3D measurement of coil springs

For the 3D measurement of suspension springs, Qsigma GmbH has developed the precise Spring Measurement System. With this system, springs with different properties can be tested in a very short time. For this purpose, scanCONTROL laser profile scanners are used, which are moved horizontally and vertically. The measurement system offers an efficient and economical complete solution for reliable inspection.

The Spring Measurement System (SMS for short) automatically detects the spring, evaluates the wire contour and determines the wire diameter, even if it is subject to strong fluctuations. For comparative evaluations, an automatic centerline determination is performed. Sensors from Micro-Epsilon are used for these measurements.

The SMS is a compact measuring cell in which the spring to be tested rotates on a longitudinal axis. During rotation, two linear axes move a scanCONTROL 2950 laser profile scanner over the part in horizontal and vertical directions. To achieve maximum accuracy, the sensors are optimally positioned using algorithms developed by Qsigma. The laser profile scanner transmits the generated individual profiles to a computer via a Gigabit Ethernet interface, which converts the data into a 3D point cloud and displays it on a monitor.

The scanCONTROL 2950 sensor has a large measuring field in both the Z and X directions. This enables extremely fast scanning of springs up to a height of 70 cm and radially up to 30 cm. The wide range combined with high point density enables precise evaluation of the wire diameter. Due to the large Z-axis range, both the spring path and the spring end can be detected automatically. Since the sensors work almost independently of the surface, even painted or powder-coated springs can be measured reliably.