MEASUREMENT Goimek (subcontracting) Goimek, a subcontracting company that machines critical compo- nents for machine-tool and other relevant industries, uses VSET system to measure all of the wide variety of products. Among the benefits that VSET offers for them, they mainly highlight the scrap avoidance, the increase of machine availability, the user-friendliness and the digitalization of the data. For a structural part of a hydraulic press, the drawback was the time-consuming in-machine gauging process (4 hours) for overs- tock control and alignment. Similarly, their traditional working method was measuring the part by a skilled operator with a laser- trackers. Now, efficient measuring and fitting times (6 hours) with non-skilled operators are performed, getting a scrap prediction by the fitting module, saving non-quality costs arising from the set-up and machining of out-of-tolerance raw parts with non-sufficient allowance in all surfaces (load/unload for repairing, etc.), enabling optimal scheduling of repairing strategy prior to machining. For a structural part of a laser cutting machine, before using VSET, only flat surfaces were controlled and manually marked using con- ventional means (4-5 hours). The process was artisanal. Nowadays, the same person who carried out this job in Goimek —who had no- expertise in computers, etc.— is using the VSET for these issues. Currently, a comprehensive measurement and control of all sur- faces (4-5 hours) is performed, especially those areas with limited accessibility (inner diameters, etc.). Additionally, the company now has a digital register of the measurements, in-line with the new generation of Industry 4.0. For a milling machine’s base platform, Goimek was using laser- tracker —skilled technicians—. The process took 6 hours, multiple referencing required and lack of accessibility to all sur- faces. Moreover, since the parts were large, they had issues when they needed to move the laser-tracker and arrange the register between different positions. Now, with the VSET, low-skilled per- sonnel is able to control all the surfaces within 8 hours. Especially those with limited accessibility (inner surfaces for expected thick- ness control after machining, etc.). For a structural part of a laser cutting machine, before using VSET, only flat surfaces were controlled and manually marked using conventional means (4-5 hours) 23 Benefits • Easy operation and information for the machine operator – an experienced measurement engineer is not required • Cost-effective measurement process • Standardization of alignment procedures • Process reliability • Reduction of measurement and alignment times by up to 70%. • Ensured quality of the raw part • Increased machine availability and productivity • Measurement and alignment processes outside the machine • Low cost and sufficiently precise measuring process • Scrap avoidance: reduction of non-quality costs • Digital traceability of raw part alignment process • Increase of Efficiency, time reductions on Set-Up processes Case Studies Liebherr (drilling rigs) For the application of drilling rigs manufactured by Liebherr in Pamplona, Spain, the VSET demonstrated an increase of machine availability. Before VSET, fixturing set-up and raw part alignment was performed using the milling machine as a CMM (3 hours of unavailable machine). The main problem of this application lies in the assembly of these electro welded parts. Usually, the part suffers from deformations, so Liebherr hast to take the part out of the machine, fixed it and put it back in the machine. So, after using VSET, fixturing is set-up in 30 min according to measurement and fitting reported out-of-machine (2 hour). More than 2 hours of increase of machine availability per machined part. Apart from this, it is noteworthy to say that nowadays all the machine operators have the same instruction to perform, something that never happened before.