Not sure if this is the forum to post this but here goes. I'm looking for a company to perform some dimensional inspection for us. Can anyone give me any recommendations?

Thanks,
Bob

In the mid-west there is a company called QC Inspection Services. The provide long term and short term personell assignments and they have an inspection lab.

CarolX

What type of instruments?

I believe they will need a CMM with direct computer control (possibly noncontact/optical). There is a coplanarity requirement and True position requirement with a few hundred points of measurement per part (the part is approximately 3" X 5") so the features are relatively small.

Bob

I believe they will need a CMM with direct computer control (possibly noncontact/optical). There is a coplanarity requirement and True position requirement with a few hundred points of measurement per part (the part is approximately 3" X 5") so the features are relatively small.

BobAre we talking First Article Inspection or multiple pieces of same part?

How much business do you project (10 parts; 1,000; 100,000?)

Do you have a projected budget (money and time frame - parts per day/week/month)?

What is your crucial factor and purpose?
(Is this a time sensitive or money sensitive project? Is this to confirm manufacturer's measurement? Replace manufacturer's measurement? Act as incoming or outgoing inspection? Forensic inspection? Re-engineering inspection?)

Do you have limit on geographic location of inspection service?
What kind of licensing/certification do you need/want the inspection service to have?

Note:
I don't want to seem like an obsessive/compulsive, but I've been on both sides of fence (buyer and seller of measurement service) and there is a wide variance between capabilities and capacities of services. At some point you have to determine whether it is cost-effective to buy/lease instrumentation and do it yourself. (Check/compare pricing and training at Ram Optical, for example.)

Here's one that I know of that does good work:

Dimensional Metrology Laboratory, Inc.
Riverside, CA
Angelito Bacani
(909) 782-9611

They have various CMMs - manual & DCC, contact and optical. They are ISO 9001:2000 certified. I also have their full address and email, but would rather not post it here due to risk of spam. If you want it, let me know.

Carolx, Howste et. al. Thanks for your help.

Are we talking First Article Inspection or multiple pieces of same part?

How much business do you project (10 parts; 1,000; 100,000?)

Do you have a projected budget (money and time frame - parts per day/week/month)?

What is your crucial factor and purpose?
(Is this a time sensitive or money sensitive project? Is this to confirm manufacturer's measurement? Replace manufacturer's measurement? Act as incoming or outgoing inspection? Forensic inspection? Re-engineering inspection?)

Do you have limit on geographic location of inspection service?
What kind of licensing/certification do you need/want the inspection service to have?

Note:
I don't want to seem like an obsessive/compulsive, but I've been on both sides of fence (buyer and seller of measurement service) and there is a wide variance between capabilities and capacities of services. At some point you have to determine whether it is cost-effective to buy/lease instrumentation and do it yourself. (Check/compare pricing and training at Ram Optical, for example.)


a) One time arrangement.

b) One part, 13 pieces.

c) Sorry can't tell you.

d) 1) Time sensitive., a fast turn around required, about 3 days. 2) Incoming inspection.

e) 1) Continental U.S., Preferably the East coast., 2) 9k2k or 17025 compliant (preferably certified), I'd like to see a GR&R on the equipment used.

Carolx, Howste et. al. Thanks for your help.

a) One time arrangement.

b) One part, 13 pieces.

c) Sorry can't tell you.

d) 1) Time sensitive., a fast turn around required, about 3 days. 2) Incoming inspection.

e) 1) Continental U.S., Preferably the East coast., 2) 9k2k or 17025 compliant (preferably certified), I'd like to see a GR&R on the equipment used.Now is the time for our metrology pros to step to the plate and offer some suggestions.

This appears to be relatively straightforward:

Prototype/special order quantity,
require someone with automated CMM or RAM optical equivalent,
open time to meet turnaround, and
lab certified to a Standard.
Bob: I'm aware of the folks in Riverside. No complaints. Fedex makes anywhere in US an overnight proposition. Why not call them [Riverside] and see if they can accommodate you for time and capability?

I imagine you'll have to fax the print or email the CAD file for them to determine if they have capability to perform the inspection.

TIP: If they can't do it, ask them who can. Some of my best suppliers have come from referrals from ethical suppliers. I usually find a way to repay the favor.

The company I currently use to outsource dimensional inspection is:

NC Measurement Corp
100-A CentreWest Ct.
Cary, North Carolina 27513
(919) 676-9432

Bob Nadeau is the one to speak with (he is the owner). If he is booked in Cary, he has another facility in Charlotte that also performs contract inspection.

If you call me, tell him that Ramona recommended him. (We have been friends for aover 15 years.) Doubt that it will get you a price break :( , but it may get you quicker service. :)

Good luck!

If he is the same Bob Nadeau I knew in a past life in CT, he is very good to work with.

He is one the same Taz! And I agree, he is very good to work with. I also was his Lab Manager for 2 years in the Cary office.

I've known Bob for about 12 years now. . .ever since I was peddling GageTalker SPC systems. . . probably should have taken him up on an offer. . .can you send me his e-mail address in a private message? I'd love to contact him again. . .

Carolx, Howste et. al. Thanks for your help.
OK, Bob, you've got some leads. You said your window of need was narrow. Please update us when you've gotten the inspection done and tell us if we were of any help.

OK, Bob, you've got some leads. You said your window of need was narrow. Please update us when you've gotten the inspection done and tell us if we were of any help.


Well I got one of the inspections done by Dimensional Metrology Laboratory, Inc, in Riverside CA. They met the time deadline even with delays from my end. I solicited quotes from three companies, one backed out due to the time deadline, and the other was approximately 30 times that of Dimensional Metrology Laboratory (DML). The disparity in price threw me for a minute but the folks at DML answered my questions the way I would expect them to be answered. The savings, answers and the recommendations from this site made up my mind for me. Naturally there were problems with the parts, so I guess I’m going to find out how good DML when I go back to the supplier.

Thanks,
Bob

Since I recommended them, hopefully the results they gave are correct. ;) I know that their standard practice for any out-of-tolerance dimensions is to have a second technician set up the part again and verify the results independently. Please let us know how it turns out though...

http://www.dtl-inc.com/

Al...