What Is Inspection Equipment?
Inspection equipment is a generic term for equipment used to check whether something is in the correct or abnormal condition.
Inspection equipment is used during or at the end of the manufacturing process to assure the quality of products made by equipment or people. Generally, normal values are set, and if the inspection result is within the normal range, it is OK, and if it is outside the normal range, it is not.
Inspection methods include those that visually inspect the position and condition, such as image inspection, and those that measure metrological values such as flow rate and pressure. Almost any inspection can be performed as long as the condition can be quantified and a normal range can be set.
Types of Inspection Equipment
1. Appearance Inspection Machine
A camera is used to photograph the product and inspect whether there are any misalignments in processing or assembly positions, or whether there are any missing parts. A product is considered good if it satisfies all of the predetermined dimensions, angles, and positions of parts, etc., and defective if any of these are out of alignment. There is also an inspection process to check for bridges and spattering after soldering.
2. X-Ray Inspection Equipment
This inspection equipment is used to find defects inside a product that cannot be detected from the outside. It is often used in the casting process to detect internal cracks, nests, and foreign objects. X-rays used in hospitals are also used to check for abnormalities in the body.
3. Printing Inspection Machine
Inspection machines are widely used in the printing industry. They take pictures of printed materials with a camera and inspect them for printing errors, ink splattering, foreign matter, and other contaminants.
Widespread Use Of Sensory Inspection Equipment
Sensory testing is a type of product inspection in which a person uses all five senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch) to detect abnormalities. This is based on the fact that humans can instantly detect even the slightest irregularity by running their fingers over the surface of a product, and can immediately notice any unusual smells or tastes.
However, there are problems with human inspections, such as sensitivity being dulled by physical conditions, and the standard of judgment being varied from person to person. In addition, it takes a long time to train people to perform accurate inspections, and it is time-consuming to develop human resources.
In recent years, this sensory inspection has been automated. Thanks to improvements in imaging technology, visual inspections have already been largely automated, smell and taste can now be quantified, and auditory and tactile senses can detect abnormalities based on differences in vibration and other factors.