QUALITY ENGINEERING: SURFACE FLAWS MEASUREMENT ON VEHICLE BODIES

A TV camera and computer are used to inspect vehicle bodies so that surface flaws such as waviness are conspicuous to the inspector. The method, known as D Sight, also provides a means of quantifying the faults. A small incandescent light source and a retroreflective screen are used. The screen re-directs light rays back towards the source. Thus the surface is illuminated twice, once by the lamp and once by the screen, each pass creating a visible signature dependent on both the shape of the defect and the source of illumination. Unevenness is magnified and flaws as small as 0.02 mm can be observed. The computer system is interactive and images can be stored on floppy disc, hard disc and up to 230 images can be held on a tape cassette. A video handcopier can be used to produce quality reports. The system can be adapted to compare a master reference surface of an agreed quality with that being examined. Grey scale analysis can also be employed to produce numerical values. Quantification is valuable when surfaces could be affected by changes such as wear in a die producing a panel.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03076490
• Corporate Authors:

  Mechanical Engineering Publications Limited

  P.O. Box 24, Northgate Avenue
  Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 6BW,   England 
• Authors:
  • HOPE, D
• Publication Date: 1989-8-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 56-57
• Serial:
  • AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Institution of Mechanical Engineers
  • ISSN: 0307-6490

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Digital computers; Motor vehicle bodies; Quality assurance; Smoothness; Surfaces; Test procedures
• ITRD Terms: 1356: Body (car); 1243: Car; 8673: Digital computer; 3071: Evenness; 9123: Quality assurance; 6438: Surface; 6288: Test method
• Subject Areas: Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00604872
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 28 1991 12:00AM