Metrology Matters

Zygo Corporation

Welcome to Metrology Matters, a Zygo Corporation podcast where thought leaders share their insights on various surface metrology topics, and how it enables the advancement of precision engineering and manufacturing across a wide range of industries and applications.

Episodes

  1. What’s the Right Metrology for My Parts with Srini Varre and Dave O’Leary.

    11/18/2020

    What’s the Right Metrology for My Parts with Srini Varre and Dave O’Leary.

    For this installment of Metrology Matters, Srini Varre, Technical Specialist at Global Power-Train, and Dave O’Leary, Director of Quality Assurance, at Accumold lent their expertise to help break down the world of metrology equipment. A question often asked is, ‘what’s the right metrology for my parts?’ Varre and O’Leary came equipped with some answers.  Using Global Power-Train as an example, Varre said, “When we take a look at any program, for us it’s when a new powertrain comes in. Whether it’s an electric powertrain or hybrid powertrain, if it’s an existing product design and we’re just taking a look at some of the components of the powertrain and trying to improve the performance, the parts community comes out they will try to reduce the tolerance.” The process varies depending on if it is a whole new design or just a design enhancement or refinement.  For O’Leary, metrology considerations come into play as soon as his company quotes a job. “We look at it right up at the front end, we review the models and the prints to see what types of tolerances are required, and make sure our metrology equipment is capable of handling that and getting the data we require,” O’Leary said. “A lot of the customers are very specific based on their industry and also wanting data. We have to look at not only measuring the parts but capturing that data.”  “The tolerance of the feature is the most critical component we look for,” Varre said. “Because as the tolerances get tighter, the requirements and the metrology equipment become more stringent in terms of maintaining it to get that accuracy.” And while Varre said in-house, they have a set of standard metrology equipment they use, if a project calls for a requirement the equipment can’t measure, they’ll procure a metrology gauge to satisfy it.

    34 min
  2. What is Metrology, and Why Does it Matter?

    08/18/2020

    What is Metrology, and Why Does it Matter?

    It’s an important first question to understanding the field, and one perhaps too many mechanical engineering students don’t stop to ask. Jack Clark, Senior Principal Scientist at Woodward, and Chris Evans, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Center for Precision Metrology, said the answer isn’t easy, but understanding what metrology is can open many doors. “By definition, metrology is the science of measurement, but it’s also, I think, foundational to many things from fundamental research – without the science of measurement, we never would’ve been able to recently prove that gravity waves exist,” Evans said. “It’s foundational to us being able to have this conversation. Without metrology, the semiconductor industry would absolutely not function. It’s foundational to commerce. If you don’t have internationally agreed standards on what length is, what volume is – you can’t make components that will assemble.” Despite so much being built upon metrology, there is currently little attention being paid to it by many educators, even in some of the nation’s top engineering schools. Partnerships with companies can be critical for students to begin understanding that aspect of the engineering and design world. “They generally have little knowledge of (metrology),” Clark said of students doing internships or projects with companies like Woodward. “If they’re involved in any kind of design when they’re introduced to the company, if they’re involved in any troubleshooting, they may be brought into remanufacturing in the company. “They have to start understanding what the metrology role is in all those different things and how it is different when you start looking at all the aspects of manufacturing and remanufacturing parts.”

    34 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Metrology Matters, a Zygo Corporation podcast where thought leaders share their insights on various surface metrology topics, and how it enables the advancement of precision engineering and manufacturing across a wide range of industries and applications.