Epstein Associates - K9APE®

K9APE® Machine Vision Inspection System For Flat Surfaces

K9APE® Machine Vision Inspection Systems are readily adapted for inspection of precision parts with flat surfaces - such as those that mate or seal to another component. Inspection can occur during or after the manufacturing process.

The images shown below are from a 9 inch (229 mm.) x 3-3/4 inch (95 mm) cast transmission manifold. The image illustrates a portion of the transmission's hydraulic circuitry and its land seal surfaces. The land seal surfaces mate with the transmission body and must be free of defects that would allow pressurized hydraulic oil to leak.

CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW FOR EXPANDED VIEWS

[Images May Take A Few Minutes To Download]

Transmission Manifold Machined Casting

High-resolution images of the sealing surfaces of transmission manifolds were captured with our K9APE® Machine Vision Inspection System. A highly compressed image of the manifold land seal surface of a typical part is shown below.

Highly Compressed Image of Transmission Manifold Land Seal Surface

Small defects that could readily escape notice by human inspectors were readily detected on uncompressed images.

Each of three example images shown below has been cropped from a full image of the part - as shown above. Full images (even in compressed format) are too large to download conveniently on the web.

The first example is an image of a small casting defect or indentation in the sealing surface. The specification for the land seal width is 3 mm. At the point of defect, the seal width for this part is only 2 mm.

1 mm. Dent in 3 mm. Land Seal

The second example is an image of a small, thin fracture on the top of the land seal that occurred during machining. The depth of the fracture is estimated at 0.25 mm.

~0.25 mm. Fracture On Top Of Land Seal Surface

The third image exposes a fracture in the sidewall of the land seal that caused a broken edge. The fracture extends down ~ 1 mm. at its deepest point, at the left side of the broken edge. The broken edge is ~ 4 mm. long. The land seal also contains a small chip measuring ~0.75 x 1 mm. by ~0.1 mm. deep.

Side Wall Fracture And Surface Chip

CLICK ON IMAGES ABOVE FOR EXPANDED VIEWS

These images were captured with an EPIX® PIXCI® Model D Imaging Board. EPIX® XCAP™ Imaging Software was used for image formatting. The original files have been JPEG-compressed for display here.

Manufacturing defects are readily detected and measured by our K9APE® Machine Vision Inspection Systems. Images better than JPEG-compressed quality can be obtained during manufacture.

Epstein Associates - K9APE®
P.O.B. 400
Wilmette, IL 60091-0400 U.S.A.

+1 630 564 9292 - Voice & VM
Please Use E-Mail - Facsimile
(-6 Hours GMT in Central Standard Time Zone)
(20 Miles North of Chicago, IL on Lake Michigan)

Sheldon L. Epstein
Chief Engineer & Owner

 

Back To The Previous Page

Back To Our Home Page