Riverside, Calif. — Medical injection molder Trademark Plastics Inc. (TPI) installed an industrial computed tomography system for measuring and inspecting components for quality.
The Zeiss Metrotom 800 generates 3D data with higher resolution for better measurements and clearer inspections, according to a TPI news release.
With traditional measuring technology, hidden structures can only be inspected after the costly and time-consuming process of destroying the component layer-by-layer, the release says.
The Zeiss system, however, inspects internal and external dimensional measurements and offers defect and structural analysis of plastic parts, light metal castings or multi-material components
The new system also reduces scan time up to 75 percent and can scan multiple components in one run, which TPI officials say means faster turnaround times. The release says a series of X-Ray systems generates the full 3D inspection and analysis plans with one scan, in a matter of minutes.
"Per our customers, we are already fast and efficient in regard to validation timelines," TPI Chief Operating Officer Bryan Barrera said in the release. "There is always room for improvement, and … we need this machine to continue to mitigate risks in switching costs and maintaining the integrity of the molded parts."
The Metrotom system can be used to create a complete 3D differentiated color rendition to allow all sections of the product to be inspected very quickly.
The TPI investment gives customers confidence about quality, compresses production schedules and increases efficiency, Barrera said.
"A lot of manufacturers claim they are innovative," he added. "I want this investment to represent a significant stepping stone we have laid on our path toward becoming the most innovative and sought-after injection molder in the world."