Measurement
BuildIT’s core functionality is precision measurement. Our point-based measurement system allows the capture of coordinate data from various sources, and can be used for measurement without CAD in order to record/ construct shapes.
One of the many challenges of the manufacturing quality process is to efficiently consolidate measurement data. Measuring parts for inspection or alignment often requires the use of multiple portable CMMs. BuildIT overcomes this challenge by offering a unified platform for synchronizing workflow and data capture when working with multiple devices such as trackers, portable arms, scanners or photogrammetry systems, from a variety of manufacturers.
- Measurement and layout of large structures in heavy vehicles and shipbuilding
- First article inspection
- In-line inspection
- Inspection of dish surfaces
- Inspection of machine parts
- Large volume inspection, station moves and bundling multiple devices
- Pre-production verification of tools (molds, dies, jigs)
- Quality control/Part Inspection
- Surface Analysis
- Damage documentation
Alignment
BuildIT is often used for alignment applications in the mill industries, amongst other things. When paired along with laser trackers, our software has optimized workflows for alignment work, including multiple device support, station moves and network bundling.
Our network bundling feature allows you to combine and compare the measurements of multiple devices, or one device used from multiple locations when performing station moves. As with the Assembly applications, the real-time deviations and build arrows give direct graphical placement feedback to enable accurate alignment. For repetitive workflows, our Automation features help by prompting the user for the next step, as well as quickly performing any setup tasks automatically.
This workflow is used in:
- Alignment of rolls, foils, shoe presses and vacuum boxes in paper/steel mills
- Assembly applications
- Machine or equipment installation, positioning of equipment, collision detection, re-builds and alignment;
- Machine tool alignment, roller and press alignment, jig and fixture alignment or CMM alignment
- On-machine alignment
- Positioning and alignment of elements during construction, or as part of maintenance and repairs
Part Inspection
BuildIT’s ability to quickly and accurately compare manufactured parts and assemblies to 3D models will enable you to implement best-practice quality control on your shop floor. The aerospace, automotive and heavy-vehicle industries rely on first article and in-process quality inspection for small parts as well as large assemblies.
Our integrated solution lets inspectors easily capture part data, compare it to a 3D digital model and produce graphical or tabular reports for cross-departmental review and analysis. Our algorithms can perform both best-fit and datum-based alignments of your measured points to you CAD. Advanced capabilities include surface deviation analysis, dimensional tolerancing, and GD&T based inspection.
- First article inspection
- In-line inspection
- Inspection of dish surfaces
- Inspection of machine parts
- Large volume inspection, station moves and bundling multiple devices
- Quality control/Part Inspection
Tool Building
CAD-based software is an essential component of tool building, allowing engineers to accurately validate tools as they are being assembled. BuildIT’s core technology was the first 3D CAD-based tool-building software that worked in real-time with laser trackers. Our software has since continued to evolve, becoming a powerful, yet simple-to-use platform for building and certifying tooling.
BuildIT simplifies tool-building with live 3D graphical feedback for building and inspecting in real-time, using laser trackers and other portable CMMs. All measurements are recorded directly in a 3D CAD model, and a digital record is made out of tool build and inspection operations.
BuildIT’s sophisticated alignment methods allow you to work in local reference systems to perform complex builds. You can also directly utilize GD&T to build and inspect tooling features, and generate reports to document tools in as-built condition.
BuildIT is an ideal solution for visualizing large assembly fixtures:
- Aircraft assembly fixtures
- Fixtures for automotive production
- Welding fixtures for large vehicle structures
- Fixtures for lay-up, machining and drilling operations
- Tool building, lay-up and digital assembly applications
- Prototype and mold adjustment and certification
- Pre-production verification of tools (molds, dies, jigs)
Assembly
BuildIT can be used for Measurement Assisted Assembly, in which our software, combined with a portable CMM, is used to guide details into the appropriate places, all while continuously evaluating the tolerances.
The use of build arrows gives a guided means of placing and evaluating parts in real-time, with fit results and feedback being calculated constantly. This ensures that parts are assembled to specification, without the need to analyze and adjust once the parts are together.
The entire process becomes one smooth workflow which eliminates re-work due to the real-time feedback. This can be enhanced with our automated process builder, which allows for the standardization of repetitive workflows through a series of prompts, looping commands and variable support.
- Aircraft wing and fuselage assembly and alignment
- Measurement assisted installation of parts and components during construction
- Measurement assisted assembly
Meshing
BuildIT includes powerful point processing and meshing capabilities. BuildIT can generate watertight meshes from point cloud data for seamless inspection workflows as well as 3D printing. STL meshes can also be imported and exported.
In addition, BuildIT includes tools to generate CAD geometry from measured data for alignment, assembly, tooling and reverse engineering applications.
