How to use FC-30 optical compartor?

M

megan c

#1
Does anybody have some suggested literture on how to use optical compartors.We have recently puchased a FC-30 I have no experience at all with using one.I desperatly need to get this bad boy inspecting on these goverment contracts.PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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RoxaneB

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
#2
megan c said:
Does anybody have some suggested literture on how to use optical compartors.We have recently puchased a FC-30 I have no experience at all with using one.I desperatly need to get this bad boy inspecting on these goverment contracts.PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to the Cove! :bigwave:

Did the machine come with a user manual? Or could the company from which you purchased the machine help?
 
M

megan c

#3
The manual is very old and very useless.Jones & Lamson technical support was very vague.It wasnt much support. We purchased the machine at an auction.
 

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#4
Old? Yes! Useless? Maybe.

I've never operated one of these monster machines, but I have seen them. They are excellent for certain puposes.

Aside from the fact someone would buy a machine ("optical comparator" - correct spelling) he didn't know how to use, your situation is not much different from that of any organization where the sole operator of a specialized machine dies or quits without passing on his knowledge.

(I never learned how to program one of our CNC turning centers. In fact, I would have had to read the operating manual just to figure out how to turn it on. I was lucky. We had lots of skilled folks who did know.)

The first thing here is to greet you: Welcome to the Cove! bigwave-d2.gif

The second thing is, don't panic.

Third, here are several options for you, depending on your product, your customer requirements, and your urgency:

  1. If no one in your organization has ANY experience with optical comparators, You can advertise for someone to come in and operate your machine who DOES have experience.
  2. You can survey machine shops in your area for someone who has operated a big 30 inch screen comparator like this to come in and moonlight to train several employees to use it for your specific need.
  3. You can take a general course at a technical college (google - some even have internet access to take an on-line course) on the general concept of using optical devices for inspection.
  4. Ignore the comparator and use an alternate method to inspect your product.
Next, I'm curious about your product and what you need to inspect that you think you need a used optical comparator to perform the inspection. Typically, the best use of an optical comparator is with a specially etched or marked "chart" which can be either frosted glass or a translucent or clear overlay sheet to put on the screen to compare the part or a feature of the part to the drawing, measurement, radius, angle, etc. on the overlay chart. The technical term some use for the chart is "reticle." Here's a company that makes them so you can see what I mean http://www.reticles.com/comparators.htm (this is only one of hundreds of sources.)


If you don't have such a chart for your part, you need to have one made.

I'm looking forward to learning more about your situation.
 

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Govind

Super Moderator
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Super Moderator
#5
Calibrate the equipment first!

megan c said:
The manual is very old and very useless.Jones & Lamson technical support was very vague.It wasnt much support. We purchased the machine at an auction.
Megan,
Welcome to Cove.
Some call this equipment Shadowgraph. We call Profile Projector.
This is the equipment web page from Google search http://www.rtsalesinc.com/Quotes, P...uipment/Jones & Lamson Optical Comparator.htm

This equipment is not very difficult to use. You may require 60 minute training for manual version of this equipment. Since you bought this equipment from an auction, you may want to calibrate the equipment before using. Usually when the profile projectors are moved from one location to other, it has to be recalibrated. The mirrors, lenses mounted inside might have shifted during movement cause erroneous magnification. The calibration technician will also be able to explain you the functions.

It is a simple equipment with a turret to accommodate lenses with different magnification (Example 10X, 25X, 50X, 100X), a table with X, y axis micrometers, a Z axis rotary handle to move the table up/down to adjust the sharpness of the image.

As mentioned by Wes, the overlay is available from various manufacturers including Mitutoyo. You may specify the diameter of the screen and purchase applicable overlays.Overlay with Concentric circles and angle lines, Overlay with thread profiles for inches and metric are the most useful ones. You may create your own overlay with component profiles on “non shrinking drawing film”. Try to use thinnest pen available in the plotter like 0.1mm. Use magnification higher than 25X.

The most painful portion of using the manual profile projector is to align the object on the table. This require patience and time.When I started Metrology back in late eighties, we had to undergo this pain. Later advancement, a (Mitutoyo) fiber optic scale and microprocessor (Example: Quadracheck2000) combination are available that makes the job easier. This attachment automatically senses the shadow edges on the screen and aligns skewed axis in the microprocessor to perform other measurements like distance, hole positions and much more.

Hope this information helps.
Regards,
Govind.
 

Ron Rompen

Trusted Information Resource
#6
Just an add-on to the previous information that has been shared.

One of the BEST uses of an optical comparator/shadowgraph is with optional after-market software/accessory packages. We currently have 2 OC's, both of which use edge-detector technology coupled with QC4000 software.

(Shameless plug here...QC4000 is, IMNSHO, the epitomy of what a software package should be. I can train an operator to do extremely complex layouts, including importation of CAD data, creation of CAD models, export of data to Excel spreadsheets, etc in less than 8 hours. I use this program as the benchmark when evaluating ANY other software).

The reticle system is useful as an attribute (i.e. Go-NoGo) gauge, but does not give variable measurement, which is, in most cases, much more useful.

If you would like more info on this, please PM me, and I will give you additional information (contact names/companies which have proven useful in the past).
 
G

gaugefixer

#7
Megan, I have to agree with Govind. Get the machine calibrated and get training at the same time. Tell the calibration company that training in the use is needed. Any good technician or calibration organization will be able to do training.

While the machine may be old and a beast; a good technician will clean it up and suggest some parts or upgrades that you may need.

Good luck!
 
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