Test & Inspection

The Accuracy Nexus: 3D Scanning in Additive Manufacturing for Custom Car Builds and Mesh Repair Solutions

Anyone can buy a 3D printer and set up a shop, but there are a few essential things to know — especially when it comes to mesh repair.

Juan Pablo Reyes

February 23, 2024

The integration of 3D scanning and additive manufacturing has opened new possibilities in metrology. Analyzing the technical intricacies of 3D laser scanning hardware and software reveals their pivotal role in shaping engineering's future.

Measurement

Consider the Indicating Plug Gage

It uses the plug body, not the contacts, to center the age.

Rob Nemec

March 25, 2024

For precise bore measurements, handheld gages are limited as human feel impacts the readings, especially when checking bores in-machine. A more accurate solution, such as the Indicating Plug Gage, eliminates operator influence, ensuring stable readings and efficient recording of taper, ovality, size, and other crucial parameters.

QM March 2024 Plant of the Year Ford GT 1440px

2024 Quality Plant of the Year: 3D Engineering Solutions

This Cincinnati-based company is a world class operation.

Michelle Bangert

March 1, 2024

3D Engineering Solutions offers 3D scanning, reverse engineering, quality control, fixture and tool design, ISO 17025 certified inspection services, and 3D digitizing, noncontact laser scanning with a focus on quality. For their high standards and dedication to quality, 3D Engineering Solutions is our 2024 Quality Plant of the Year winner.

Student part inspection at Van Buren Tech in Lawrence, MI.

Case Study

Unlocking Efficiency in Education

Inspection Arsenal fixturing transforms student part inspection at Van Buren Tech in Lawrence, MI.

Gabriel Kooyers

March 1, 2024

This article explores how Inspection Arsenal has transformed the inspection process at Van Buren Tech, an Advanced Manufacturing class that uses Titans of CNC Academy. It has become a game-changer in delivering streamlined and personalized curriculums.

Quality 101

The Next Dimension of Precision: Integrating Rotary Tables into Coordinate Measuring Systems

The accuracy and reliability of CMMs and PCMMs are foundational to quality.

John Kane

February 16, 2024

This article explores the transformative impact of incorporating rotary stages into coordinate measuring systems, enhancing their capabilities and the efficiency of the measurement process.

I-Wave2 from Marposs is a rechargeable wireless gage

Measurement

Maximizing Precision: How to Care for and Integrate Your Handheld Gages

Quality control is crucial for meeting high product standards, and handheld gages are key to achieving such precision. But how exactly do these tools ensure accurate measurements?

Genevieve Diesing

February 19, 2024

Experts advise that calibration schedules should be both flexible and systematic. Alongside calibration and inspection, simple practices such as regular cleaning and proper storage are crucial for maintaining the accuracy and longevity of measurement tools, ensuring consistently high standards of precision and quality in manufacturing processes.

Software & Analysis

How modern software can transform the supply chain with manufacturing quality at the center

Enable a manufacturing quality-driven collaboration between suppliers and buyers to eliminate interpretation, reduce costs, risks, and expedited delivery time.

Sam Golan

February 16, 2024

A leading aircraft manufacturer faces $27B in losses due to slow supply chain fixes, aggravated by escalating quality standards like AS9102 Rev C. The solution lies in seamless communication of requirements from buyers to suppliers, streamlining operations for all parties involved.

Medical

Evolving Needle-Based Drug Delivery Products & Testing Methods

When testing the emerging wearable devices, manufacturers are now confronted with various new and unique challenges.

James Ritchey

February 16, 2024

As the industry continues to trend toward a more patient-centric approach, we see an increasing buzz around the development and utilization of wearable injectors, also known as on-body delivery systems (OBDS)—the next evolution in needle-based drug delivery products.

Robot arm with 3D scanner. Automated scanning.

CMS Column | Justin Novak

How Has Metrology Changed in the Past 40 Years?

A lot has happened since 1984, and we're just getting started.

Justin Novak

April 3, 2024

From Theodolites to Laser Trackers: A 40-Year Metrology Revolution. Witness how a technical field has evolved, enabling single-micron accuracy at your fingertips and powering smart factories for unprecedented efficiency.

High-Tech Factory: Quality Control Engineer Picks up and Visually Checks Smart Electronic Device for Possible Damages. In the Background Assembly Line for PCB with Surface Mount Pick and Place Technology.

Column | John Vandenbemden

The Standard Explained: What is ISO 17025: 2017?

John Vandenbemden

March 11, 2024

The official document is titled ISO/IEC 17025: 2017, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. It is the international reference for laboratories performing calibration and testing activities.

Angry engineer boss scolding young engineers for their mistake standing in the CNC manufacturing factory. Negative boss yelling employee during work. Man standing and feeling bad. Industrial concept.

Face of Quality | Jim L. Smith

Manage Conflict More Effectively

Don't avoid confrontation, deal with it constructively.

