Instrumentation and Control Technology Focus part 2 This section was written by Associate Editors Greg Paula and Michael Valenti. Some excavator parts that are just too large to measure using traditional technology, so the excavators are generally shipped in pieces and assembled at the job site.
Precision measuring beforehand ensures proper mating of vital parts.
Caterpillar's Mining and Construction Division in Joliet, Ill., is using a laser tracker from SMX Corp. in Kennett Square, Pa., to measure these components. It uses laser interferometry to provide extremely precise measurements of objects ranging from 1 meter to hundreds of meters in size, with an accuracy of 25 microns at 5 meters. The tracker head weighs 57 pounds and can be mounted in many orientations as a portable system or embedded into an automated process. The device feeds data to Windows-based software. Robots with Vision Tireless and accurate welding robots are limited because they cannot be reprogrammed quickly to change welding patterns.