Kistler showcases automated test systems for quality monitoring at Blechexpo

Kistler, the measurement technology expert, is presenting a varied range of test systems for punched and series parts as well as joining and forming processes at the Blechexpo in Stuttgart from 5 to 8 November 2019. Visitors to stand 6418 in hall 6 can learn about the benefits of automated process monitoring: improved quality, reduced tool breakages and more efficient production. This year's Blechexpo marks a "first" for Kistler. The company's diverse test automation portfolio includes products from Vester Elektronik GmbH of Straubenhardt, a member of the Kistler Group since mid-2017.

Efficiency is the most critical factor in testing mass-produced parts - closely followed by accuracy. Kistler, the optical measurement technology specialist, offers solutions that score high on both counts - with tangible user benefits from test automation such as high sorting performance, reduced pseudoscrap, and process reliability. Backed by 25 years of advisory expertise and in-depth test automation know-how, Kistler caters to its customers' needs with a comprehensive and varied portfolio of tailor-made solutions from one single source.

High-speed testing and sorting of mass-produced parts
To take just one example: the Shape from Shading process integrated into the high-efficiency KVC 821 sorting system gives users a reliable solution for inspection and control of workpiece surfaces in the µm range. This is a precise method of determining part contours by casting shadows from different illumination angles. The benefit: relevant height deviations in the parts can be accurately differentiated from other deviations (e.g. in color) that have no relevance. With a sorting rate of up to 500 parts per minute, the KVC 821 system quickly and reliably distributes the parts into different containers; faulty parts are separated out completely. On the other hand, pseudoscrap can be reduced and costs can be cut thanks to the process that is integrated into the sorting system.

Another highlight at Kistler's stand: the KVC 621 punched part test cell to measure and inspect complex geometries and grid designs. The Laser Mark KLM 621 laser marking cell codes or marks even the smallest parts at high production speeds of over 1,000 workpieces per minute. A key advantage: all the systems are compatible with hardware from third-party providers.

Boosting quality and preventing tool breakages
The SPP 630 tool monitoring system features a modular structure, so it can be configured to match customers' needs and their existing technology. Depending on requirements, the system delivers information about pressing force and insertion depth, and it can also evaluate structure-borne sound with high precision. The system stores any desired amount of tool data, and the sensors offer exceptionally high resolution: even very small parts with dimensions of less than 0.2 millimeters are captured. Deviations are less than 0.02 millimeters. On request, all the sensors can be equipped with their own cleaning nozzle to ensure that accuracy is unimpaired even under difficult conditions.
Joining modules save energy and cut costs

Kistler offers a complete range of electromechanical joining systems. As compared to hydraulic or pneumatic systems, they offer up to 90 percent more efficiency - and thanks to electronic control, they can be regulated with far greater precision. Kistler is showcasing the NCFE module on its stand at the Blechexpo trade fair. This is an outstandingly cost-efficient solution for simple joining processes in the force range from 10 to 80 kN - so it plays an effective part in permanently reducing overall operating costs.