Jimmy L. Smith

March 19, 2024

In the early stages of my career, conflict resolution was direct and forceful, often involving blunt criticism and harsh language. However, a key learning experience came when my manager confronted me about a mistake, followed by supportive dialogue, teaching me the value of constructive criticism.

From the Editor | Darryl Seland

If You Build It, He Will Come

Darryl Seland

February 26, 2024

In "Field of Dreams," a farmer builds a baseball field and attracts ghostly players, including his father's favorite. There's a widely circulated mistake about the film's message.

March 2024 Speaking of Quality Column feature image of person protecting circle of light blue cut out figures on a table.

Speaking of Quality | Lisa El-Shall

Foster a Sense of Belonging

While part of the Richmond section, we had an opportunity to work with a local charitable organization to revamp their donations using 5S and Lean Principles.

Lisa El-Shall

February 28, 2024

During our time in the Richmond section, we collaborated with a local charity to streamline their donation process through 5S and lean principles, an endeavor later showcased at WCQI. ASQ events prioritize enjoyment alongside professional development, fostering connections.

March 2024 Daniel Zrymiak Column feature image of lightbulb inside a cardboard box.

Fellow Traveler | Daniel Zrymiak

Going Beyond the Quality Job Descriptions

Out of the Box

Daniel Zrymiak

February 28, 2024

There are times when a Quality practitioner may be called upon to support team members in ways that go beyond the strict interpretation of the role. These are described in a way that indicates the necessary situation, along with the constructive outcomes from such involvement.

Lenses Case Study: Theia’s ML183M, Metal barrel, Housing, and Lens hood

Vision & Sensors | Case Study

Ultra Wide, No Distortion Lenses Tough Enough for Crash Testing

The results are speaking for themselves.

Andrea Van Landingham Jon Boucher

February 7, 2024

Theia's lenses help capture clear images of car crash testing. The MY23F lens is rugged and can survive impact at 50mph, while providing undistorted images.

Vision & Sensors | Lenses

Understanding the Key Factors in Microscope Objective Performance

Rebecca Charboneau

February 6, 2024

Microscope objectives focus light and form images. There are two types: finite and infinite conjugate. Designers consider magnification, numerical aperture (NA), and cost. NA is important but not the only factor in performance.

Machine Learning feature image of growing connected lines with purple glow

Vision & Sensors | Machine Learning

Machine Learning for Automation & Quality Inspection

While machine learning is a subset of AI, deep learning should be viewed as a subset of machine learning.

David L. Dechow John Butler

February 5, 2024

Deep learning, a subset of machine learning, aims to mimic the learning process of the human brain. Learn how it improves through repetition and requires larger data sets and longer processing times to achieve reliable accuracy and sophistication.

Vision & Sensors | Camera Interfaces

RDMA with 10GigE Cameras

High-speed, Maximum Reliability

Alexis Teissie

February 2, 2024

RDMA is an alternative to UDP for high-bandwidth, multi-camera applications, providing an efficient data transfer mechanism that bypasses the CPU and operating system. By storing image data directly onto the host PC's memory, RDMA is ideal for managing large volumes of data in modern high-bandwidth Ethernet camera applications.

Vision & Sensors | Image Analysis

Image Analysis in Machine Vision

Neural net machine vision image analysis has made rapid advances in recent years.

Fred Turek

February 1, 2024

On Demand Join this webinar to learn how companies of all sizes are adopting easy-to-use cobots to overcome the labor shortage, handle multi-shift operations, scale production on-the-fly, and solve many other challenges.

This session is crucial for businesses aiming to bridge the skill gap with easy-to-integrate technologies that can be seamlessly adopted into your quality workflows.

Quality Magazine

Cover Story

The Accuracy Nexus: 3D Scanning in Additive Manufacturing for Custom Car Builds and Mesh Repair Solutions

Features

Consider the Indicating Plug Gage

2024 Quality Plant of the Year: 3D Engineering Solutions

Unlocking Efficiency in Education

The Next Dimension of Precision: Integrating Rotary Tables into Coordinate Measuring Systems

Maximizing Precision: How to Care for and Integrate Your Handheld Gages

How modern software can transform the supply chain with manufacturing quality at the center

Evolving Needle-Based Drug Delivery Products & Testing Methods

Columns

How Has Metrology Changed in the Past 40 Years?

The Standard Explained: What is ISO 17025: 2017?

Manage Conflict More Effectively

If You Build It, He Will Come

Foster a Sense of Belonging

Going Beyond the Quality Job Descriptions

Vision & Sensors

Ultra Wide, No Distortion Lenses Tough Enough for Crash Testing

Understanding the Key Factors in Microscope Objective Performance

Machine Learning for Automation & Quality Inspection

RDMA with 10GigE Cameras

Image Analysis in Machine Vision

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