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How can probing help me?

Discover the true capabilities of probing systems, how they can help improve your manufacturing process, and see how others have implemented Renishaw solutions.

Application of probing

Montage representing existing probing customers

The application of probing is often limited to simple job set-up activities, when, in fact, probing can be used throughout the manufacturing cycle, providing a wealth of information that may otherwise be missed. Analysing and reacting to this information allows a machine tool to automatically adapt throughout the cutting process, reducing operator intervention and increasing the likelihood of producing accurate components.

Finished components can be inspected on the same machine that has been used to produce them, with reports on their dimensional accuracy and information on any updates applied during machining produced automatically.

The range of Renishaw probing solutions – inspection probes, tool setting probes and software – offers much more than a solution for part set-up. It provides the capability to perform applications such as:

  • Part identification
  • Intelligent program selection
  • Determining part presence
  • Tool identification
  • Machine capability
  • Clearance checking
  • Cutting path optimisation
  • Adaptive machining
  • Cutter parameter update
  • Dynamic remachining
  • Thermal correction
  • Tool condition monitoring
  • Process reporting

Applying Renishaw probing solutions to a manufacturing cycle has already proved beneficial to hundreds of customers across several industries, including: aerospace; automotive; electronics; medical and pharmaceutical; mould and die; research and development; and heavy industry.

To read about companies who are already benefitting from implementing Renishaw probing technology, go to Machine tool automation articles.

Calculate how probing will benefit your own process

If you are still setting tools and parts manually and wish to compare the benefits of on-machine probing, have a look at our machine tool Probing benefits calculator

Relevant machine tool literature

  • Pocket guide:  Probes for CNC machine tools Pocket guide: Probes for CNC machine tools

    An easy to use pocket guide introducing Renishaw's range of probing solutions for CNC machine tools. Process control solutions.

  • Technical specifications:  Probing systems for CNC machine tools Technical specifications: Probing systems for CNC machine tools

    The type of probing system that you need will depend on your machine tool and the nature of the probing application. This document focuses on the main applications for probing on machine tools. It contains an introduction to the use of probing for each application, plus guidance on the selection of the most appropriate system and technical information about each probe.

  • White paper:  Survival of the fittest - the process control imperative White paper: Survival of the fittest - the process control imperative

    In tough times, manufacturers focus on reducing their operating costs, but may not be able to afford to spend their way out by buying more productive machinery. With that pathway closed, what are the opportunities for radically reducing costs without replacing existing machines? This paper explores four areas where substantial savings can be found if firms are prepared to change the way they control their machining processes.

For more information and machine tool literature please see further reading.