A Single Software Specialized in 3D Measurement and Analysis for all Measuring Devices
When Italian company Bruno Presezzi SpA, a specialist in mechanical machining, decided to add 3D scanning for dimensional control to other systems already being used, it chose PolyWorks® for the convenience of having a single software for all its measuring devices.
Final inspection of a compressor disc for a gas turbine by probing with a COORD3 Kronos CMM.
Bruno Presezzi is a flourishing company with 200 employees in Burago Molgora, located 20 km northeast of Milan, that operates in the metal engineering sector. One of its core businesses is the mechanical machining of large components, with very accurate tolerances, in addition to a carpentry division, again dedicated to large parts. Recently, they also became involved in the design and manufacture of systems for aluminum castings as well as compressor, steam, and hydroelectric turbines.
The Challenge
Bruno Presezzi represents an imposing and varied reality, with in-house operational structures that follow the design, assembly, mechanical machining, and carpentry activities, and everything that revolves around that. More specifically, it carries out dimensional quality controls on 100% of its production.
Quality requirements were growing, especially with regard to mechanical machining—clients were increasingly looking for detail and precision, particularly in terms of geometric, linear, and assembly tolerances.
So, their Quality Control department decided to purchase a MetraSCAN Black™|Elite optical CMM scanner from Creaform, a product on the frontier of technology with which they can acquire the complete form of the components they produce. The scanner takes millions of points and outputs a polygonal mesh accurately describing the measured surface.
The scanner, combined with a FARO laser tracker and a Kronos series CMM from COORD3, made for three measuring devices, each with its own native software. Over time, it became complicated for the operators to manage three different types of software, including even additional training. Bruno Presezzi went looking for a universal platform capable of managing all the measuring devices using a single software.
Sem Fantauzzi, Quality Control Manager at Bruno Presezzi.
The Solution
It was essential to be able to use the same software on all 3D measuring instruments. After extensive research, they decided to turn to PolyWorks® from InnovMetric, a Canadian company dedicated exclusively to intelligent 3D metrology software solutions, and to all satellite topics. And more specifically, PolyWorks|Inspector™, its module for dimensional analysis and quality control. And it is precisely in this context that a partnership was created with PolyWorks Europa Italia, a subsidiary of InnovMetric that sells PolyWorks and provides technical support to clients.
To use the software on three different devices Bruno Presezzi needed help, especially in the beginning, and PolyWorks Europa Italia came through for them by training every quality inspector who carries out dimensional checks. “Their support was essential for us,” comments Sem Fantauzzi, Quality Control Manager. “Indeed, it was, and still is. Their technical support is not just intended to maintain the software but also to find solutions. We appreciate this ongoing partnership with an expert in an accompanying journey to maximize the possibilities of PolyWorks for our processes.”
Final inspection with FARO laser tracker of a gas turbine exhaust case.
Fantauzzi explains, “For the past year, PolyWorks has been 100 percent operational in all our dimensional controls using our three measuring devices. And when we hire new employees, we provide an initial course to give them a basic knowledge of the software right away.”
Now, in addition to probing, scanning is a big part of their inspection processes. Fantauzzi points out, “We use it mainly for carpentry and raw components. The main advantage is that we no longer have to probe on the machine: we scan the blank, and if it doesn’t turn out to be suitable for the finished part, we move on to the next part without wasting time and money. Furthermore, unlike probing, which is always carried out on a limited number of points, with a 3D scan we capture millions of points, highlighting defects or anomalies previously impossible to analyze. PolyWorks interfaces perfectly with our scanner and handles those large scans very efficiently.”
The Solution
It was essential to be able to use the same software on all 3D measuring instruments. After extensive research, they decided to turn to PolyWorks® from InnovMetric, a Canadian company dedicated exclusively to intelligent 3D metrology software solutions, and to all satellite topics. And more specifically, PolyWorks|Inspector™, its module for dimensional analysis and quality control. And it is precisely in this context that a partnership was created with PolyWorks Europa Italia, a subsidiary of InnovMetric that sells PolyWorks and provides technical support to clients.
To use the software on three different devices Bruno Presezzi needed help, especially in the beginning, and PolyWorks Europa Italia came through for them by training every quality inspector who carries out dimensional checks. “Their support was essential for us,” comments Sem Fantauzzi, Quality Control Manager. “Indeed, it was, and still is. Their technical support is not just intended to maintain the software but also to find solutions. We appreciate this ongoing partnership with an expert in an accompanying journey to maximize the possibilities of PolyWorks for our processes.”
In conclusion, Fantauzzi reflects on his experience with PolyWorks and his partnership with PolyWorks Europa Italia. “The software is indeed complete in all the analyses and all the structures on which we act. It has therefore broadened our horizons on the type of control required and the needs of our customers.”
PolyWorks|Inspector™