Verus Metrology Engineers Complete Zeiss Training

April 6, 2022

Verus Metrology Engineers Complete Zeiss Training

April 6, 2022

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Verus Metrology Applications Engineer Nuala Baker Attends Zeiss Training at Zeiss HQ

 

Staff training is an essential part of our business strategy here at Verus Metrology. Having a well-trained team ensures we can offer the broadest range of services to the widest variety of customers. Much of the training that we offer our employees takes place in-house. However, we also send staff on high-quality third-party training courses such as those provided by ZEISS.

ZEISS is a leading provider of metrology equipment and solutions. As more and more of our customers are choosing ZEISS machines for their facilities, we are putting our engineers through the company’s training courses.

These courses are professionally delivered by certified trainers at the ZEISS Academy Metrology.

Metrology Applications Technicians Michaela Healy and Richard Harkin recently attended a one-week ZEISS training course in Rugby in the north of England. Richard and Michaela are the latest Verus employees to attend one of these courses, with others due to attend in the coming weeks and months.

Ongoing Professional Development

Michaela said:

Richard and I going on this training course is part of a huge multi-year plan here at Verus. I had done internal training courses before, but this was the first time going on an external training program. The plan is that I will be going on another ZEISS training course later this year.

The training course that I recently completed has given me a new perspective and has enabled me to solve new problems and measurement challenges. There are other machines here in Verus that I am familiar with, but ZEISS machines use different software, including ZEISS Calypso. I enjoyed the challenge of learning how to use it.”

Richard added that the training focused on two ZEISS CMMs.

At the start of the week, the training was a basic introduction to the Calypso software and the ZEISS CMMs. We learned what they are and what they do, and although the heads are not a million miles away from other CMMs we are familiar with at Verus, they are different.

After this basic introduction and as the week went on, the training became more advanced to the point where we could develop our own programs for use with Verus clients. This is crucial as we work with so many different customers. They can have metrology equipment from any of the leading providers. So, we need to be capable of programming with all those software applications.

We want to be the first choice for application support and fixture programming for those companies that are going in the direction of using ZEISS.

New Skills Already in Use

Michaela explained that they are already using the skills they learned on the ZEISS training course to support Verus’ customers. She adds:

We are using the training now and we expect we will be using the new skills on a daily basis.

With the increased skills Richard, myself, and other members of the team now have, we can provide more ZEISS capabilities here at Verus. We can also provide advice and recommendations to customers.

If a customer has a measurement challenge, for example, we can look at the parts involved and the needs of the customer. We can then give them a solution, including advice on whether ZEISS would be the best option.

Richard added that the ZEISS training also enhances the choice available to customers. He said:

For us at Verus, this training makes it possible for us to expand our customer base massively. It also frees up customers that want to change machines or switch software.

Verus Metrology Applications Engineer at Zeiss Training

“Our extensive metrology applications capacity means they can continue using us as their metrology services provider.”

Ongoing Metrology Training Plans at Verus

As part of our ongoing professional development plans, we will be sending more of our staff to the ZEISS training academy that Richard and Michaela have attended. This is in addition to other training plans that we are implementing throughout 2022 to enhance the services we offer.

In discussing future training plans, Michaela says:

We have a ZEISS CMM machine with vision capabilities. So, we will be going on an optics course with ZEISS as soon as possible. ZEISS is also a certified Aukom training partner, so we will be doing Aukom training too.

Richard added that this external training will be in addition to the extensive internal training that takes place at Verus.

Richard said:

Since I started in metrology at Verus, I have received a huge amount of training across a lot of different software applications and machines. This is important as we have a very specific metrology methodology here at Verus that ensures we deliver the highest standards of service to our customers. Internal training is an essential part of maintaining, extending, and continuously improving that methodology.

Nuala and Jack at Zeiss Training

Verus Metrology Application Engineers Jack Middleton and Nuala Baker take a break from Zeiss training to share an update.

Do you want to advance your engineering career through professional development within a supportive organization? Then become part of our amazing team. Check out Verus Careers for career opportunities as they become available. Moreover, be sure to subscribe to our NEWSLETTER to receive our technical blogs, customer updates, and all the latest developments.

Have a query? Speak to a Verus expert today

Introduction 

As 2024 unfolds, the field of metrology is witnessing transformative changes. At Verus Metrology, we recognize the importance of keeping pace with technological advancements and new trends in the science of measurement. In this rapidly evolving landscape, innovations in metrology are not just about achieving precision; they are about meeting the evolving challenges of industries like medical devices, where accuracy is critical for ensuring safety and quality. This article explores the emerging trends and technological breakthroughs shaping metrology’s future. 

As 2024 unfolds, the field of metrology is witnessing transformative changes. At Verus Metrology, we recognize the importance of keeping pace with technological advancements and new trends in the science of measurement. In this rapidly evolving landscape, innovations in metrology are not just about achieving precision; they are about meeting the evolving challenges of industries like medical devices, where accuracy is critical for ensuring safety and quality. This article explores the emerging trends and technological breakthroughs shaping metrology’s future. 

Metrology Fixture Types – What’s Available, and Which is Best?

9 February 2023

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Fixture type and use cases

Metrology fixturing technologies continue to develop at a rapid pace, offering manufacturers in the medical device industry new and innovative solutions. Those solutions don’t just meet inspection and quality process requirements, but they also deliver efficiency savings and productivity gains. How do you know what metrology fixture types are available and which is best for your application? In this blog, we’ll outline the main options, their underlying technologies, and the use cases they are best suited for. 

