Inspecting Die Cast Engine Parts

Inspecting Die Cast Engine Parts

Customer Problem:

A manufacturer of engine components for the Big Three automotive companies needed an accurate, cost-effective method of locating die cast aluminum engine parts for a robot pick-and-place application. Before a six-axis Fanuc robot could pick up the parts and place them, one at a time, in a machining center, costly mechanical fixturing was used to pre-orient the parts. Once in the machining center, each part is ground to dimensional specifications. Due to random part orientation and reflectivity caused by the parts' metallic surfaces, the parts posed a significant challenge to machine vision.

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Cognex Solution:

A Cognex Checkpoint 900 machine vision system running PatMax pattern location software accurately locates the aluminum parts despite their surface reflectivity and random orientation.  PatMax, a revolutionary technology from Cognex, is able to deliver the robustness and accuracy needed to precisely automate the robotic handling operations. The manufacturer is now able to use a flexible feeding approach whereby PatMax recognizes the part's exact location and communicates the data to a robot. The Cognex machine vision solution is enabling the manufacturer to boost product quality while greatly decreasing manufacturing costs by eliminating mechanical fixturing.