Petitpierre is proud to collaborate with MVTEC and its HALCON software to offer state-of-the-art solutions for the inspection of high-precision components. Discover how our lumen systems and other special projects, enhanced by HALCON, improve quality and production efficiency for industry leaders such as KIF Parechoc.
Machine vision improves the measurement process for precision and micromechanical components
Precise inspection of very small precision components, particularly in the watchmaking industry, is a challenge. Petitpierre, the Swiss specialist in high-precision technologies, has developed sophisticated applications that enable these micromechanical components to be cleaned and measured with great precision during the production process. MVTec HALCON provides the machine vision algorithms required for this: technologies such as DXF overlay and sub-pixel contour extraction guarantee precise measurement results.
Measurement process
Measurement interface lumen
Repetitive, precise and fast measurement and inspection of very small parts are key requirements for the watchmaking industry, and for all industries working with microcomponents. This means you can produce precise parts from your very first batch, with minimum effort, by setting up APC-based shop floor control.
Petitpierre SA, headquartered in Cortaillod, Switzerland, specializes in sophisticated micromechanics and is committed to making this ideal a reality – through machine vision. Founded in 1973, this family-owned company offers a portfolio of complex measurement applications for the watchmaking, jewelry, medical and aerospace industries. The company also develops high-precision systems for the automated assembly of high-end microtechnical components, as well as sophisticated watchmaking tools.
One of Petitpierre’s customers is KIF Parechoc, a jewel in the crown of the Swiss watchmaking industry. To raise process quality and make it more autonomous, the aim was to optimize the measurement of various micromechanical parts. The main challenge was to carry out a series of fast, accurate measurements under demanding production conditions, at the click of a button. MVTec HALCON was the answer.
Moving the process from the cleanroom to the production plant
In the past, several systems carried out these measurement processes, including contact measurement, in a controlled environment. Now, they have been transferred directly to the production plant to reduce effort and ensure continuous process chains. Advanced measurement technology was needed to meet the varied requirements. Machine vision made it possible to automate the entire process smoothly and with minimum effort, while increasing the speed and accuracy of the measurement process.
Efficient combination of cleaning and measuring – lumen and drop powered by machine vision
The solution implemented by Petitpierre is a dual system, combining its drop and lumen products, backed up by machine vision software. drop is a device for automatic cleaning and drying of precision parts, ensuring optimum, repeatable cleaning quality. Lumen is a telecentric optical device for intelligent, automatic and precise measurement of micromechanical parts. First, components are cleaned and dried in drop, then transferred to lumen using a vacuum gripper. The integrated machine vision software automatically detects and measures the parts. Once all parts have been measured, the results are exported to KIF Parechoc’s quality control software, where they are immediately sent to the machine for real-time correction.
High-precision measurement thanks to matching technologies
MVTec HALCON is used as the system’s machine vision software. Its 2D shape-based technologies enable small parts to be precisely identified and located, so that they can be recognized and measured with sub-micron precision. In detail, diameters, lengths, concentricities, radii and angles are measured and inspected with sub-pixel precision. MVTec HALCON also enables calibration of the lumen system’s camera.
Precise mapping of telecentric optics with HALCOM
Another advantage: MVTec HALCON meets the specific requirements of telecentric optics – such as those used in Petitpierre’s lumen system – with precision. The part can be positioned in different orientations and measured with the same precision thanks to distortion correction.
Fully automated, much faster and more accurate: all objectives met
“MVTec HALCON is the ideal machine vision software to overcome the challenges we faced. Not only does it offer the required accuracy and detection speed, it also enables completely non-contact inspections. Now, we can launch the entire inspection process at the click of a button, which has enabled us to gain in speed. As a result, KIF Parechoc can reduce costs and increase productivity to a new level.” concludes Thomas Majoulet, Metrology Manager at Petitpierre.