However, it is also important to point out that the fixture types described in this blog represent broad categories. Within those categories, there is an infinite number of ways that a fixturing solution can be developed to meet your specific needs, reduce risk, and take advantage of opportunity

While there are metrology fixture types that we can explore, every fixture solution that we develop here at Verus Metrology is completely unique. In other words, fully customised for the product or component being measured, as well as the inspection machine, quality department workflows, production processes, and any other influencing factor. 

Metrology Fixture Types 

There are six main metrology fixture types: 

  • Auto rotational 
  • Manual rotator 
  • Multi-station
  • Proof of Principle (POP) 
  • Vision system 
  • Docking station 

 

Auto-Rotational Fixtures

Isometric view of an auto rotational metrology checking fixture, the automatic part of the fixture is the turning of the rail by a motor. The fixture has white plastic components held in place using brown clips

 

At a fundamental level, the job of a metrology fixture is to hold a product or component securely in place so it can be effectively inspected and measured. However, there are situations where the inspection process requires the part to be presented at different orientations to enable all the relevant measurements to be taken. This requirement for measurement in multiple orientations is increasing as medical device products become more complex and intricate. 

Auto-rotational fixtures enable the inspection of products and components in multiple orientations with minimal operator intervention. An auto-rotational fixture can be a single-station set-up, but they more commonly come in multi-station designs to minimise the time it takes to achieve your required sample rate. 

The most important feature of an auto-rotational fixture is that you can measure multiple components in multiple orientations in a single setup. 

Manual Rotator Fixtures

Manual Rotator Metrology Fixtures by Verus Metrology

Manual rotator fixtures offer similar benefits to auto-rotational fixtures. The obvious main difference is that operators manually rotate components once they are loaded into the fixture. 

Manual rotator fixtures can be multi-station. They are also designed so that all measurements in all orientations can be taken in one set-up. So, while the operator will need to manually control the rotation mechanism, there is no requirement to touch or adjust the components as the fixture holds them securely in place during rotation. 

The benefits of manual rotator fixtures include: 

  • Significantly reduced operator intervention 
  • Improved measurement accuracy 
  • Elimination of errors 
  • Faster and more efficient metrology processes 

Furthermore, we can design your manual rotator fixture so it can be loaded with components away from your CMM. This improves CMM availability as the machine doesn’t have to sit idle while components are being loaded onto the fixture. 

Multi-Station Fixtures 

multi station rotator

According to FDA regulations and ISO 13485, it is essential that you can statistically justify sampling rates in your quality procedures using a risk-based approach. The operational part of this requirement isn’t covered in the guidelines, but it is an important business consideration. How do you efficiently, accurately, and cost-effectively inspect the number of products or components that are required to hit your sampling rate target? 

Multi-station fixtures are a common solution. We can design multi-station fixtures in any configuration. This could be a large cavity multi-station fixture, a fixture to inspect very small and complex medical devices, or solutions for products or components of any size, geometry, or characteristic. 

The benefits of multi-station fixtures include: 

  • Operator intervention is greatly reduced 
  • Fixtures only need to be loaded once before full inspection routines can take place on multiple products at the same time 
  • Reduce human error 
  • Speed up inspection processes while achieving your sampling rate target 
  • Reducing the cost of inspections 

 

Proof of Principle Multi-station Prototype Fixtures 

proof of principle

 

In many product development and process change situations, it is beneficial to have a POP fixture that can be used for verification and validation purposes. The approach we typically take at Verus Metrology is to design a multi-station fixture to deliver on your requirements. 

However, before this multi-station fixture design goes into manufacturing, we design and produce a single-station POP prototype fixture. This POP prototype can be manufactured quickly in our advanced manufacturing facility. We’ll then put it through a gage R&R study to give you confidence in its repeatability and reproducibility, before sending it to you for evaluation and testing. 

POP prototype fixtures offer a range of benefits: 

  • Facilitates design for inspection during the product development process 
  • Minimises delays in process verification 
  • Enhances and speeds up the design transfer process 
  • Reduces time to market in line with regulatory requirements 

 

Vision System Solutions

We also design and manufacture fixturing solutions for vision systems in addition to the fixtures we design for use on CMMs. Fixturing solutions that are optimised for vision systems have a number of specific and differentiating features, including ensuring there is a clean and clear view of the part. 

Vision system solutions can also allow for backlighting where necessary. Furthermore, a single set-up is all that is required for the full inspection routine to take place, with parts securely held with as little force as possible. 

 

Docking Systems 

Docking System Verus Metrolody

Docking systems enhance the efficiency of quality departments that use multiple fixtures and/or have high sampling rates. Docking systems are securely fixed to CMMs to make it quick and easy for technicians to load fixtures that are fully set up with components ready for inspection. Once the inspection routine for a fixture is complete, it can be quickly and easily removed from the docking system ready for the next fixture to be loaded. 

With a custom-designed docking system, you can have confidence that each changeover results in precisely secured fixtures for repeatable and reproduceable inspections. 

Choosing the Right Fixture for Your Requirements

There are many factors to consider when choosing the best type of metrology fixture for your requirements. Your budget is an important consideration, as are your ROI goals, quality processes, quality resources, and future requirements. 

The best approach is to speak to a fixture design expert to explore the options and get an understanding of what is possible. Contact us today to find out more. 

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About Verus Metrology Partners

Verus is committed to the enhancement of our client’s metrology laboratories, machine efficiencies, and inspection processes. Since our beginning, our expert metrology engineering team has partnered with some of the world’s largest MedTech multinationals.

 

We specialize in high quantity, difficult to measure, yet critically important, medical device parts. As well as working in the MedTech, Pharmaceutical and Personal Care industry, we also work with metrology departments in the FMCG and Aerospace industry.