3D CMM Measurement Improves Productivity 4 Fold

A leader in aeronautical subcontracting, Figeac Aero is involved in almost all ongoing civil aeronautical programs. The company has been continuously growing since it was founded in 1989. With a strategy built around performance and investment into the industrial machinery, Figeac Aero keeps one step ahead of the competition.

Quality assurance is a top priority for Figeac Aero, this drive for quality helps differentiate their competitive advantage. The company recently invested in a new coordinate measurement machine (CMM). The CMM interfaces with Metrolog and Silma X4, Figeac Aero choice for 3D metrology software. As a result, this technological mix led to outstanding improvement of 3D quality inspection within the company. The 3D control team shared their experience on using Silma and Metrolog X4 and insights of this unique application.

Mr Moncet, manager of 3D control, has been working at Figeac Aero for 19 years. Many of the parts inspected by Mr Moncet’s team include various frame parts such as 10m, 12 m or 14 m long wing spars, reverse thruster frames and beams, manufactured for leading aeronautical companies. According to Mr Moncet, measuring multiple parts is a prerequisite for successful aeronautical subcontracting companies. The ability to work manufacture various assemblies and components enables Figeac to thrive in the competitive aero market.

In addition to managing teams of programmers and quality controllers on a daily basis, Mr Moncet provides his technical expertise for parts quality validation and is in charge of 3D control project management (CMM/ sensors/ 3D measurement software and technology). Mr Moncet is passionate about his career and is a University Professor. He recently orchestrated the integration of one of the largest CMMs in Europe.

Metrologic Group is proud to be part of this unique cutting-edge engineering project, with of almost 4 years of investments and technical studies. It became possible as a result of collaboration between Figeac Aero, Hexagon and Metrologic Group. “Metrologic Group engineers joined me in Turin when the machine was delivered to verify the integration. The support from Metrologic Group was up to our expectations”, concludes Mr Moncet.

The technological mix, CMM and software, enhanced the efficiency of the 3D inspection team. For instance, in order to measure a 12 m long wing spar, on the previous CMM with a 7 m longitudinal measuring stroke, Figeac Aero 3D control team had to carry out 3D inspection in 2 set-ups and it used to take about 20 hours. Today, the same part can be inspected on the new CMM in one set-up in less than 5 hours!

The CMM working with both Silma and Metrolog increases productivity using simulation along with high-level metrology functionalities. As Mr Moncet highlighted “for the inspection of 3D parts of medium and large sizes including frame parts, in particular – our need was oriented towards a very powerful software in surface and geometric measurement. Given the numerous comparisons we make between the real part and the CAD – Metrolog X4 is among the best, if not the best in the market.”

“Metrologic Group has been an historical partner of Figeac Aero: we have been using Metrolog II since 2000, then Metrolog XG and today we have Metrolog X4. When I joined the company, the teams and myself, were trained on Metrolog only. Before Metrolog, Figeac Aero used a very basic software with no access to the virtual definitions of the parts, with lots of manual entry and time-consuming programming. The integration of Metrolog allowed the use of CAD files. Moreover, this brought autonomy to the 3D control department, that was subordinated to the Methods department”, explains Mr Moncet.

For more information: www.metrologicgroup.com