In car assemblies, an automatic system welds
nuts to sheet metal so auto body parts can be
bolted together later. If a nut is missing or not
aligned with the hole, the part may have to be
scrapped. But these nuts are often hidden from
view, making visual inspection slow and costly.
Existing hidden part sensors could measure
thickness, (indicating whether a nut was
present) but they were expensive and difficult to
configure into a workable package. Automotive
manufacturers needed an affordable sensor that
was sensitive enough detect the presence of a
nut and easy to calibrate to detect thread quality.
Using their expertise in inductive proximity sensing, where a
probe emits an oscillating signal, automation experts at Norgren
Engineering developed the first-ever radial probe sensor. The
probe is inserted through the hole in the sheet metal and sends
a signal back to a monitor. The operating frequency of the signal
indicates whether the nut is present or absent. The sensor can
be calibrated to detect thread quality using a simple hand
adjustment and an LED indicator. An optional spring mount
allows the probe to retract without damage if a hole is missing.
Radial sensor technology makes the probe affordable, and
manufacturers realize significant savings by eliminating manual
inspections and avoiding scrap of costly car assemblies.
Problem Solution
Find out more
www.norgren.com
Detector for
nuts and threads
reduces scrap
Case Study
