3
SWITCHES
AND
SENSORS
SAS-42
For further information visit store.norgren.com/us or call 1.800.514.0129
Location: Michigan, USA
Customer: Automotive manufacturer
Growth driver:
Case study
Requirement
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.
Solution
Using their expertise in inductive proximity
sensing, where a probe emits an oscillating
signal, automation experts at IMI Precision
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.
Detector for nuts, threads
reduces scrap
Engineering
GREAT
Solutions
