National Rivet & Manufacturing Company has announced the incorporation of new equipment that enhances its manual rivet inspection capabilities: the GI-360 Inspection System from General Inspection. The three-dimensional system uses laser technology to accurately measure parts at a rate up to 300 parts per minute.

The GI-360 uses precision split/narrow laser beams and a multi-laser velocity gauge to measure part diameters ranging from 2–35 mm and lengths ranging from 10–150 mm. In addition to part diameter and length, the unit measures taper, concentricity, groove width, radii and straightness. The GI-360, as installed at National Rivet, also utilizes digital vision sensors for supplemental inspection capability. This additional technology allows detection of visual and aesthetic defects.

The unit is equipped with user-friendly Windows®-based software that allows National Rivet to dimension and tolerance each part. The company also uses the software to store information by part number.

"The GI-360 provides inspection capabilities that augment our manual inspection," says Francis D. Cyr, president, National Rivet. "The need to deliver parts that feed, form and function well in the finished product is paramount, and the GI-360 helps us to ensure these outcomes."

He notes that today's best manufacturing practices takes continuous improvement very seriously. "We always have our eyes open for new technology, and the GI-360 is a machine that we've looked at for several years. We feel that the combination of the changeover mechanism, as well as improvements in the software, have made it a viable tool for us. We're careful to wait to adopt new technology until it can have proven benefits and represent a continuous improvement in our process.

The GI-360 does not do away with the company's manual inspection. Rather, it provides additional capabilities, and those capabilities are particularly important in high-tech industries such as automotive and aerospace, where in some cases they are a requirement of doing business.

Use of the unit further solidifies the quality assurance capabilities of National Rivet, the first manufacturer of rivets for aircraft, space and defense applications to comply with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 + AS9100C. The company's AS9100C certification (CERT-0057077 ) — an addition to its existing ISO 9001:2008 certification — covers its quality management system for the manufacture of rivets and other cold-formed products designed for use in the aviation, defense and space industries.