Case Studies

We will be adding case studies to show good examples of where metrology has helped companies. Please click on the company name in the sub-navigation panel above to find case studies from the following companies:

  • Alicona
  • Bowers
  • Delcam
  • GOM
  • Heidenhain (NEW ARTICLE!)
  • Mahr
  • Mantech Geometrics Ltd
  • Nikon
  • Phase Vision (NEW ARTICLE!)
  • Renishaw
  • Solartron

For case studies of how training has benefitted companies click here. Below gives an example of how GTMA member Europac reduced missile launcher alignment from 3 days to 20 minutes.

New Measuring System is so Fast on the Hawk Jet Trainer

Missile Launcher Alignment is cut from 3 days to 20 minutes

A combination of laser technology, high end digital photography and specially developed software has revolutionised the way missile launchers, radar antenna and pilot visions systems are aligned on the Hawker Jet trainer aircraft.

The new system has reduced the time taken from between 3 and 4 days to 20 MINUTES!!

Called HarmoLign, the system enables aircraft engineers to align four different elements on the aircraft – the two missile launchers, the radar antenna which sits above the nose cone on the fuselage, and the ‘head over’ display (this is the screen which appears at head height showing the pilot everything needed to know to fly and operate the aircraft, without the need to look at instrument panels when flying at speed and in critical operational situations).
Each of the four elements is controlled by a pan and tilt mechanism, a little like a tripod and the challenge is to make sure that all our aligned so the readings are pin-point accurate.

Before the advent of HarmoLign, the engineer would set one of the element, check the others; and align each one in turn. But as one was aligned perfectly, it would alter slightly the readings on another; so another adjustment would be made; and another check, and so on…for day after day.
How different things are now! The solution involves a unique, fixed wide angle digital camera being set up at the front of the aircraft with a view of the two launchers, the radar antenna and the ‘head over’ display. Laser diode pads are then mounted on small plates attached to the pan and tilt tripods of each of the elements, and these lasers fire high intensity light beams at the camera.

The information is taken by the camera and loaded into a laptop where the specially developed software presents the information on a screen adapted for the RAF and designed for ease of use of operation. In fact, the training requirement for operators is minimal because the software guides the operator through the whole process with self-explanatory graphical displays.

In essence what happens is that the operator sees four columns of light, produced from the information fired by the light beams. The columns allow the operator to judge alignment of pitch, roll and yaw. Perfect alignment is when all four columns are exactly the same height.

As the engineer adjusts these on the laptop, the system relays the information to the laser pads where the tilt mechanisms are adjusted in real time. Once completed, a measurement report is printed and saved for future traceability.

The system was developed by Metronor of Norway, which is represented in the UK by leading metrology systems provider and GTMA member, Europac, whose MD John Beckett said: “The time savings are enormous and we see a big future for HarmoLign. The fact is that during training operations and in service scenarios the Hawker Jet will routinely be buffeted around and the alignments can be put out.

“The previous trial and error process sometimes would take three or four days. The new system means they can be realigned to the critical point in under an hour – with absolute accuracy.” Among the first customers for the system was the British Aerospace facility at Brough, near Hull, and other users already include RAF Hawk service stations and BAE Systems.

Websites: http://www.europacmetrology.co.uk/