Nikon Metrology Blog

The wireless SpaceProbe and graphic operator assistance speed up inspection.

K-Series supports fast inspection of geometric features and surface points in and around skid steer loaders.

Visual feedback highlights measurement validity and displays where the next point is located.

Engineers at the Gehl South Dakota production plant in Madison found a faster way to verify large production fixtures and manufactured parts of construction and agricultural equipment. They simply position a portable K-Series Optical CMM from Nikon Metrology on the production floor, and measure points of choice right away using a wireless tactile SpaceProbe. This ergonomic metrology system enables Gehl to halve geometric verification time-spending on chassis and driver compartment, and yields deeper insight when troubleshooting equipment prototypes.
Farmers and construction workers value compact Gehl skid loaders, telescopic handlers, track loaders, excavators, all-wheel-steer loaders, articulated loaders and asphalt pavers for their ingenuity, innovation and reliability. At this production site in Madison, engineers manufacture skid and track steer loaders and telescopic handlers that have been designed at the company headquarters in Wisconsin. To monitor the production quality of this compact outdoor equipment, Gehl staff run geometric measurement right at the production line.

“Quality control involves the inspection of selected geometric features and surface points on steel parts after being stamped, drilled, and painted,” explains Joseph Palmiotto, the quality assurance manager for Gehl in Madison. “We not only monitor finished parts, but also verify mechanical fixtures used for part production and assembly of chassis and driver compartment, for example. To more efficiently execute metrology tasks on components of various sizes, we moved from an articulated measuring arm with a limited reach to a Nikon Metrology K-Series system that covers a considerably larger measuring volume early last year.”

Read the rest of this article in Fabricating & Metalworking magazine