Helping Mansel Preforms meet preform inspection requirements
Suffolk-based Mansol Preforms manufactures glass and ceramic insulators, which are pre-formed into various shapes and sizes, depending on customer requirements. The majority are circular with multiple precisely located holes. They are crucial in high performance safety-critical connectors, insulating each pin and ensuring accurate alignment with the mating part. They serve a variety of applications, such as military, automotive, and aerospace, where a perfect hermetic seal and reliability are paramount. It is critical that the glass or ceramic insulator is manufactured to the precise dimensions needed and that the preforms are inspected and measured to ensure that the position of the holes and their relationship to the outer diameter are accurate. Customers in these regulated industries require comprehensive measurement reports, confirming that the dimensions are compliant and within permissible limits, which became difficult when using standard profile projectors and traditional paper overlays.
A digital shadowgraph provides precise measurement
Mansol Preforms came to Optimax wanting to enhance their preform inspection capabilities, and after consultation and technical qualification, we recommended the Starrett HDV300 horizontal digital video shadowgraph. The HDV comparator is robust and comfortably at home on the shop floor but also advanced enough to outperform traditional optical technology in the measurement and inspection room. It is configured like a horizontal profile projector but is fully digitised with a high-resolution sensor, LED surface, and profile lighting. The familiar, user-friendly format is flexible, ensuring that it can be used both manually for single and low volume preform inspection checks or programmed and automated, providing significant time savings and improved reporting outputs.
Starrett HDV300
The HDV300 isn’t just a powerful tool, it combines the familiar, robust design of a traditional profile projector with the cutting-edge technology of a fully digital system. It features a high-resolution sensor and advanced LED lighting, delivering superior performance and accuracy. If operators need to perform a quick, manual check on a single component or run an automated, high-volume inspection program, the HDV300’s user-friendly interface makes it easy. This flexibility saves significant time and delivers crystal-clear reporting, helping Mansol Preforms boost both efficiency and confidence in their quality control.
Adam Kimber, Managing Director of Mansol Preforms, commented, “We are delighted with the new HDV300 and the measurement flexibility that it provides us. The library of parts we have been able to program has already saved us significant time, and we expect this to increase going forward. The library, combined with the ease and quality of reporting, has delivered a real return on investment for the company.”
Curious if the Starrett HDV300 is the right fit for your shop floor? Talk to our technical experts today for a no-obligation consultation and we’ll help you find the perfect solution for your needs.
