TPT March 2017

INSPECTION, TESTING & QUALITY CONTROL

Photo: Contrôle Mesure Systèmes – France

What would constitute a very strong challenge to this trio of closely allied techniques? A likely candidate might be the making of on-line corrections to a machine imposing multiple and complex bends in a tube intended for long, hard use in a hostile environment. Information supplied to the system would need to be accurate not only about the bend points but as to the entire complex tube contour. The workpiece

would at all times require direct comparison with a master tube or a CAD model, with super-sensitive alerts to any area out of tolerance. Correlation, conformation, correction: all would be instantaneous and to standards well beyond the norm and very little short of absolute ideal. In fact, to the professionals whose products and services are reviewed here, this is not a counsel of perfection.