An Environmentally-Friendly Three-Dimensional Computer-Aided Verification Technique for Plastic Parts.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Manufacturing Technology
• Metrology and Measurement Science

Background:

• Plastic components are crucial for energy conservation, offering advantages over metals like reduced weight and cost.
• Environmental sustainability is a key global objective, driving the need for eco-friendly industrial processes.
• Non-contact computer-aided verification methods are preferred in the plastic industry for their efficiency over traditional contact methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an innovative, green 3D optical inspection technology for plastic components.
• To develop a technical database for precise 3D optical measurements without surface spraying.
• To assess the feasibility and industrial applicability of the proposed technology in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of a novel, green 3D optical inspection system.
• Conducting feasibility experiments on two plastic parts with complex geometries.
• Utilizing eight adjustable measurement strategies within a software interface for data acquisition and analysis.

Main Results:

• Successful precise 3D optical inspection of plastic components without the need for surface spraying.
• Dimensional average errors controlled at approximately 3 µm and 4.7 µm for the tested plastic parts.
• Empirical technical database established for 3D optical measurements, demonstrating industrial applicability.

Conclusions:

• The developed green 3D optical inspection technology meets the requirements of the SDGs.
• The technology offers significant industrial value through precise, non-contact measurement capabilities.
• The findings support the advancement of sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes in the plastic industry.