A Fast and in-Situ Measuring Method Using Laser Triangulation Sensors for the Parameters of the Connecting Rod

Area of Science:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Metrology
• Marine Engineering

Background:

• Connecting rods are vital marine engine components, requiring precise parameter inspection for quality.
• Conventional Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs) are time-consuming and costly for inspection.
• There is a need for efficient, in-situ measurement solutions for marine engine parts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a fast, in-situ measurement method for critical connecting rod parameters.
• To reduce the time and resource requirements associated with traditional inspection methods.
• To validate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed laser-based measurement technique.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a laser-based measuring head for in-situ inspection of connecting rod parameters.
• Implemented two strategies: combining NC machine coordinates for positional data and independent laser measurement for high-accuracy dimensional data.
• Employed a numerical control (NC) machine for transportation during dimensional measurements.

Main Results:

• Achieved high accuracy for dimensional measurements (inner diameters) with errors between 5 μm and 7 μm.
• Maintained acceptable accuracy for positional measurements (hole-center distance) with errors within 15 μm.
• Completed the measurement of all critical parameters in under 1 minute.

Conclusions:

• The proposed laser-based method offers a fast and accurate in-situ solution for marine engine connecting rod inspection.
• This approach overcomes the limitations of CMMs in terms of time and cost.
• The method meets the stringent accuracy requirements for both dimensional and positional parameters.